As a third generation silverware artist, Misty Nagan, owner of SilverWear by Misty, said she has carried on her grandmother’s tradition of upcycling vintage silverware into wearable art for more than eight years.
“My 86-year-young, spitfire grandmother is still creating heirloom pieces in Arizona,” she said. “She taught my mom, and I learned from her.”
The single mother of two said she travels to events all over the United States and has been a vendor at the Broadway market for eight years.
“I love the Broadway market,” she said. “It was my first event, and we have customers and vendors that became friends over the years.”
Nagan said she learned to use specialty tools – a mandrel, shears and drill – needed to repurpose the vintage silverware from her mother, Darlene, who she started out with together in Appleton.
Soon after, she said she branched out on her own and found a home at the Wednesday markets on Broadway nearly a decade ago.
Nagan said very little of her silverware stash goes to waste – using nearly everything to create a multitude of pieces.
“I typically stick to jewelry made out of vintage silverware, but do have key chains and barrettes,” she said. “I also offer custom orders on your heirloom silverware.”
Nagan said one of the things that makes SilverWear by Misty unique is its ability to size jewelry on the spot – being easily recognizable at the Farmers’ Market on Broadway by her orange rubber mallet.
“We offer sizing on rings and bracelets at our events,” she said. “And it’s unlimited sizing, so you can come back at any time.”
Nagan said the name of her business itself is an honor to her grandmother.
“My grandmother Vonnie used ‘SilverWear,’ so I added the “by Misty” for my line,” she said.