Hi, I’m Natalie.
I’m the creator behind faeriewigs. It’s kind of a silly name, but it’s not completely nonsensical! You can read where it came from in this origin post.
My first love was seed beading, the tiny glass beads that are used by Native Americans to adorn their traditional garments, musical instruments, and more. I have been smitten since I was first exposed to them through the YMCA Indian Princesses program that I attended with my father during elementary school.
In college I learned to weave bracelets and larger pieces, and then began exploring a variety of other stitches like flat and circular peyote. I also learned how to crochet with beads, so that I could recreate a beautiful necklace that belonged to my paternal grandmother.
Before I had kids, I splurged on a vacation week at the Bead & Button show, and one of the introductory classes I took gave me the glass bead-making bug. I fell in love with it, and I have spent many hours mesmerized by the intensity of the torch and the meditation that molten glass provides.
I’ve since developed a bunch of other crafty habits like card-making, which episodically result in colorful explosions of my craft room.
My latest love is metalsmithing, and that’s mostly what I write and post about here these days. I’ve built a little workspace in my garage and after a few introductory classes I’ve been learning on my own.
What first started as a simple hobby and distraction has blossomed into something more. Since I’ve started to share my work with family and friends, many people have asked me if I had plans to sell my work. While I still have a full time job, this site is my quiet entree into small business.
Thanks for following along with my crafting adventures here!
When I’m not making a mess in my workshop or craft room, I am an anthropologist and user experience (UX) executive. You can learn more about me and my work on my other site.