I came across Morgan Dowler’s work the way that most people find amazing jewelry designers, these days, on Instagram! Her feed is a mix of her original designs on local tastemakers, drool-inducing crystal photos, and her friends wearing her minimalist jewelry. In astrology, the Eleventh House is the house of friendship. It’s a perfect fit as Morgan works with her friends in their studio off of Trinity Bellwoods park, honing her craft with collaboration. Morgan is a Taurus sun, Gemini rising and moon combining earth and air symbols to create a personality profile perfect for making meaningful jewelry.
How long have you been making jewelry for?
About five years now. Not specifically under Eleventh House, making jewelry for fun, for friends, and only about two years ago I realized it was something that I could do, and make a business.
Did you have any formal training?
I did go to school at George Brown but before that, it was all self-taught, and then out of this studio, my friend Jillian owns it. Her line is Hawkly Jewellery, she does workshops with me so she’ll share her knowledge, like a collaborative community.
The Eleventh House is the House of friendship, how do did you come to choose this as the name for your business?
For about a year I was coming up with every other name and didn’t like any of them, and then I was reading an old roommate’s astrology book (that came with tarot cards) and I was reading about all of the houses, and I thought, oh the eleventh house is so nice, and that’s a really beautiful name too, so it kind of stuck!
How into astrology are you?
I feel like I’ll get super into it and then forget everything again, and then get really into it again, and if I ever read my horoscope I can obviously relate it to everything. It’s like an off and on obsession.
Your rising and moon signs are both Gemini, which makes you very communicative. You have one ring called the Woodland Ring, inspired by The Horned God, What/Who is that?!
So he is the god of the hunt and the natural world, animals and the earth. I just feel like that spoke to me hugely, also being an earth sign! I just feel like being connected to the earth and portraying that through jewelry is a really cool way to do it. This was the first piece where I felt it really spoke to what I’m interested in and what I wanted to put out there in the world.
What materials do you like working with?
Sterling Silver for all of my rings, and then when it comes to necklaces I’ll go back and forth with silver and plated just depending on what clients want. Mostly sterling silver, but I’ll work with crystals too.
If you could have a starter kit of crystals what would you think is the most essential?
Always rose quartz, always! I usually have a piece on my person every single day. Quartz and then Amethyst I would say would be the main ones, but also I feel like it’s so day to day, I have a ton of crystals at home and then based on how I feel that day when you look at them and then pick one out and it will just help you out with whatever it is you’re probably going to need help with that day. Definitely rose quartz, which is funny because it’s similar to the Eleventh House where it’s the stone of love and friendship and relationships, and obviously those things are very important to me. Both quartz and amethyst are really good for drawing in good energy and getting rid of negative energy.
What emotions do you want the wearers of your jewelry to feel?
Definitely powerful, I love the idea of portraying power in my pieces. Power and strength!
What are some of your favourite custom pieces you’ve made?
I’ve had so many good ones, that’s my favourite part of making jewelry is doing the custom work. I did one for my friend Lisa terry who is also a maker that was a cross in sterling silver and it was super delicate and I’d never made anything that delicate before so I shied away from it for a while. Custom work is so fun!
Why do you think the popularity of mysticism is rising?
The concept of self-love and self-care has become a lot more important, whereas before you put yourself aside and take care of others. so I think that’s a huge part of it is recognizing how important you are to yourself.
