Tell us a bit about yourself?
Introducing... Angie, the Spoon Savvy bender from ‘Forkometry’, I live In Tassie on the beautiful Tasman Peninsula. Here I enjoy a ‘pinch yourself’ life waking up to amazing views with no neighbours in sight (which is helpful when the hammer comes out). I love to discover the amazing places that surround us, camping and paddling around the coastline, strolling along the beach, sliding down sand dunes, floating & finding adventure with my 2 beautiful children.
I feel lucky to live on such an amazing part of our wonderful planet. I’m also very aware just how delicate the balance here is, so I thrive on creating spoon savvy eco bling. It’s satisfying making designs from existing objects & knowing that we’re not contributing to more mines extracting precious metals from the earth. Instead we’re the miners extracting cutlery from dusty corners of unexpected places.
Actually... I think myself and the forkometrist may have met in a tip shop bin? All sounds too good to be true
Can you explain your craft/art and the material you like to use? The craft is bending & converting; spoons, forks, & old silverware to create a contemporary range of spoon & fork Jewellery, sculpture & design. Our designs are all handmade - even some of our tools are handmade. I specialise in making spoon rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets. I also enjoy making custom spoon rings with pieces found in other’s cutlery drawers or the odd precious christening spoon or fork.
Some peoples granny’s might turn over in their graves just to think about it, but it seems the majority of people don’t use, or know what to do with these beautiful sentimental pieces. On the contrary, people are often overwhelmed with joy that they can dig the silver out of the cupboard and share it with friends and family through our designs.
Where do you get your inspiration and what is your creative process? I’m a mad keen op shopper and love to fossick for ‘treasure’ Also I love the idea of taking an existing object and giving it a new purpose. At the core I’m a creative individual who finds inspiration everywhere & when it comes to spoons I get excited!
I enjoy finding sweet little spoons with amazing new patterns – just asking to become a beautiful piece of jewellery. I enjoy the way people connect with the jewellery through their cutlery experiences. People often find familiarity and warm journeys back to their childhood dinner tables, or maybe the memories of a moment or person through these beautiful relics of time.
How long have you been creating and how did you get into craft/art? I’ve always had a creative streak and have experimented with lots of different mediums. The Forkometry experience would be the longest creative journey that I have immersed myself in (as far as making & sharing things is concerned). I guess this is just another chapter in the creative journey we call life.
How did you come up with your business name? I like a play on words ... so included a few of the obvious ingredients... spoons & forks and then thought about the process...myself and the forkometrist admire the concepts associated with geometry: movement, lines, surfaces, curves
We were also keen to define this craft of bending spoons and forks to create new and wonderful things. So played with words... And coined the term ‘Forkometry’.
What resources 'have or do you' use to help your creative pursuits (i.e. groups, classes, shops, websites etc)?
I live rurally so need to be a little innovative when it comes to accessing resources. There are some great recourses online, jewellery making workshops etc. Don’t cha just love you tube, just Google your ? and get searching, there is so much info out there. We subscribe to a few jewellery making zines (‘art jewellery’ is great for us).
Mostly, I enjoy networking with other jewellers & makers, bouncing ideas and concepts around, usually people are quite forthcoming with their advice and knowledge. It pays to be curious, so... network & ask lots of questions.
What's your best advice for someone starting up?
Markets are a great way to gauge interest in your work; they are also a great starting point for developing your range... We have had some amazing suggestions from browsers and customers in the marketplace, the direct contact with your customer is invaluable. Action is the key to success... you could spend forever trying to get things just right.. Take what you have and get it out there. The quicker you do the sooner your work will evolve - “There is no spoon there is only the mind” (matrix).
Do you have any advertising/promotion tips for sellers to be successful? Learn to promote yourself and your work. Develop your story - people don’t just connect with your work, they connect with you and your creative journey.
Can you share any lessons that you have learned the hard way? It’s about giving things a go so you can nut out what is right for you. Outlets are an interesting journey with handmade work. We’ve had experiences with co-operative galleries, retail outlets, markets and exhibitions. Oh and web marketing. Each of these experiences has provided insights into what works for us as creative individuals and what works for our range.
It can be challenging getting the pricing right for each different situation, but at the end of the day I think it is very important to value the time you spend promoting and marketing & listing your work – and reflect this in your price. Ultimately it’s not just about where you can sell your work it’s about how you can enjoy doing that.
What do you like to do besides creating? Hula Hoop, make music, dance under the moon, watch the sun rise, hang out with the kiddies, cook, breath, laugh, love, play, sail, paddle, swim. Catch a fish and cook it in a fire on the beach. Get a little circus quirkus. Discover, dream & dare.
What is your favourite music, television show, film, book, website?
Don’t have TV. – don’t like ads or mainstream media. Although I do have a television set – the kids would feel deprived without their DVD’s & I love a good flick.
Movies: All time favourites (tricky) – ‘Chocolate’ – ‘Matrix’ , Enjoyed most recently – City of Ember
But let’s talk podcasts: Ted talks – Not quite art – in the night hour
Books: The Power of Now - eat, pray, love – Alice in wonderland
Music: Blues - Roots - Reggae - Dub - Psytrance - World - Folk - & anything with a conscious message
What would be your perfect day?
Living in TAS, I’d wish for a perfect day at the beach, boasting water that I could float in all day long.
Who is one of your favourite madeit seller, explain why in less than 10 words? oohlook - creative journey, a special mixed media artwork
