We were lucky to catch up with Stacy Swinney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stacy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Doing the types of work I do- there is meaning in every single piece, collection, and ritual. My jewelry is thoughtfully created to the smallest details. Each piece has it’s own complicated set of numerology, astrology, and alchemy. My floral work centers around the Victorian Language of Flowers. And my Deathwork is about honoring the soul that has left us or is leaving us. In each instance my focus is creating something beautiful, long-lasting, and heartfelt for the person whom it belongs to. The meaning then becomes bigger then what I think of it – it becomes someone’s heirloom piece, a keepsake, or something healing. The meaning it takes on for someone else- means so much more to me than the meaning I found in it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Fortuna is intuitive-hand-crafted jewelry inspired by Tarot, Astrology, and Numerology. Using precious and semi-precious stones, sacred woods, bones, teeth and time tested metals to honor those tools of divination. Each piece is carefully and thoughtfully made to honor the wearer, and the elements used to create it. I think it is the intent to honor every element of every piece is something that sets us apart. And the numerology element is something you don’t see or hear a lot about.

I’ve been in Retail & Service for over 25 years, I wasn’t finding the type of jewelry I wanted to wear at prices that made sense to me. I had been having a hard time finding jewelry that told a story or had meaning to it that I could identify with. With these 3 components, I decided… I can do that, I can try to fill a gap I’m seeing. As I started wearing the pieces I was making, I started getting compliments about them. That’s when I really sat down, made a business plan and decided: I am going to do this. I wanted to create a brand that was an embodiment of my style of collecting, and personal aesthetic- but still keep it very accessible and affordable.

The things that I am most proud of with Fortuna is: it’s a piece of me and my craft that I am able to share and it’s a way to connect with other people on their own path as they follow their own craft. I am also very proud to say, in the past donations have been made to the following organizations: Planned Parenthood, ACLU, and The Okra Project. The way people have so freely given to me/my company, purchased from me, and supported me… I want to do that too. We want to find way to give back, and work towards supporting other organizations that do good throughout the community.

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

Truly… It is seeing my pieces in the wild.

I still freak-out & fan-girl internally when I see someone wearing one of my pieces, or a photo of one on somebody. It’s a feeling that never gets old.

If I see someone in public with one of my pieces on, I talk to them. When I see one of my stickers slapped on light pole it makes me smile. If I see one of my pieces in a photo someone shares – I feel so honored. It feels amazing to have strangers let my work come into their lives, and be on their journey with them.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Being true to myself.

I’m a collector. My entire life I’ve always had little boxes, vignettes, etc. filled with things that I love and bring me inspiration. Rocks, feathers, dried flowers, a found key. There was no limit to what these little things mean to me. With that in mind I work hard to create things that I love – but others will also love. I don’t make anything that I wouldn’t wear myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ohhfortuna.square.site/
• Instagram: @ohhfortuna @deathdouladfw
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohhfortuna , https://www.facebook.com/deathdouladfw
• Twitter: @ohhfortuna
• Other: TikTok: @ohhfortuna @deathdouladfw