About

Each piece I create is a whisper from the fairies…

Origin Story & Wire-Work

Wire-wrapping was the first jewelry technique I had taught myself back in August 2020 and was the first time anything had ever truly made time fly. One minute quickly turned into one hour, which just as easily turned into an entire day spent dedicated to weaving copper. During this time of experimentation, I was on the hunt for a job as a 16 year-old sophomore in high school. My options however, were limited due to COVID. But after I realized I was making wire jewelry at all hours of the day (including those hours spent on my computer for school zoom classes), it wasn’t long before I decided to open my own Etsy shop: Live Beyond Limitation

The name, Live Beyond Limitation was not born when I began this jewelry business. COVID, as we know, was a time for self-reflection. For some, that meant no longer running from their own internal struggles by staying externally pre-occupied. One could no longer physically distract themselves to avoid spending time alone with their thoughts. Live Beyond Limitation began as a blog dedicated to sharing my personal battles I was facing at the time.*

*(More details can be found in my blog section or through an interview from VoyageATL back in 2022: https://voyageatl.com/interview/meet-mckenna-weinbaum-of-atlanta/ )

My creative process as a jeweler and artist can be best described as intuitive and exploratory. Going into a project, I am much more drawn to letting processes guide me moment-by-moment rather than heavily planning an outcome. It’s sort of like doing a puzzle where I don’t know the final picture until the pieces start fitting together…

Metalwork

Gemstone-Setting Final Project: Filigree Mask

In August 2022, I began my undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia as a Jewelry & Metalwork major. I went into college intending on being in Musical Theater, but something intrinsic clicked when I took my first intro to jewelry class. My love for performance still keeps me active outside of the studio, and my theatrical nature seems to embed itself into everything I create anyway!

Filigree

Although I’ve found myself working on all scales, filigree has been a technique I have consistently found myself entranced by. There is something so connecting about getting into a flow-state with these tiny, intricate pieces and something so gratifying when the reflection of the microcosm gets displayed out in front of you. I have always been process-oriented and find the meaning of the piece after.

Resin, Design, & Up-Cycling

Towards the beginning of my creative journey, I had an unexpected encounter as I stepped outside and saw a perfectly placed pair of cicada wings resting on my doorstep. I knew I wanted to preserve and honor them somehow, which inspired my fairy series. I use natural wings or design epoxy wings to pair with keys that act as bodies. This is often the work I am most recognized for, as it is the work I repetitively make for booths and festivals as a vendor. My time as a creator has been semi-split into school-taught metalworking and this mixed-media production.

What do the wings symbolize?

Just as my brand is titled, the wings symbolize the power of transformation and liberation. Just as a key can unlock doors and grant access to new and enchanting places, the wings represent the ability to transcend limitations and take flight into a realm of infinite possibilities. Both aspects serve as a reminder that we all possess the innate potential to live beyond the constraints of our circumstances, to embrace our inner magic, and to explore this world with a boundless curiosity and wonder.