Why We’re Totally Inspired by Jewelry Maker Megan Stacy of Salty Fox

Tiptoeing the line between modern edginess and traditional femininity, Megan Stacy has a refreshing take on what it means to make — and she might just make you want to make your own piece of jewelry! :) Read on to see why.

First, a little more about her jewelry line: Salty Fox Jewelry has an edgy femininity that strikes a balance between sophistication and a bit of grit. Each piece is handmade in San Francisco by designer Megan Stacy, with a focus on mixing organic grittiness and playful silhouettes. Her background in clothing design and metalsmithing paved the way for her to launch Salty Fox in 2011 after interning with fashion designer Lela Rose in NYC and working as a wardrobe stylist in San Francisco. She immediately felt a connection to the materials and process of using metal and stones and the flow of creativity and possibility in handmade jewelry. She lives in San Francisco with her studio assistant, Dolly, a spunky terrier pooch.

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Now, let’s hear about what inspires this crush-worthy maker.

What inspires you? Why do you love to design, create and make?

I feel like found my material and my zone in metal and jewelry, so moving forward with it just felt right. I constantly feel challenged, excited, inspired and like I’m in the right place. I love creating beautiful things through such a gritty process. The end result is really rewarding, and it’s amazing to see someone wearing a piece I made.

With each collection, I start thinking about inspiration and sketching for a month or two, buying different chains and materials to test-run and making metal and wax prototypes for casting. I typically do a lot of work in my home studio when I can, and when I need to use more heavy-duty equipment, I rent bench space at the studio where I used to take classes. It’s great to be able to have both options! Once the pieces for the collection are decided, I style the look-book shoot and product shots, launch the collection and begin sending pieces off to stores. By that time, it’s time to start the next cycle, and usually I’ve got a handful of ideas already brewing!

What’s one piece of advice you’d share with other makers?

Just go for it! Believe in your product and get yourself out there. The worst thing you can hear is no, and the most exciting thing to hear is yes!

What’s on your studio playlist?

Lately I’ve been listening to Polica and Banks, and I love the band Jungle. I’m also a forever Fleetwood Mac girl — it never gets tired.

How do you get into the creative flow? How does it feel?

I feel really inspired by materials, so when I get something new to work with I usually feel ready to dive in and experiment with it, testing the possibilities. Of course, it’s a job, so there are times when you aren’t feeling as inspired and have to create something, but for the most part it feels exciting to constantly try new things and see results of experimentation.

What do you love about teaching people to make? And inspiring people who don’t think they are traditionally creative?

There are so many innovative creative processes out there, especially with technology helping the makers movement, but I do think there is something really special about handmade items, just the skill of working with your hands and creating something from nothing. Instead of a computer program, which is cool in its own right, I think it’s important to keep the roots of creation as a strong element of design processes. There’s something unique and personal about it, and it’s especially great to see people who may not consider themselves to be creative try something, because I think everyone’s got a bit of creativity in them. Without fear of criticism there’s even more possibilities!

Tell us how technology has changed and supported what you do.

Creating my website and using a template-based store has been amazing. I can control or change things when needed instead of hiring someone else. Square is super helpful for shows and events — accepting credit cards on the go is a game-changer.

What other creative hobbies do you have?

I have a penchant for making animal costumes… I’ve currently got some elaborate ones including a lobster, parrot and the Bjork swan dress. You never know when they’ll come in handy again!

And there you have it — straight from Megan herself. I personally would LOVE to borrow that Bjork swan dress in the near future ;) Be sure to shop Megan’s jewelry in the B+C Shop if you’re swooning over any of the pieces you see in this post.

Are you a maker? Tell us your story using the hashtag #iamcreative. Happy making!