Forged with Passion: How Chloe Hannan Creates Beauty from Sterling Silver

In this interview, we explore the inspiring journey of Chloe Hannan, the self-taught metalsmith behind Solar Wilds, who crafts handmade sterling silver jewelry. From the moment her passion was sparked to the values that guide her work, Chloe shares thoughtful insights into her artistic process, the realities of running a creative business, and the joy she finds in both her craft and life. Discover more in Chloe's interview.

Please tell us what you make.

I'm a metalsmith, and I make handmade sterling silver jewelry. A lot of my work is hand-fabricated, meaning that I start from a sheet of sterling silver and some wire, but I also really enjoy wax-casting pieces as well. For the past year or so, a lot of my work has had strong coastal influences, as I spend a lot of time on the coast of Maine, and it brings a lot of joy and a sense of calmness to my life.

How did you come to this work, and when did it shift from something you did for fun into a business?

Like many people, I realized during the pandemic that I didn't really have enough substantial hobbies. I enjoyed reading, hanging out with my friends, and watching some shows - but once the world shut down, I realized I needed more. I started exploring different mediums to see what stuck and finally settled on metalsmithing. I used to be a bit of a serial hobbyist, as in, I would try lots of things, but nothing really stuck for long. I like to say what keeps me sucked into metalsmithing is that there is always, always something new to learn. You can't get bored because you can pivot to a new technique or way of making!

I sold my first pieces about four months after picking up my torch for the first time. I always knew I wanted to turn this into a business because I think it's just so empowering to have something I built on my own and to have full creative direction over it.

How does your work connect to a community, tradition, or set of values you care about?

All my cabochons are sourced from small-batch lapidary artists in the United States, meaning that when you support my small business, you're actually supporting two small businesses in one. I think this also leads into something else that I find important - sustainability wherever possible. All of my packaging is from recycled materials, and I do my best to limit waste where I can.

What are you working on now, or what's the piece of work you're most excited about right now?

I'm making my most recent pieces from scraps of sterling silver that I've hoarded over the years and melted down to make little charms of — I'm excited to share when they're done! Speaking of always learning new things as a metalsmith, I'm currently attempting to learn how to grain-set stones. This is essentially raising a small piece of silver (or a "grain") on a few sides of a gemstone and then pressing it down to hold the stone in place. Almost like itty bitty prongs. Of the settings I've learned, this has been the more frustrating one to learn, but I know it'll be worth it once I get it down!

What's something about running a creative business you wish more people understood?

I say all the time that I wish I could give my pieces away for free! But what I really mean in this is that there are so many hidden costs in running a business — more than I ever would have realized before starting mine. When a piece costs more than you think it should, instead of criticizing the artist's prices, maybe take a step back and think of the website fees, photography time, making time, shipping fees, taxes, material costs, etc., that all factor into that price.

What's the most useful piece of advice you'd give to someone just starting their creative business?

Don't try to make everything for everyone; focus on what you love to make and what fills your cup, and the people who are the right fit for your business will find you. Also, no matter what, every piece finds its human eventually — no matter how long it sits waiting for them!

What brings you joy outside of your work?

I enjoy reading, spending time outside — especially walking or hiking along the coast — relaxing with my partner, cuddling my cats, and I have recently picked up water coloring.

 Thanks, Chloe! You can find out more about Solar Wilds at www.solarwilds.com.

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.