Southport Magazine

I’m always stumbling across cool treasures on the ground like pretty rocks, pennies, and other trinkets. I was told when I was young that when I found a coin it was a message from a loved one that had passed away. So, I’ve always thought of them as little gifts from my dad. I have a jar with found objects like feathers and coins that sits on my desk and reminds me of him, and makes me feel connected to him again. One local artist has found a way to incorporate that love of found things into making unique jewelry. 

St. James artist Stephanie Maria Grocott, aka The Jewelry Psychic, often uses objects she has found in nature for her unique jewelry designs. “I love using resin to honor the surprising gifts I receive from nature, like feathers, deceased butterflies, or turtle shells I find when I go on during my bike rides, runs, doggie walks, or golf games.”

Grocott uses several different methods in creating her one-of-a-kind pieces. From upscaling vintage jewelry to preserving a butterfly in resin, her work is thoughtful and grounded in love. 

“Creating jewelry is a spiritual experience for me. It’s almost like prayer in action. It’s a physical way to honor the poetry of life,” she said. “My greatest inspiration is God’s daily sunsets, cloud art, the twists and turns of a tree branch, the biology and beauty of everything coming together to create this amazing world we live in. Besides the physical creativity I see in everyday nature, the abstract is also a muse like love, resilience, humor, maturity, growth, and the stories of these we witness in our lives,” she said. “I love finding interesting old pieces of jewelry and restoring them in my own fashion.”

Her business, The Jewelry Psychic, started as a concept centered around creating gifts that were personal to the recipient. She now has several different jewelry lines using resin, vintage silverware, metals, and crystals. 

“They would contact me and I’d create a piece for them based on my intuition and the feelings I’d receive about the eventual ’giftee’ of the piece. My grandmother was psychic and I believe I inherited some of her intuitive gifts, which I use now in my jewelry making endeavors,” she said. “I still make commissions from time to time, but I really love the freedom of creating whatever I want for whomever I want. I like to see what pieces resonate with people and why.”

Grocott is strongly influenced by the art of Frieda Kahlo. “Her life’s struggles and happiness explode through her art, and that’s kind of what I’m about,” said Grocott. “I majored in Spanish in college and traveled to Peru and Mexico, where I became fluent in Spanish. I fell in love with the Spanish culture,” she said. Grocott gives a lot of credit to her parents, who have always supported her dreams, even donating part of their garage for her metalworking. “My interests and dreams have changed, all the while, they patiently helped me chase them. They even donated part of their garage so I could pursue metalsmithing, meaning working with a torch and other cool tools. I am beyond thankful.” Although mostly self-taught, Grocott has taken several metalsmithing classes at Brunswick Community College in Southport. She even made her husband’s wedding band in class. “I feel so fortunate for the instructors there, who have really helped me dive deeper into expressing myself,” she said.

Inspirational messages and words adorn the jewelry in her Confidence line, often inspiring herself in the process. “I use jewelry as a healing solution for people in need of inspiration, including myself,” said Grocott. “I use metal stamping to honor a person’s favorite motivating quote or symbolize their goals or dreams. My favorite, at the moment, is one by Kurt Cobain, when he said ‘Thank you for the tragedy, I need it for my art.’ When I look at this message on my wrist, I am reminded that my personal challenges can be transformed into beautiful art. And, they have, and will continue to be,” she said. “Jewelry was always there for me when things got rough in the real world. I could escape my problems or other people’s drama by being spontaneous and getting lost in a creative act.”

Grocott also uses hand-picked crystals in her creations. “When I was studying in Peru in my early twenties, I discovered a love of collecting crystals,” she said. “I’ve become a huge collector and have merged my two passions, crystal collecting, and jewelry making. Most of my pieces involve unique, beautiful stones I believe are meant to help others through their journey. 

“An example of one of my ‘Formula Bracelets’ is one called ‘Grounding’. I use different crystals — Tiger Eye, Red Jasper, and Smokey Quartz, and they all work together to help ground the person who wears it,” she explained. “I have chosen crystals that are a formula for a specific intention.”

“My beadwork and business upkeep happens in a little office in our home. Every time I enter this space I take a deep breath and instantly feel relaxed. My crystal collection resides there, and every morning I start my day with yoga and stretching in the room. I burn incense and listen to old records I pick up from thrift stores. For me, one of the most exciting things about my jewelry journey is that my work is constantly evolving. I learn more and more and my pieces are becoming more and more complex. My art is a lifelong journey.” 

You can find The Jewelry Psychic at Crystal Web and the Inergy Market on Oak Island, and the new Artisans Gallery on Howe Street in Southport. www.thejewelrypsychic.com, her email: thejewelrypsychic@gmail.com and look for her Facebook page, The Jewelry Psychic.