Brandi Herrera Pfrehm

Stacey Hansen in her metalsmith workspace in Jackson.

[Fly] Wildflower Designs by Stacey Hansen

by Brandi Herrera Pfrehm
May 9, 2008

Most moms have perfected the fine art of multitasking. But most can’t claim to work as effortlessly with powdered glass and a blowtorch as they do with Tonka trucks or Band-Aids. Stacey Hansen, 27, can. As a jewelry designer, she brings vibrant, organic life to raw metals and gemstones. And as a stay-at-home mother, she fills her 4-year-old son Parker’s days with adventure and creativity. It’s hard to tell just where her jewelry business ends, and parenting begins. Each day provides the opportunity for Hansen to discover something new about motherhood and her craft.

Tell me how you got into jewelry making.
Growing up in Ocean Springs, I was the “failed artist” of the family. My gingerbread houses were more like gingerbread outhouses. I can’t even draw a stick figure. So I majored in psychology at Mississippi State. One of my professors there made jewelry. I was interested in it, so on a lark, I asked her to show me how. I started out with basic wire-wrapping and semi-precious stones. It was so much fun, and I was actually good at it! I’ve been making jewelry ever since.

How difficult is it to work with these tools when you have a child in the house?
All my enamel and torch work has to be done outside. I constantly check on him when I’m out there. Parker has been exposed to all my tools and materials. He loves looking at the stones and materials and we talk about the colors and shapes. But he has a respect for my tools—I’ve never had a problem with him getting into them.

Do you enjoy working from home?
I like that it’s my own space; although the idea of an off-site studio is also exciting. As an artist, it can be very isolating. It’s just me and my trial and error, and sometimes it’s more error. That’s why it’s great having the support of Etsy, an online site for artists to buy, sell and talk about their craft. We have forums where buyers and sellers can meet and chat. And I belong to the Metal Street team, where I can talk with other metalsmiths about my work. It’s nice because there aren’t a lot of others (metal smiths) in Jackson.

How does Parker like having you at home?
He loves that I’m here. It was always the plan that I would stay at home when we had kids. We get to hang out and have fun, and then I can do work while he’s napping and in the evenings. This lets me stay home and still do my own thing. To him, being a mom and a grown-up is playing zombie games and making jewelry!

What inspires your work?
Nature, mostly, and flowers. My mom always jokes that I was born in the wrong generation because I’m such a flower child. I like organic shapes and have been playing a lot with movement lately. I don’t begin with a plan or sketches; I start with shapes and colors and just go from there. I just bought chrysoprase, tourmaline, larimar, and Mexican agate and fire opal that I’m excited to work with.

At the end of the day, are you burned out?
Most of my day is planned around Parker. But after all the multitasking and hard work, I get to do my things, too; have Stacey time. It’s worth it.

Where can we find your jewelry?
Online at wildflowerdesigns.etsy.com and at some of the local events I attend. I do all the Fondren shows, and I’ll be at the Belhaven Market closer to the holidays.


What’s in a Name?
Stacey chose the name Wildflower Designs to illustrate her love of the raw, wild nature of uncultivated flowers. She wanted a name that would reflect the uniqueness of each and every flower— much like the jewelry she fashions.

Check out Stacey's jewelry online at wildflowerdesigns.etsy.com

 
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posted by L.W. on 05/10/08 at 01:06 PM