About Ivy Fen
Hello friends! I'm Lucy
I’m an introverted extrovert who absolutely loves the solitude of my own house with my two kitties, but I also go a bit barmy if left alone too long. (I’m also British, if you couldn’t tell from my use of odd words and pasty complexion).
I taught myself how to make jewellery in 2016 and haven’t stopped since!
My style has changed a lot over the years as my skills have developed; there’s always something new to learn with this craft so I feel like I’m constantly evolving. But that’s what keeps things interesting, right?
My aim from day one, however, has stayed the same – I want to make people who wear my work feel like the powerful, magical souls they are!
I grew up in the rural South East of England and was lucky enough to be surrounded by incredible historic landmarks right on my doorstep.
There are Tudor manor houses filled with old books and paintings, a Norman castle built on the remains of a Roman temple Boudicca burned to the ground in AD 60, and an Anglo Saxon burial site dating from the 6th Century no more than an hours drive from the house I grew up in.
So now, even though I live across the Atlantic in Canada, home still inspires a large portion of what I create today. I love the idea of keeping an old story alive for a new generation.
It's so important to know how your jewellery is made, and what it is made from
If you’re interested in seeing more of my process, I share videos on how items are made on my Instagram page – link below.
I’m currently not casting any elements which means each piece starts as metal sheet and wire, with occasional pre-made components such as hinged hoop earrings and chain.
I only work in sterling silver, fine silver, jewelers brass, and 24k gold foil. Each listing always displays exactly which metals have been used in each piece.
I now source metals from a company within Canada that supplies SCS certified 100% recycled silver and gold. I also try and recycle my own scraps whenever I can, and send the rest off for refining.
The name ivy fen
English Ivy always has been, and always will be, one of my favourite plants. I love how it covers old brick buildings and gravestones, and how it winds its way up old trees. Ivy leaves will forever be one of my favourite shapes to saw out of metal too. In fact, the pieces I'm most proud of creating were covered in silver ivy.
Fens are similar to marshes in the UK (which seems odd to want as part of your business name) but I became fascinated with them when I discovered Iron Age Celts would throw precious metal objects, such as swords & jewellery, into places that held water as a votive offering to the gods. Because of the environmental conditions of these fens and marshes, artifacts that are thousands of years old survived remarkably well, and continue to inspire me daily!
So the name Ivy Fen was born, a name that finally feels more "me".
