Moose Spotlight: A Love for Turquoise and Nature-Inspired Jewelry

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Anytime I make something, it's really all just up in the air. As I solder things together, I look at what else I have to add some more pizzazz."

- Rachel of @grooovyforest

 

 

MEET THE ARTIST

 

 

 

 

@grooovyforest on Instagram

 

 

This is Rachel of @grooovyforest on Instagram. Based in Carolina Beach, she has been creating jewelry for a year now.

 

 

 

THE JOURNEY TO CREATING JEWELRY

 

 

For Rachel, it was simple. She started creating jewelry because of her love of turquoise! 

 

"I was really lost starting out and had so many questions about everything and no one to really ask," Rachel shared when she was just getting started. Eventually, she spent so much time on YouTube trying to even figure out how to get her bezel soldered for the first time. "One random person on Instagram actually was nice enough to send me a step by step video."

 

Rachel remembers selling her very first piece to a long time family friend. She also wanted her first piece to go to someone special.

 

Behind her brand name, @grooovyforest, Rachel shared that it was a combination of her love for the forests in Colorado and her love for groovy music! 

 

 

 

Let's take a look at some of Rachel's awesome creations! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handmade Turquoise Jewelry by Jewelry Artist Rachel of @grooovyforest

 

 

 

 



ARTIST'S DESIGN STYLE

 

 

"Anytime I make something, it's really all just up in the air. As I solder things together, I look at what else I have to add some more pizzazz." Rachel shared that she never has an idea of a finished product and goes with the flow.

 

 

Here are a few more amazing creations by Rachel!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handmade Jewelry by Jewelry Artist Rachel of @grooovyforest on Instagram

 

 

 

THE DESIGN PROCESS

 

 

For Rachel, she doesn't really have a concrete design process. "No process other than seeing what materials I have left and how I can use them to create something." She said that she's always so surprised of how it turns out!

 

Asked to describe her design style, she said it's a mix of boho style and inspired by nature. 

 

 

 

JEWELRY DESIGN TIPS, TRICKS, AND HANDY TECHNIQUES

 

 

What's one design tip you one to share with your fellow artists? 

 

 

"Instagram is my best friend when it comes to rocks and tips on how to do different things better."

 

 

Do you have any technical advice on creating? 

 

 

"One piece of technical advice would be to always use hard solder on the first joint so that your piece doesn’t fall apart when adding more decor on your piece."

 

 

 

Any words of encouragement or tips to those who are starting out in the world of jewelry-making?

 

 

 

"Practice will make perfect. Plenty of material will goto waste. Start out with copper or brass to not waste silver because its so expensive! Always use floss when doing a cabochon placement to see if it fits. I have wasted so much material to find out that my cabochon doesn't fit and then its stuck in there 😂 and also, just have fun with it all mistakes end up being really cool designs sometimes."

 

 

 

Lastly, her message to the universe: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grooovyforest

Check out her Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/grooovyforest