About Ivy Fen
my story
My metalsmithing journey started 3000 miles away in my hometown in suffolk, england.
I consider myself very lucky to have grown up in the rural English countryside. Not only was I surrounded by gorgeous old woodland and coastline, I also had 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 during her revolt 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. It's no wonder I went on to study History at university. As a child, I was obsessed.
But I'd also grown up creative as well. My Grandmother, an incredible watercolour artist and lace-maker, had us drawing on giant rolled out pieces of paper on the floor as soon as we could hold pencils. But Art was never my strong suit at school. I knew I was creative but I just hadn't found the right medium yet.
So, in 2016, after spending a few years travelling the world, and, fueled by a burning desire to never again work a job I hated, I channeled my love of history, folklore, travel, reading, and symbolism into learning a new craft that would combine all the things I loved and change my life forever. In 2017 I packed all of my tools into a suitcase and moved across the ocean to start a new chapter in Canada. Creating jewellery has been my full time job now for seven years.
My designs are largely inspired by home, as well as legends and tales from further ashore. I aim to create jewellery that becomes more than just decoration: my goal is for each piece to keep an old story alive for a new generation.
I'm always transparent about my process (you can see in-depth videos on how items are made over on my Instagram account - link at the bottom of this page). I'm currently not casting any items 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, 24k gold foil, and jewelers brass. Each listing always displays exactly what metals have been used in each piece. I now source from a company within Canada that supplies SCS certified 100% recycled silver and gold.
The name ivy fen
For almost nine years my business was named Kura Kura, but I'd known for some time that it didn't fit me anymore. The longer I lived in Canada, the more I realized I wanted my new name to be an ode to England. Although a nuisance to some, English Ivy is 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.
And then I also wanted a historic link to the name as well. 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 often throw precious metal objects into places that held water as a votive offering to the gods. Because of the environmental conditions, artifacts that are thousands of years old have survived remarkably well.
So the name Ivy Fen was born, a name that finally feels more "me".