We were lucky to catch up with Victoria Radermacher recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Victoria , thanks for 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.

I first learned about spoon rings through social media in 2020. I was mesmerized by the thought of turning a seemingly ordinary piece of silverware into a unique and beautiful piece of jewelry. I quickly determined that I needed to have some spoon rings of my own, and naively thought that I could make one with simple tools I had around the house. I went out and bought some spoons from the thrift store and gave it by best to cut, sand, and bend the spoon to fit my finger. However, after hours of trying to just bend the piece of silverware with two pliers and brute force, I ended up with a ring that was oddly shaped and incomplete. I could have given up at this point, or simply bought a ring from an existing spoon ring business, but I was too invested in this project, and extremely interested in the craft as a whole. I started researching the correct equipment needed to make spoon rings and discovered I needed a steel press that was about $400, among other smaller tools like a bolt cutter and Dremel. I impulsively bought all this equipment, justifying the purchase as my new “covid hobby” and that I would sell a few rings to friends and family to pay off the press. Once I started using the correct equipment and seeing the beautiful rings I could create, I knew it wasn’t going to be just a covid hobby, and Rad Rings was born.

Victoria , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Tori Radermacher and I am the owner of Rad Rings! I am 23 years old and work full time as a biomedical engineer while coaching youth volleyball and running my small business on the side.

I started making spoon rings in my college dorm in January 2021. I was so passionate about this craft right from the start because of what it represents. These rings demonstrate that something as simple as an old spoon, otherwise destined for the landfill, can be turned into beautiful jewelry that will last a lifetime. Not only does vintage silverware often have amazing designs engraved in the piece, they are also waterproof and wont tarnish due to the nature of their original purpose. It seemed like such a no-brainer to me that I should share this sustainable jewelry alternative with as many people as possible.

I am most proud of my business for staying true to my original goal, providing beautiful, sustainable, and affordable jewelry to everyone. I ensure all silverware that I purchase is second-hand, typically from thrift stores, antique shops, or facebook marketplace. I also strive to price my rings as fair as possible so the choice for customers deciding between a small business and fast fashion is simple.

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

The most rewarding aspect of this journey has been sharing this craft with my little corner of the world. As an artist I think it is very easy to get caught up in thinking “is anyone really going to care about this?”, “why would anyone want to spend their hard earned money on my stuff?”, but one person stopping and complimenting your booth at a fair, or ordering from your shop pushes all those negative feelings away. I love nothing more than getting to explain to someone what spoon rings are, how I make them, or how I got started.

For these reasons I love selling my rings in person at a farmers market or art show versus selling online. When people stop by and check out my booth having no clue what a spoon ring is, I get to share how cool the craft is, for its history, sustainability, beauty, and durability. Customers are in awe when I tell them the ring they picked out is made from a sterling silver spoon from the 1960’s, or that it will never tarnish or oxidize and turn your fingers green like so many fast fashion rings. Each time I am able to share the wonder of spoon rings with someone, those thoughts of self doubt grow more and more distant.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

By now we have all heard the phrase “Shop Small”, urging people to purchase from small businesses or individual creators whenever possible. While this is a great motto, it is not always feasible, nor the only way to support artists. Due to the nature of our capitalistic society, it is unrealistic to expect someone is able to shop small 24/7, and we shouldn’t shame others for when they are unable to.

In addition to simply purchasing from a small business, you can support them by following/sharing their social media and website, getting more exposure is bound to lead to more sales. If you already own an item from them, post it on your social media and tag the artist, or tell your close family and friends and pass on their information.

In addition to social media, you can support by attending local farmers markets/craft shows in your area. Like I shared above, someone just stopping a booth or asking an artist about their process can give them the encouragement to keep creating. As the holiday season approaches, I encourage you to find a local gift/craft show and buy your loved ones gifts from small businesses.

Lastly, for the creative ecosystem to continue to thrive, artists should support other artists! There is enough room for everyone to have and sell their craft. Artists working together by sharing each other on social media, or purchasing from each other has a beneficial outcome for both parties.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/radringsshop
• Instagram: rad_rings_