Behind Whispers From The Wild Path
My name is Heidi, I am the jewellery maker and designer at Whispers From The Wild Path. I have recently rebranded my business, previously Trinkets By Moonlight due to my change in passions and focus. I had run Trinkets by Moonlight for over 15 years, and it got me through those early years of motherhood, sat at night in my workshop creating whilst my babies slept, hence the name. But as they grew, so did I. I started to rethink what was important to me, what made me feel happy and fulfilled. It's funny as you raise your children all your focus goes into them and their needs, quite rightly so, however you forget what fulfils you and makes you tick as an individual.
Being out in nature
Along with my passion of hiking I also have a huge love of reading. One day I picked up The Salt Path by Raynor Winn and started reading and I just fell in love with it. Although we had spent many years holidaying in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, I hadn't really been aware of the full extent of the South West Coast Path route and the healing properties of it. Once I had finished the last page of the book, I set my family on a mission to start walking the South West Coast Path bit by bit. So, over the last few years we have been gradually working our way along little sections of it. We have a caravan so on the school holidays we park a little further along the route to cross more off our map. So far, we have completed Poole to Star Cross, about 115 miles, so we've still got a lot more to do. My girls are 13 and 17 now so not always so keen to go on another of "mum's hikes". I think maybe eventually it will just be me, my husband and our dog Douglas walking the path, but I hope I have taught my girls that being out in nature is so soothing to the soul and can help your mental as well as physical wellbeing.
Taking inspiration from the coastline
As we walk along the path the feeling of space, fresh air, the vastness of the ocean and the freedom is so empowering. My daughter told me that I look different when I'm walking, I think it's just the immediate relaxation I feel when I'm on the coast path, the sense of contentment. It was during one of our coastal hikes that I was thinking about some jewellery designs and how I could get this feeling into my jewellery? So, when you're at home, or in a stressful situation, you know one of those terrible drab Mondays when nothing's going right, how can I take someone to this moment, stood on the coastal path looking at that wide open space with the sense of freedom and release. I came up with some designs which are almost little pictures of the coastline, taking inspiration from the birds, wildflowers and of course the sea. So, in that drab awful day you can take a glimpse at your bangle or necklace and be taken back to that beautiful day on the coast path and know that there are more days like that to come. That was the moment I realised I needed to rebrand and came up with the name 'Whispers From The Wild Path' because that's what I hope my jewellery is doing, whispering to you, you'll be back here soon, just hang in there!
Design and sustainability
As nature is a key element in my designs, I ensure that my jewellery is made from recycled sterling silver, sometimes I like to add a bit of colour using copper, brass or gold accents. I create textures using metal stamps and hammers, or sometimes just random tools in order to get the effect I'm after. Recently I have been working with resin also so that I can collect flowers and grasses from the coast path and set them in resin, then you really do have a piece of the coast path with you at all times.
Along with using recycled sterling silver, all my packaging is also recyclable, and include a little thank you card on seed paper so you can plant them in your garden and grow some wildflowers of your own. For each sale I make I donate £1 to the South West Coast Path Association. Having over 600 miles of coast path to look after and being a charity-run organisation I felt that supporting it was a priority of mine. It has given myself and my family so many wonderful times and memories, along with millions of other people.
As my family and I continue our hikes along the South West Coast Path I know we'll continue to be amazed at how no two stretches seem to be the same and that's what keeps the inspiration flowing for me, you just never know what's around the corner. I just know that when I'm back at home I can always hear the Whispers From The Wild Path and that's what keeps me going!
Follow Heidi on social media and check out her shop
Instagram: @whispersfromthewildpath_
Facebook: @whispersfromthewildpath
Website: www.whispersfromthewildpath.com
About Heidi
Jewellery Designer Heidi Crocker from Hampshire creates jewellery inspired by her time spent walking the South West Coast Path with her family. She likes to think that wearing one of her designs is like carrying a piece of nature with you so you can feel its positive calming energy even on the darkest of days.
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