Words: Lara Pacillo // Photos: Fencesitter
When Heather McNab was 20 years old, she made earrings out of Bunnings fencing wire. She saw wire jewellery gain momentum in the late 2010s and decided to try handmaking some herself. This moment marked the birth of her business Fencesitter; now almost six years on, Heather’s collection of jewellery is an amalgamation of repurposed op-shop finds, handcrafted wirework, and pieces that never need to be taken off.
“We definitely bring in styles that are more for special occasions, but most pieces focus on practicality and style while not breaking the bank,” Heather says.
“I kind of do a bit of everything. I like being able to be a bit of a chameleon brand and dip my toe in new styles. It definitely means that it’s gone in directions that I didn’t think it would ever go in.”
Fencesitter feeds the now 25-year-old’s love for creative expression. While still stocking her handmade wire range, Heather’s shifted into new styles and new ways of producing.
Through her current collection, Heather brings forth hearty pieces embellished with freshwater pearls, beads, and charms she comes across. Repurposing involves scouting thrift stores for high-quality pieces, deconstructing them, and reworking them into trendy new styles.
“I love op shopping, so I find any excuse to upcycle. I might find beaded necklaces and gold-plated chains, and I revamp them and give them new life.”
These pieces join manufactured showerproof styles that are stainless steel, sterling silver, or gold-plated and are made to “wear to death”.
While she’s never been taught jewellery making, she moves laterally through crafting. Heather works through trial and error and creates special pieces through doing so.
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“I’ve learned if you can draw it in one line without your pencil leaving the page, you can make it with wire,” she says.
“Creating is a skill I’ve just sort of picked up. When you do lots of crafts, it’s not that hard to pick up a pair of pliers where you would have been using scissors, and just figure out how to use them. It’s kind of second nature to me; I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
Fencesitter workshops are her way of sharing her craft with others. Collaborating with venues such as Summertown Studio, Karma and Crow, and See Someone Store — with wine and snacks alongside — Heather guides participants on wirework, or uses beads and charms from tired op-shop finds to create unique pieces.
Heather has also partnered with businesses to create commissioned pieces for key events. She’s designed earrings with Monarto Safari Park, as well as the State Opera South Australia in celebration of their production Voss.
While the Fencesitter collections are currently stocked in numerous cafés and gift stores in South Australia and interstate, markets are a big part of her business and have been from day one. She sold her very first pieces alongside clothes she was reselling at Gilles Street Market when located at Gilles Street Primary School. She’s now a regular stallholder at Gilles at The Grounds, among other local markets, and has this year began setting up stalls at music festivals, including Groovin The Moo on Friday.
“It’s another thing I never thought I would do, but it’s really fun. We do sort of a retail store setup for those ones and get to celebrate awesome live music.”
Upcycling is a big part of Fencesitter, but Heather is hoping to immerse further into the circular economy in the fashion industry, with plans to manufacture more of her collection with recycled metals.
Always shifting and shaping her business, it’s one of many endeavours that lies ahead for Fencesitter, along with spontaneous new collections on the way.
“I’ve been seeing really chunky silver chains with massive charms lately and it looks so cool. I’m thinking I could definitely make that. All you need to do is get a couple of second-hand necklaces, cut them together and you’ve got something really cool and new.”
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Keep up to date with Fencesitter workshops and markets through its website and social media
