Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Margeve Horgan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Margeve, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents taught me the power of pursuing a career that reflects who you are and what you deeply care about. Growing up, I watched them approach their work not as a job, but as an extension of their passions. They showed me that a career can be so much more than a way to earn a living—it can be a way to make a meaningful impact.

My mother built a nonprofit from the ground up. I saw her transform an idea into a respected organization with the focus being to create a more compassionate world for animals. As I have ventured into my own artistic career, my mother has been my biggest supporter. She understands what it takes to start your own passion project and see it through. I rely on her sage advice very often.

My father was a self taught stained glass artist. I grew up sitting at his work bench in constant awe and wonder at his creative process. I actually made my first “pendant” at the bench with him when I was five. It was a stained glass heart that I still have today. That was the first time I was introduced to creating with my hands. Although it did take me years to realize that my hands were my artistic tool, the seed was planted then.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Gev Gems began as a journey of self-discovery during the Covid 19 quarantine. With my newly found free time, the question that kept popping up for me was, “What is your why?” I knew that a shift needed to happen. I wanted to find a career that I was passionate about.

Prior to the lockdown, I had taken part in a short intro-to-ring-making class. I remember driving home that day, staring at the ring I had made. Saying repeatedly in my head, “I made this?!” In that moment, the flame had been ignited. I wanted to learn everything I could about this craft and give it a try. When the mandated quarantine happened, I went to YouTube and watched every silversmith process video I could get my eyes on. From there, I started buying the basic tools necessary to learn the craft.

I hand fabricate each piece of jewelry made with sterling silver & authentic stones. I source stones and minerals directly from miners and lapidarists. It is important for me to know the origin of the materials that I work with. I aim to always highlight the natural beauty of the minerals that Mama Earth has created. My design style is to accompany the beauty of the stone & not overpower it.

I am most proud of being a self taught silversmith. Teaching yourself a skill comes with so many moments of fulfillment, frustration, problem solving & perseverance. It is a constant learning process. There is really never a failure when I’m creating. Each “failure” is a valuable lesson on what I can do differently the next time. Some of my favorite pieces have come by accident. I have learned many important lessons at the bench that can apply to how I move through my life and this world.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing a piece of jewelry that I created find its new home. There’s something magical in witnessing someone connect with my work, choosing to make it a part of their life. Jewelry is more than a style statement, It holds deep sentimental value for many people. It becomes intertwined with memories, places, and people. Often, jewelry transforms into an heirloom that connects generations.

The entire process itself is immensely rewarding, from the spark of an idea to the final piece. When I’m at the bench I am able to tap into a flow meditative state. I enjoy the process of crafting a piece with my hands. Watching the silver embellishments start to take shape is extremely satisfying. Spending time crafting at the bench has been an integral part of my journey to finding my own voice.

One thing that makes me sad is that my dad died in 2003, and he is not here to see me develop my craft. He’s not here to discuss the process with me or to offer me guidance. But, I know he would have been thrilled that I followed in his footsteps and that I am focused on creating art, as he did. When I’m at the bench, I reconnect with him and feel a closeness that I can’t feel anywhere else. It’s another gift that I get from this work.

Making art that ventures out into the world as someone else’s creative expression is the best payment I could ask for. We can either be paid for our souls or paid for our soul filled work. Once you get a taste of the latter, you’re hooked! Now that question of “What is your why?” has been replaced with a statement. “Remember your why”

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson that I had to unlearn was my concept of what it means to be an “Artist”. For years I had this idea that an artist is one who sits down and can easily draw/paint an amazing piece of art. To be a true artist, one must be filled to the brim with creative ideas spewing out of them.

While that may be true for others, it has definitely not been the case for me. I’ve had to learn that creativity takes time and there is no right way to be an Artist. There is no blueprint to follow or course we can take to guide us on how to find our own creative style. We each have our own unique process that allows creativity to flow. It has been a journey to learn where and how I find inspiration for my art.

I found that the more I connect with my intuition, spend time in nature and self reflection, the more creative I become. The biggest piece of advice I can offer on this is to drown out the inner critic. Art isn’t meant to be perfect. What makes great art is that it comes from the soul. Let yourself create freely without the constraint of the perfect end result. Once I let go of needing pieces to be perfect, the better my work came out! Embracing this approach has allowed me to access my creativity in a more meaningful and authentic way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gevgems.com
• Instagram: @gevgems
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gevgems

Image Credits

Derek Lent
Instagram: @derekdoesphoto