Launched in 2008 by Shona Lockhart, Blue Dog Jewellery is a marketplace selling contemporary jewellery from independent designers across the globe.  On first glance, the site reminds of myehive, but as you delve deeper you begin to realise there is more to Shona Lockhart than just her site and a passion for craft and design.

‘What have you done today to make you feel proud?’ she writes on her blog.  As you begin to read you realise that Shona is somewhat of a money raising addict.  In 2008 she set herself a personal challenge to raise £1,000,000 for Oxfam over the next five years - no mean feat, when you consider the current state of the economy.  Yet as my mind wonders onto quite how many cake sales, or marathon attempts this would actually equate to I realise she is a serial entrepreneur.
In 1992, she launched The Language Factory – a multi-lingual translation service which still today sends proceeds from its profits to HIV and AIDS projects in Malawi through its support for Oxfam.  Not solely based online, she is also investing in buy-to-let properties, which she is adamant is still a sound investment when chosen wisely.  Perhaps a scary prospect, but with the BBC reporting a rise in average house prices for the last two months running, perhaps she isn’t far from the truth.

It is not immediately clear from the site, quite how Blue Dog Jewellery involves her fundraising – perhaps proceeds from her sales go directly to Oxfam or she will promote African designers - but it goes without saying that Shona seems to be a woman on a fantastic mission and she's looking for people to join her!