We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Messer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

To be completely honest, my journey has mainly been trial and error. I have spent thousands of hours just trying new things and testing new techniques. I would have to say, guitar strings are probably some of the most rewarding, yet difficult materials to work with. There really aren’t any classes on how to use guitar string for jewelry design. I continue to learn new techniques every time I experiment with guitar strings. A lot of my designs also incorporate vintage pieces that are beyond repair. There is no right or wrong way and no instruction book when making designs like these.

I think the only thing that could have helped me speed up the learning process and help me overcome obvious obstacles, would have been spending more time focused on finding better techniques in the very beginning. This guitar string journey is about ten years in the making. I can’t tell you how many pieces I have taken apart and redone, because I was not happy with them, or how many times I have been slapped in the face with guitar strings while trying to put a design together. I think one of the most important lessons that I have learned is soldering is essential when making guitar string jewelry. In the beginning, I was using a cheap little soldering iron. My husband saw me struggling and purchased a digital soldering station for me. I have to say, that was well worth the investment!

Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Jennifer. I am a Georgia native. I did leave Georgia to live in Alaska for a bit. I have always been a very creative person. It runs in my family. When I was young, I would help my grandparents at craft markets and I was always enamored by the uniqueness and creativity that the vendors showcased. Seeing other peoples’ art always inspires me. About 13 years ago, I started dabbling in making jewelry. My husband is a guitar player in a local Atlanta band, Half Hot. When we started dating, around 10 years ago, there were so many guitar strings! Everywhere! They were just going in the trash. I thought there had to be a way I could use them, so I started to try and incorporate those into my designs. Then came the guitar picks and the focus on music related jewelry. I also like to collect broken vintage pieces that are beyond repair. I break those down and incorporate those into my designs as well. All my designs are one-of-a-kind. I want my pieces to be as unique as the individual wearing it. I don’t just create guitar string and guitar pick jewelry. I also do metal stamped bracelets, rings, and necklace pendants. I recently took a custom order for a metal stamped bookmark for a customer’s relative that, like me, is concerned with the overturning of Roe v Wade and what that looks like while dealing with infertility. It meant so much for me to be able to create that piece for her and it turned out amazing!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Individuality. Repurpose, reuse, recycle. My mission is to create something that can be loved and enjoyed from items that aren’t loved or enjoyed anymore.

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

The most rewarding moment is when someone tells me how much they love something that I made with my own two hands. It gives validation to what I am doing. It is in those moments that I know that I am not wasting my time. Those moments and connections fuel my art and inspire me to create. I know that I am putting something out into the world that no one else can.

Contact Info:

• Website: hurricanesparrow.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hurricanesparrow/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HurricaneSparrowDesigns
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hurricanesparrow

Image Credits
Sarah Raynes, Right as Raynes Photography