Why the Octopi?

“Why the Octopi?” is a question I have received many times since attending markets, coming third behind “Aren’t you cold?” on short-sleeved winter mornings and “Who’s Antoinette?”

It's a very valid question. Why the octopi? If you have seen them first hand, they are odd creations, and I don’t expect everyone to fall in love with them.

I have met all sorts of reactions, often falling along a spectrum of loving to hating the design.

There absolutely is a spectrum when it comes to customers and octos!

Most of the distaste comes from the fact that they are closely similar to spiders, in their eight-legged and spindly appearance. I have had customers recoil out of reflex, only to become very sheepish and apologetic. I take no offence, and often end up laughing with the customer about how weird they are.

Others fall in love with the quirkiness and the colours or inspiration behind the design.

My octopi aren’t for everyone, and that is no different to anything else made globally.

My octopi-making journey started in late July, 2019. I had just opened for business and I was experimenting with new and colourful ideas. I had a handful of shells, and I wanted to see how I could combine clay with them.

I made all of these rainbow octopi after a neighbouring stallholder was being loudly homophobic.

I started with some very basic designs, experimenting with ideas and styles. Since day one, I knew I wanted to keep the styling simplistic so I could expand upon different themes. I tried octos sitting on their own and in shells. I even made a handful curled around key shaped pendants.

My crafting soon transitioned into our ‘Not-So-Lil Octopi’ designs, with the tentacles creeping out of the shells.

In 2020, when I began working with resin, I had the idea of incorporating the medium to act as water for the shells of the octopi. At first, I started with coloured resin, trialling different shades of alcohol inks, glitters and mica powders.

In time, I made some of my favourite designs, including our Winter Wonderland Octopi, Golden Gay Octopi and Galaxy Octopi series!

From left to right: Winter Wonderland Octopi (in silver), Golden Gay Octopi and Galaxy Octopi (in purple).

If you have seen most of my recent 2024-2025 designs, you would know that I typically use clear resin for a natural water-like appearance. Alcohol inks, mica powder and glitter always have a place in my heart and soul, and I’m keen to make more colourful octos with them again soon. But my creativity had definitely been in a place where the clay has shined, and a clear coat of resin makes for the finishing touch.

So… Why the octopi?

One of my first octo experiments with resin and alcohol ink.

The octopi have been a great way for me to not only explore ideas and art mediums and further develop my craft, but also create a unique product.

Anyone can say they have seen jewellery, knitting or crochet in stores before. But very few see octopi centrepieces in your every day grocery store or furniture manufacturer, and if you do, they are typically typecast, batch-made examples.

Very few places, unless it is direct from a small business or artisan, display handmade octopi-related creations, and I am happy to be among them.

Octopi are fascinating, intelligent and beautiful creatures, and their ‘spider-like design’ opens up a world of creative possibility in my mind for new designs. Every octo I have made has its own personality, true to the nature of the sea. Some are shy, some are sassy; and no two are the same, even if I do make them from the same inspiration. That is the beauty of handmade, which is something that can never be topped by Shein or Temu.

What are your thoughts? Do you love the weirdness of the octos? Or does their spindly nature give you the heebie-jeebies? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Kimberley (they/them)

Accessories by Antoinette