I’ve never really been a practical artistic person, but sometimes I like to occupy myself on tactile level rather than just a mental level. I can’t fully remember the circumstances that led me to making very simple elasticated wooden bead bracelets but I made loads of them because I could and they made me feel better somehow. I progressed to theming the beads with character based colour schemes such as the Marvel Avengers or Donald Duck and eventually started adding charms to them.
This led to the notion that I could probably make chain charm bracelets. Tools were purchased, and themes were developed. Progress was always slow as I make a habit of never setting myself up to fail. Once my confidence grew I moved on to other things like wirework with glass beads and seed beads – making simple spirals and hooks and loops to attach beads to necklaces or to add seed bead embellishments to charms for earrings.
The charm collection grew to vast proportions and it was necessary to fund this habit so I started to sell my designs. At first it was mostly Beatles themed stuff but then I started to look at TV and film influences too.
Two of the pieces I am most proud of are charmed bracelets I made for friends who lost their musical heroes in 2016. I made a David Bowie themed piece in consultation with a friend who was a fan, and surprised another friend with a bracelet made as a tribute to Prince. These were one off, never to be repeated items which were sent as gifts.
Eventually I opened an Etsy shop and list all my creations there. I enjoy putting together the initial items, there’s a true sense of satisfaction when you find the perfect charm. Anyone who saw my reaction to the Chinese Food Container charms for The Lost Boys themed charm bracelet would testify to that!!
I hope everything I do has a sense of humour about it, the things I make are meant to spread joy, or at least to raise a smile.
The latest “collection” is designs influenced by The Grateful Dead and The Merry Pranksters, but there’s everything from cats to bikes to movie themed stuff and more at www.mysticmakes.co.uk
