Fourteen years ago Stephanie Maslow, the metalsmithing innovator behind Metalicious, was in a boring job and desperate for a creative challenge. She enrolled at a local art school intending to learn how to throw clay, but the pottery class was full. Her only other option was metal shop. So she hammered her heart out and never looked back, soldering her way to a new professional identity.

Funny, direct, and a stickler for grammar, Stephanie has spent the past three years building her Etsy shop from the ground up as she redefines the notion of modern jewelry. Known in particular for her unique take on stacked rings, Stephanie manages to walk that line of serious personal adornment with her tongue-firmly-in-cheek.

And despite her success as a hip and hot jewelry designer, Stephanie takes nothing for granted, remaining grateful for the opportunities that have come her way, and the new friends she's made as a result. Sitting on her jewelry bench is a tin can-looking thing she forged from copper during that life-altering metalsmithing class. It reminds her how close she came to missing out on her true calling.

View (and purchase!) Stephanie's softly hard-edged line of jewelry in person at the {NewNew} Crafts in Chelsea on Saturday, October 16.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A day where I can make jewelry, play with my kids and go out to dinner and a movie with my husband. Oh, and eat chocolate and have it not affect my weight in any way.

What is your greatest fear?
Falling into a pit of vipers.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Eleanor Roosevelt. She had big chompers, too.

Which living person do you most admire?
Lorrie Veasey.

Do you have a theme song, and what is it?
Fat Bottomed Girls. It’s the only thing that can turn my frown upside down. Nothing like a feel good song to make me feel good.

What is the trait you most like in yourself?
Ability to see the good in every situation.

What is the trait you most like in others?
Commitment.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Facials. Second runner up: pedicures.

When and where were you happiest?
I try to find something happy about most days, so I guess that means here and now.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
So many things to change, here is a random list for today: my bad back, my moodiness and dependency on chocolate or food to make me feel better, my addiction to donuts, my inability to say no, my use of the computer as a procrastination tool, AND I should go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. But I just can’t seem to do it.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I should probably say my kids but I’m going to say overcoming my demons. Sometimes my children are my demons but that’s when I remember #9 above.

If you were to be reincarnated as a person, animal, or thing, what do you think you would be?
A housecat. They can jump SO high and get to sit in the sunlight or chase a piece of yarn or misbehave horribly and people just say, ‘well that’s a cat for you.’

What is your most treasured possession?
My kids. See? I do have a heart.

Which talent or skill would you most like to have?
Edit Undo. For everything in life. Things I do. Things I say. Things I make. Edit Undo. *poof * It’s gone!

Who are your heroes in real life?
My best friends Susan and Madelynn. My Mom. My husband. And firemen.

What is it the one thing you dislike the most?
Doing one thing at a time.

What is your motto?
Some people want a Coke, some want a Pepsi, some want Fanta. You can't be everything to everyone so focus on what you’re good at, not what you aren’t, and you’ll succeed.

Who are your favorite artists?
Computer programmers. Where would we be without them?

Is there any invention you wish you had thought of?
Computers.

What's the first thing you remember making?
A spectacle of myself; I love making people laugh.

Learn more about what gets Stephanie jazzed on her blog. In addition to her Etsy shop and Crafts in Chelsea, you can also find Metalicious jewelry at several brick-and-mortar spaces and on her website, www.metalicious.com.

Susan
persuede.etsy.com
jewelry made for you