My mission is to upcycle old bulbs and watch and clock parts and turn them into wearable pieces of art.
Meet the Maker: Denise Humphrey
Hello and welcome! I’m Denise Humphrey, the designer, maker, and self-proclaimed geek behind Spanky Spangler Design.
My journey into the world of wearable art started back in 2009 with a tiny spark of curiosity and a few broken watch parts. I’ve always been captivated by science fiction, originally falling in love with the gritty, high-tech world of Cyberpunk. But when I discovered the Steampunk community and the elegant, ornate beauty of neo-Victorian design, everything clicked. I found my creative home at the intersection of the past and an impossible future. What began as a fun experiment turning old watch movements into earrings quickly evolved into a full-scale obsession with giving discarded objects a "mechanical soul."
Operating from my studio in Gateshead, my work is driven by a passion for creative upcycling. I look at objects that most people consider broken or destined for the bin and see the anatomy of something beautiful. Salvaged clock cogs, vintage watch components, and even dead lightbulbs become the building blocks for my signature clockwork insects.
The lightbulbs, in particular, sparked a whole new chapter for me. For years, whenever I showcased my bulb insect brooches at markets and events, customers would peer closely at them and ask the exact same question: "Does it actually light up?" At the time, they didn't, but hearing that spark of hope from my customers, I made it my personal mission to make it happen. I spent months researching, tinkering, and engineering micro-circuitry into my designs. Finally, back in 2020, I successfully created my very first light-up brooch. Bringing that actual, glowing luminescence to my mechanical creatures changed everything, and it remains one of my absolute favourite pieces to create.
Every single piece of jewellery and miniature sculpture I make is meticulously handcrafted, ensuring that no two items are ever exactly alike. Whether it’s an intricate statement wasp that glows in the dark or a subtle pair of gear-adorned earrings, my designs are built for the dreamers, the cosplayers, and the lovers of the extraordinary.
When you wear a piece from Spanky Spangler Design, you aren't just wearing an accessory, you’re carrying a tiny, fantastical world and a definitive conversation starter.
Thank you so much for supporting independent, handmade art and joining me on this whimsical, clockwork adventure!
In the media
My work has been featured in various blogs and online magazines. One of my insect bulb brooches was purchased by a CEO of a Japanese recycling company and the image used in their promotional material. The BBC used one of my brooches for a presenter (Hannah Fry) to wear in her documentary about mathematician Ada Lovelace. My work is also included in the collection by Victoriana Lady Lisa in her book International Steampunk Fashions.
“Denise was patient with my questions and sent extra photos and information. The brooch itself was carefully and neatly crafted. Recipients loved their gifts!”
- Rebecca, Etsy Customer