A real version of reality TV is played out just about every day in the centre of Brisbane. It's at the Museum of Brisbane (MoB) store at City Hall where interested voyeurs can watch artists at work in their natural environment.

Behind a wall of glass, three jewellers toil to create exquisite objets d'art.

One of the faces to be seen is Marisa Molin who fashions nature-inspired pieces from silver, beads and other precious materials.

At the tender age of 24, Marisa is on to her second career (her first was as a graphic artists). She runs a small business, holds down a part-time jewellery job, works at the MoB studio, exhibits her work across Australia and can now add teaching a university summer school to her resume.

The self-proclaimed workaholic admits the pace of her life is frenetic, but says a warm, welcoming, stable home environment is what sustains her.

She lives with her mum Penny Comino and brother Theo in a large predominantly white house in Robertson, on Brisbane's southside.

"Mum and I have a really good relationship," Marisa says. "We act like crazy sisters. And every time i make something, she takes it and wears it. She loves the idea of having a daughter as a jeweller."

Penny's support for her daughter's talent can be seen all over the house, from the large kangaroo painting Marisa completed at hight school, to the front room that has been signed over to a home office and jewellery showroom.

It is decorated in Marisa's taste for strong but attractive items such as a deep plum couch cover, a stainless steel toaster-light, firm lined paintings and sentimental photographs. Simple display cases hold her latest works.

She says having a dedicated office is vital because being an artist these days also means knowing how to run a business. And she needs somewhere to meet with clients.

"It's not an easy career to live off but I'm an doing OK," Marisa says.

"My style is very bold but really simple. I stylise everything but to the point where i try not to be literal. I am inspired by nature, so its organic and tribal. I use etching, creating ripples under the ocean.

"We live in a time where things don't last. But with jewellery you can pass it down. It's fun to know that what I make could end up on the other side of the world. It's a really beautiful thought. "There's that, and i love jewellery. In grade four I got into trouble for having a stall at school. I was making safety pins covered in beads. I had to give the money to charity. At grade four is was an entrepreneur!"

Marisa says her home away from home however, is the Museum of Brisbane workspace. The trio of artists, including Tracey Milne and Rebecca Ward, has just been signed on for another year as resident artists at the studio.

A year ago, the artist discovered there was no appropriate space in Brisbane that could house them. So they submitted a proposal to the Brisbane City Council, which agreed it was a top idea. "Jewellers don't need a lot of space, just a desk and a sink."

Marisa says. " The three of us work really well together. We all help each other out and if one has a show its 'Yep, I'll be your bar girl'. It's nice having the girls around. And there is no boss who tells me when to come and go so I can do as I please. At the window, people watch us. We have had a really good response to having our studio there."

-Amanda Horswill