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Happy Makers Monday. 🌟
With the faire and festival season slowly wrapping up, I'll be turning my focus back to the shop for fall. :) That means more star themed gear going out to their new adventures, and new items coming to the shop. :)
Wishing you all a lovely week. I hope you're all able to enjoy these last few days of summer. ☀️
You can get your own adventure gear here. :)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArcherInventive
It's another #MakersMonday!
Today's question: What is your go to race in DA: Inquisition?
Waking Witchblr: Makers Monday
Hello everyone! Andromeda here!
For @wakingwitchblr’s Makers Monday challenge, I decided to talk about my journey in making crystal jewelry and magical amulets, talismans, etc. and how it has helped me as a person. I personally make my jewelry using sterling silver or copper wire, but I’ve seen others use resin, polymer clay, hemp/cotton thread, and electroforming as other methods to make crystal jewelry.
(Before I get too into this post, I want to make a note that NONE of these pieces are available for sale, they’ve all either sold or are in my personal collection, I am NOT trying to advertise my work, simply sharing my creative journey with my fellow witches!)
Below is a photo of a recent pendant I made as a personal protective amulet, featuring labradorite (excellent protective stone!), peridot & chrome tourmaline in oxidized sterling silver. I wear it when I go out to protect my energy from outer influences, as bipolar disorder makes me extremely sensitive to my surroundings. I also wear it when I’m practicing divination.
How did I get started wire wrapping crystals?
Well, I’ve always loved crystals, and I’ve collected them since I was a child. I remember when I was a kid I had a book on home remedies, and it had a decent section on crystal healing, so that’s what started me on this crystal-loving (or is it hoarding?) path. But to be honest, for me making jewelry started as an anxiety release. (And a holiday gift idea!) When I was 20, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and it really devastated me for a long time. I became increasingly antisocial and depressed, and to keep myself from fidgeting with things, or worse, picking at my hair or skin, I taught myself how to wire wrap crystals to keep my hands busy. But they didn’t always look like that first photo!
In fact, I did a little digging through my photos and managed to find the photo of my very first wire wraps. This photo above was the night I first taught myself how to wire wrap - it was almost Yule, and I was scrambling to make my friends and family their gifts (I’ve always been a “handmade gifts” kinda person). I had a huge collection of crystals, and lived by a crystal shop at the time as well, so it wasn’t too hard for me to obtain my materials. I picked up some copper and brass wire at the local craft shop, and I was off.
Since then, I’ve come to realize that art is full of endless possibilities, and jewelry gave me a creative outlet that I hadn’t experienced before with painting or music. I was able to create unique, special pieces for not only my friends and family, but for my customers and for myself as well. Each piece has a unique story because each piece is truly unique. No two crystals are alike, and that challenged me to create something new and different each time. Animal spirits inspired me, gods and goddesses inspired me, events inspired me, even the crystals themselves inspired me with their unique shapes and colors, or even their healing properties. In fact I’ve created many pieces for people to be worn as “crystal remedy” pendants, and I really love making something so special for my customers and friends. Sometimes I incorporate astrological factors into my jewelry, like maybe using stones that correspond with a person’s astrology chart, other times I use numerology in my patterns (I’m starting to use numerology and sacred geometry a lot more now!) by weaving my wire around a certain number of times. Other times it’s purely designed around the healing properties desired.
My wire wrap hobby became a business a year or so later. I came up with a name and my brother designed me a cute logo (which my good friend later updated!) and I began pulling my little blue wagon up the street every weekend with all my jewelry and supplies for the local arts market. I made a whole bunch of friends at the local market, and it really helped me to come out of my anxiety-ridden shell. I sold jewelry at festivals and events, and gained a bit of a professional reputation locally. I even met my current boyfriend of 2 years at the market - he was just starting out making wooden rings when we met, and now we make our jewelry together!
Wire wrapping even helped me to cope with my recurring ovarian cysts. When I had my first ovarian cyst removal surgery, I couldn’t leave my bed for about a week or two after. My dad came up to visit to take care of me for the week, and I just kept wire wrapping from my bed, watching movies with him while I recovered. When my second and third ovarian cysts developed, I could feel them, and I knew they were there, but I was ignoring the issue until my doctor did an ultrasound and confirmed their nasty existence. I remember leaving the doctor’s office that day in tears, cursing the world because I was so angry and afraid, I didn’t want to have to go through another surgery. When I got home, I took out my copper wire and crystal stash, and made this little uterus and ovaries pendant. I got really into making uterus pendants after that, inspired by my pelvic pain, so I did 3 more of them in silver, and they all sold immediately upon completion. It was even more special to me too that the pendants all went to women suffering with PCOS, a reproductive condition that causes painful cysts on the ovaries.
Wire wrapping truly saved me from myself when I was in a very dark place, and in all honesty I’m not sure where I would be without this creative hobby of mine. I know I rambled on a little bit in this post, and it’s not entirely witchy, but I just wanted to really express how much this craft hobby has changed my life and kept me sane. Art is such an important part of life, and so many people forget that on a daily basis. So go out and create something today! Make something beautiful and meaningful!
Thanks for reading everyone, I hope this post inspires you to try a new creative hobby that pushes you outside your comfort zone!
If you’d like to donate to support my blog, check out my ko-fi link below! ☕️💖
ko-fi.com/andromeda_sapphire
Maker Monday! Commission for my sister's stoner bf. My frickin thumb hurts.
Happy Makers Monday!
Just finished up this custom pair of bracers for a friend and I'm loving how they turned out.
Inspired by the same stlyle of bracers as those I wear when performing, these bracers were made with additional stamp detailing and duel daggers.
To get your own custom pair of bracers feel free to reach out via my Patreon or via the Etsy link below.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArcherInventive
Wishing you all a wonderful last week of summer. :) While I'll miss these longer days, I am very excited to get all snuggled up for fall. 🍁 🍂
Happy Makers Monday!
After spending most of last week wipped out in bed after getting a bad bout of food poising that led to a sinus infection, I'm finally back in the shop working on orders.
Here are a few items I managed to get shipped out before my near demise.
Order your own, or for someone special at
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArcherInventive
Still thanking Alexander Fleming for his work in Bacteriology, as well as to all those who have been patient as I healed. You're the best, and I very much appreciate you.
Happy Makers Monday!
Last week was a busy one as I continued to work on orders and custom creations from this faire season.
Including this new Gold Alchemists Adventure Pack, which comes with a custom pendant inlaid with real gold leaf.
ONLY ONE AVAILABLE.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArcherInventive
Now it's back to the shop with me as I try and finish all my orders before heading off to perform at Sh'Bang this weekend. I'm so excited to be working with so many talented and creative folks.
Have a happy Monday, and may you find the inspiration you've been looking for this week.
Best!
Happy Makers Monday!
With the 2023 faire season officially coming to a close, I'm really excited to focus more on the workshop and all the new products coming to the store next year.
Here are a few photos of a couple items that went out to their new adventurers recently. :) I always love the custom requests, and getting to spend my time painting stars. Thank you all. ❤️
While the faire booth may now be closed, you can acquire your own custom item through the only shop here.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArcherInventive
Now it's back to the workshop, to get orders out, and to the vast collection of images gathered over the season that need sorting so that I may share them with all of you. ^^
Wishing you all a wonderful week. :)
Stay magical, and stay safe. ❤️
