Artist Profile

SD: Tell us a little about your background, where you were raised?

ALEXA HIRST: In the early 1970s, my parents left New York City to teach Head Start on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which is in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I was born while they were living there, and we stayed there most of the time until I was about eight years old. So I lived as a child in a very small, very unique community with no cars and no television. That experience had a major impact on who I am today, and it also provided a lot of my creative inspiration. 

I am an only child, so I had to entertain myself a lot, and I think that made me a little more creative! I started writing and illustrating my own books before I even started kindergarten. I have always loved fashion and I used to design and sew outfits for my dolls—although I think I have improved on what was my favorite color combination—pink and yellow.

My mother has made silver jewelry for years—in the Southwestern style. She has created some exquisite pieces, but has always done this just as a hobby—making wonderful gifts for friends and family.  

SD: When did you start designing your own jewelry?   

ALEXA HURST: I had the opportunity when I was growing up in the Grand Canyon in Arizona to learn traditional Havasupai arts and crafts—particularly beadwork. Havasupai Indian women make intricately beautiful beaded shawls that they wear on special occasions. I first became interested in making jewelry around the age of [seven] because I wanted to learn how to work with the same beads that the Indian craftswomen used.

I dabbled with jewelry making on a more serious level during high school, when my mother taught me how to solder and create silver jewelry. However, I only started designing jewelry seriously during the summer about a year ago. I had just finished graduate school and was living in Santa Monica for the summer. I had a “real” job lined up, but was not planning to start until September. I relaxed in the California sun for about a week before I decided I needed something to keep me busy and started designing new styles of jewelry. I had never tried wire-wrapping before, but thought I could probably learn how. I spent some time doing research, reading about techniques and got myself some materials to practice with. It wasn't too long before I had filled up an entire bin with my creations.

SD: What are your other interests and hobbies?

ALEXA HIRST: I especially enjoy being active and playing sports. I grew up running, swimming, and competing in downhill ski racing. (Most of my ski racing was done in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where my family moved after I spent the first part of my life in the Grand Canyon.)

 I work full time in a standard day job (as a public policy consultant) and run my business in my spare time. My main job keeps me inside all day, so I look forward to any chance I can find to spend time enjoying the outdoors, hiking, and camping.

As far as my education goes, I have a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in public policy, both from Harvard—although I don’t use these too much in my jewelry business.  

I also love travel—and try to get away from major tourist destinations in the places I visit so I can experience a little more of the local culture. In the past year, I spent time in Israel, the Kingdom of Jordan, and Mexico, and can't wait for some new adventures. 

The Loopy Monkey Collection

SD: What inspires your jewelry design?

ALEXA HIRST: I take inspiration from a few things that are reflected in the jewelry I design.

First, the environment that surrounded me as I was growing up in the Southwest is mirrored in the shapes and minimalist style of my designs and my preference for natural colors. I also like using and mixing natural materials, like leather and stone. Often, I will start a piece around a particular stone or shape that inspires me.

Second, my maternal grandmother had a fantastic collection of costume jewelry, which I inherited when I was young. Some of the rhinestone pins and earrings are big and colorful. I like the bold, unique statement they make. I try to create pieces that stand out and that the wearer can use to express her personality—though maybe in a slightly more subtle way than those of the pieces I inherited.

Finally, I've always been a big reader. I love literature and the books that I've read really evoke strong feelings in me. In the same way, as I think about the design for a piece that I'm going to create, I think about what its elements symbolize to me, or how they remind me of a novel I've read ... I especially gravitate toward those with strong female heroines. 

SD: Why have you chosen jewelry design as a means to express your creativity?      

ALEXA HIRST: I enjoy the artistry of jewelry. It has so many different forms and is a very flexible medium. I like the fact that jewelry is something that works well on anyone. Regardless of size, shape, or age, it's something that you can use to enhance your self-image and express yourself. Ever since I can remember, I've loved wearing jewelry myself because the right pieces can completely transform your look.

 SD: What is your favorite jewelry material to work with and why?  

ALEXA HIRST: Natural materials like leather and stone are some of my favorites to work with. I find a lot of beauty in the imperfections and uniqueness of natural materials.

SD: Do you have any favorites from your collection?

ALEXA HIRST: My favorite pieces that are currently available on Loopy Monkey are:  Sophisticate earrings, Calyx earrings, Corolla necklace, Minister in a Maze necklace, and Icicles bracelet. Sophisticate, Calyx, and Corolla all feature leather-wrapped silver in combination with delicate stones. I like these because they contain a lot of detail and texture that you may not even notice until you take a close look. I like Minister in a Maze because of its simplicity—I find the design and the monochromatic colors very soothing. Finally, I just love Icicles because it can give any outfit a little flash, but at the same time, it is very classic.

SD: How long does it take to design a piece of jewelry from conception to finished product?  

ALEXA HIRST: I think a lot about a design before I actually create the finished product, but I tend to work on a design straight through from start to finish. So, depending on how involved the design is and how busy I am—perhaps a day or two. Sometimes, I draw my concept out on paper, but I am usually so antsy to get started on it that I leave the drawing half-finished. Other times, I start by planning around materials that I could use together or am inspired by the shape of an everyday object and try to create something based on that. Of course, once I start creating it, the piece may go in an entirely different direction. But that's what I love about the creative process.

The Loopy Monkey Company and Future Plans

SD: Tell us about your company, Loopy Monkey, and your partner, Bret. How did you come up with that wonderfully whimsical name?

ALEXA HIRST: Loopy Monkey is a joint creation, established by me and my business partner, Bret. We started the site in the fall of 2005.  We put up the website in response to demand from our friends and family to share our creations. It has been a great deal of fun to continue to build and improve it.  

I am the lead designer. I design and manage the creation of the original pieces of artwork that are available on Loopy Monkey. All pieces are handmade and of unique design.

Bret is a friend of mine who encouraged me to start selling my pieces. By coincidence, he is an MBA with great business sense and his hobby is web design. Around the time I started to become more interested in jewelry making, he offered to create a website for me to sell my designs. He helps with the logistics of the sale of Loopy Monkey's accessories to customers.

The name Loopy Monkey came from a silly nickname I have for my Siamese cat. He reminds me a little of a monkey when he plays around the house!

 SD: Do you have plans to expand your jewelry design business?     

ALEXA HIRST: Yes, we do have plans to expand our jewelry business. We hope to do so by continuing to design unique pieces, manufacturing them at the highest-possible quality, and giving our customers a great buying experience. Any ideas your readers would like to share with us would be very much appreciated! (I can be reached at alexa@loopymonkey.com)

We are in the process of implementing a major website redesign. What you currently see is the initial version of our website, which was our first shot at putting the concept together. Now we're in the process of creating a new look—and adding some fun new features. We are basing many of these changes on feedback that we have received from people who have visited our website. We expect the new version of the site to go live sometime in the summer ... stay tuned!    

So far, a lot of our sales have been through word-of-mouth, although we have done some experimental advertising of different types. We are still trying to settle upon the best approach and are trying to do more to get the word out about Loopy Monkey.

We are also thinking about how to streamline the number and type of products we offer. We're looking at what items are the most popular ... and we have a number of new items that we will be adding throughout the year. 

Visit Loopy Monkey at www.loopymonkey.com