Meet Dani Winget | Jewelry Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dani Winget and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dani, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Mercurial Star Creations started as a creative container for me— an all-encompassing opportunity for my self expression to produce something that speaks to people. To be Mercurial is to be ever changing, sometimes brooding and moody with the constant inner shifting going on. I adapted this as a core identity in my business, convinced that even though for the last four years my expression has led me to jewelry making being the center of my creative process for my business, that didn’t mean I had to stick with it forever. My creativity can have this ever changing moodiness about it, so if one day I wanted to shift to making art prints, or fiber arts— I had made the space for myself to do so.
I was not even 21 yet when Mercurial Star started— I had a dream of centering creating in my career, of being my own boss, allowing my work ethic to drive me to success. I found no fulfillment in the opportunities I was finding before Mercurial Star found me. When I had enough with feeling like a cog in minimum wage jobs, I followed this opportunity that found me— all thanks to my mom, Christine Winget, owner of Earth’s Candy Crystals who led me on this path as well.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Throughout my life I’ve always wanted to pursue a creative path, as creativity has always been integral to my life. Mercurial Star Creations is my path toward exploring different facets of creativity. Since I founded my business in 2021 I’ve explored jewelry making as my main avenue for creativity, but to be mercurial is to be ever changing and exploratory, and I find this concept to be very important in my artistry. I love to explore different styles, to embody different personalities in my jewelry and this is how the concept of being mercurial has manifested in to my work so far. I’m proud of how far I’ve come in my business, built on hours upon hours of creating and trying new things– lots of trial and error over and over again. It hasn’t been easy to have a small business as an artist, especially as this is my main source of income and how I make a living. But I am devoted to creation and connecting with others through my art and there is so much my art has taught me about myself and the world around me. I’ve learned that being true to myself and expressing myself freely and unapologetically is the only path toward pride and joy in my life, and through my creations I hope to provide my clientele with adornments that can be used as tools for their own self expression.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Los Angeles. I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley and I’ve discovered such gems throughout Southern California in my life. I would definitely have a day in Pasadena– spend the day at the Huntington Gardens and end the day off with a stop at In-N-Out for dinner and the second hand craft shop Remainders in the evening. And I’d definitely encourage a venture out into a unique flea market filled with small businesses such as myself– Thick Thrift is my favorite, a plus-size inclusive flea market filled with so many creatives and an incredible supportive community down in the Arts District. Nearby is Little Tokyo, one of my favorite places as a teenager where there is so much amazing food to explore, cute shops to admire and plenty of photo ops. I’d spend a day showing someone around Northridge, the part of the valley I now call my home. I’d bring them to C-Frenz nearby in Reseda for karaoke night on Thursdays, the Northridge Farmers’ Market at the mall on Wednesday nights, and down to Cafe Aficionado for a lavender latte.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this to my mom, Christine Winget, owner of Earth’s Candy Crystals. My mom had encouraged me and enabled me to pursue my dream within my business and I am grateful to have worked alongside her for four years. She is a talented massage therapist and wise healer and mentor for her clientele and customers.

I also dedicate this to my partner Ashton, who is my biggest support as of late, always pushing me to explore creatively and encouraging to go out of my comfort zone with my art and with my business. Ashton, thank you for all you have taught me, I love you.

Website: https://mercurialstarcreations.com

Instagram: @mercurialstarcreations

Image Credits
Credit for every photo but the fourth go to my partner Ashton Money (@ratabstract on instagram)
Credit for the forth photo go to Steve Meier (@stevemeierphotography on instagram)