Meet Mouzhan of Spiral Moon Jewelry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mouzhan.

Mouzhan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was a child, my mom would often have a tiny treasure to hand me as she arrived to pick me up from school. Many times the little gift would be an artistic notebook, various stationery, or a compact set of art supplies. One time it happened to be a small beginner’s jewelry-making kit, complete with craft wire, findings, and a collection of colorful beads. Although a craftsman and engineer, my dad wasn’t too concerned with jewelry-making, but he had already instilled in me the necessary base skill of how to properly use different tools and how to fix or construct items.

As I grew up, my personal jewelry collection grew, and my artistic taste evolved. Fairs and festivals were my favorite places to visit to see artists’ work, notice the details in their craftsmanship, and witness the colorful aesthetic choices available. I continued to create small gift pieces for family and friends, and they would encourage me to sell my art, but it wasn’t until the spring of 2007 that I finally decided to name my business. That season I was designing earrings primarily using a technique where I would spiral wire to create a disc, fan, and cascade the spiral discs on chain, and add bead accents.

My love of nature, the moon as a strong female symbol, and the cyclical pattern of time that a spiral can represent brought me to the name ‘Spiral Moon.’ By 2009 I had founded my small business and opened an Etsy account online. Co-workers and friends would model my pieces, and I began learning how to capture the many facets of a jewelry piece in a photograph. Although my work table was no bigger than a cutting board, the room I was renting in San Francisco had a direct view to Golden Gate Park across the street!

Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, social media platforms had sprouted and were in full bloom. It was now easier than ever for everyone to get the word out about their craft, hobbies, or lifestyle. I decided it was a great time to do just that, and so I officially launched Spiral Moon Jewelry. I created the blue Spiral Moon logo by carving a spiral into a piece of cork, and to this day still, use it as a stamp on the packaging.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The designing and creating a portion of what I do has been a fairly smooth road. There was one particular point early on when I was asked by an art gallery to ‘audition’ my work in front of a group.

Although it was nice to have been called in for the opportunity, it wasn’t the easiest position to be in. As a musician/performer I can relate to these experiences from another helpful perspective.

At times it helps to be in situations that take us out of our comfort zones. Whether we do it on our own accord or have an audience, sometimes the act of breaking apart our personal work into all its parts helps us better see the whole.

Spiral Moon Jewelry – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My company is called Spiral Moon Jewelry and is based in L.A. I design and hand-create wire-wrapped jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings) using sterling silver or gold wire, semi-precious stones, and glass beads. I’m known for my variety of styles and seasonal changes. Most of my pieces, except for some choice popular ones, are one-of-a-kind and therefore labeled ‘designer.’

Once I’ve created the piece, there will never be another one like it, so my buyers will have a truly unique piece of art! I take pride in the fact that each piece I make is made with structural integrity in mind. Given proper jewelry care, I guarantee my pieces to last a lifetime! Each placement of jump rings and each wrap of the wire is done so that the piece has stones or beads properly adhered, is visually appealing, facing or falling in the correct direction, comfortable to wear, and free of weak-points.

I avoid using glues as I believe that a good wire-wrapped design will be strong and beautiful and bring joy to the wearer for many years. When creativity hits and I create a new piece of jewelry, the finished product is as much of a surprise to me as it is to others. Who knows what a new day will bring — that there is the excitement!

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is achieving the small goals that lead up the stairs to the big dream. Success is completion of a task, big or small. It is also ever-changing and fluid, so the definition of success is different for each individual. I’ve created an outline that I believe will help me achieve my dream. There are markers I should be reaching monthly, weekly, and daily. I remind myself to keep up with the small steps, and that as long as I’m checking them off the list, I’m on the right path.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/spiralmoonjewelry
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @spiralmoonjewelry
• Facebook: facebook.com/spiralmoonjewelry

Image Credit:
Mouzhan, Sylvain Carton, Fouzhan Yousefi

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