Happy March and a happy new Novelty Brooch Friday maker.
This month's maker is Heather from MerriWeather, Heather creates wonderful jewellery inspired by the images and accessories of the 1940s, those wonderful iconic symbols: hearts, arrows, horseshoes, acorns..........a lady after my own heart.
Thank you Heather for your insightful answers, I really enjoyed reading about your experience, your inspirations and a little bit about your home town.
When did
you start making jewellery and what inspired you to do so.
I started making jewellery because I desperately wanted a MacArthur Heart,
but every one I found was over $700 - so I thought “I am just going to make one
myself!” So I started by carving the original out of clay. Then I
had to figure out how to make a mould from it. Trying out different casting
methods, and different resins - I was hooked!
I have really enjoyed the process of designing the different pieces for my
shop, carving the original parts, and trying to get them just right.
Your
brooches are made of resin, do you find it an easy material to work with?
Are there other materials you haven't worked with that you would like to
experiment with?
Resin is easy and it is terrible! Different resins have a different finish
and different clarity, they all have different hardening times. There is a bit
of a learning curve to getting it just right. I think the hardest part is
getting your original carving right- to create your mould from. Your mould is
only as good as your original part.
I would really like to try to do some mixed materials. I would like to do
some wood and resin brooches. I just need to figure out how to make the moulds.
I have a few pieces that involve two-part moulds, it was really fun to figure
out how to make the pieces work together.
Can you
list some of the jewellery makers you admire.
I love love, love Martha Sleeper. Her work is so amazing and whimsical, it
just brings me joy to look at her work. I also really love Belle Kogan, one of
the first female Industrial Designers, she did all these amazing 2-tone,
polka-dot pieces and bangles. Plus she did these spectacular folded origami
type ceramics.
Of course, Elsa Schiaparelli, she makes you want to figure out how to build
a time machine! I just love her take on things. She was so incredibly artistic,
she makes me want to learn how to knit, and how to make hats. I find her truly
inspiring.
You are
based in Austin, Texas, can you tell us a bit about Austin and what you love about
living there.
I was born in Austin, so I am a bit biased - it is the capital of Texas. It
has always been this beacon for artists and musicians, creatives have been
drawn to it for decades. It is a university town, so there is always an influx
of youth.
There is a great music scene, there are always fabulous bands playing every
night, and there are always bands passing through. There is always something to
do. It is a wonderful and creative place, full of supportive people, you can be
yourself- whoever that is.
Is there
any advice you can give people thinking of starting their own business.
More
than anything else I would say - do what you love. Do what makes you
happy. Create what makes you happy, and what brings you joy.
Otherwise, what is the point? Start small, always push yourself to learn new
techniques, do new designs, try new methods - learn as much as you can. Just
make sure you enjoy it. Your joy will show in your work.
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And so the brooch you could be in with a chance to win for #NoveltyBroochFriday in March is this beautiful 'Love Letters' brooch.
Just use the hashtag on any Friday in March, showing your favourite brooches on Instagram.
Thank you again Heather, and if you'd like to keep up to date with her creations you can also follow MerriWeather36 on Instagram.
See you every Friday for yours and my novelty brooch fix xxx
