Meet the Maker - byMaraca

Meet Mareike Wehner, the jewellery maker and metalsmith behind ByMaraca, Traditional Silversmithing for Non-Traditional People.

What did you do before creating ByMaraca?

“I’ve got quite a history in artistic endeavours, having studied art (and art history) in Germany to master’s level before moving to the UK in my mid-twenties. The artisan and crafting communities here in the UK are very unique, though, I think. The appreciation for handmade is wonderful, and something that inspired my first little business which was in prints and etchings. I started that while living in Bristol and really loved being part of the creative community there, which is absolutely buzzing. I did that for a few years before silversmithing stole my heart, and I was able to apply lots of the experience, from attending markets to running an online shop and even product photography and accounting in byMaraca. I started that officially in 2020 and it’s consistently and organically gotten bigger ever since. In 2021, I moved to the North, finally settling on the Wirral, and I’m so excited that byMaraca moved and has grown with me, with big plans finally coming into fruition, like giving workshops!”  

What is the main inspiration behind your style?

“The main inspiration behind my style is, well, myself! I make what I would (and do!) wear. Many prototypes are on my ears and fingers for weeks or months before I decide to make a batch for my shop, my stockists or for events. I love the appreciation for handmade, so I purposely want my jewellery to look that way: handmade, showing the love, passion, time, blood (sometimes literally) and thought going into it. After all, if it looks machine-made, I might as well buy something machine-made instead. But if you can see the hammer marks or the texture that fire leaves on metal, isn’t that so exciting?”

Describe your studio.

“My current studio is the spare room/office in my house. It’s chocker. I’m certainly a creative-chaos kind of person! On one side, I have my work bench with all my tools and materials, market displays and books, on the other is my packing station for shop and wholesale orders. I offer an option to select reused packaging on my online orders, so naturally there is a stack of cardboard boxes precariously piled up on shelves, there’s a ‘to polish’ section and a box of prototypes that didn’t work out and are waiting to be melted down to become something new. At the far end is my desk and computer for the admin side of things (and my day job). It’s all a lot, and I wouldn’t change a thing – except maybe for even more storage!”

Can you describe your creative process?

“Some silversmiths work by envisioning a piece, drawing it in great detail, making a plan and then realising it. I’m more the see-what-happens kind of silversmith! My inspiration comes from everywhere and anywhere, from looking in shop windows and on Pinterest, from seeing others wearing cool jewellery or from travelling. I absorb and process it all to a point where it distorts into something new, and that’s when I know it’s mine. This process can take weeks or months, or sometimes it takes 10 minutes before I have to get ready for an event for which I clearly need a new piece.”

Do you have a favourite part of the making stage you most enjoy?

“I do love playing with fire! So whenever the blow torch comes out, I’m happy. The polishing however can be a little less exciting, but since it leads to being able to see the final piece for the first time – it’s worth it!”

What are your goals for 2025?

“This year, I’m finally realizing two major dreams: firstly, I’m attending my first trade show presenting my work to more shop owners and stockists. Despite stocking or having stocked with almost 20 shops as this stage, the feeling of seeing my jewellery in a shop is still wonderfully surreal!

The other dream I’m finally putting into action is teaching silversmithing. Passionate people make the best teachers, I think, so hopefully my students will learn lots! There will be announcements soon via my mailing list and social media, but I have found a wonderful space in Liverpool that will be able to host about 10 students at a time, and I can’t wait to instruct and watch like-minded people make their first pieces!”

www.byMaracajewellery.com