Celtic Bling!

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You may have spotted their work on the History Channel drama “Vikings” over the last few years, but you may not have thought that you’d get to meet these amazing artisans in person this summer at BreyerFest!

BreyerFest is pleased to be hosting the Crafty Celts as a part of this summer’s Vendor Marketplace at our Celtic Fling celebration!

Owner and artist Daniel Hansen discovered metalworking as a teenager, learning everything he could about making weapons, armor, and other items for historical re-enactment. He took his first jewelry making class in 1988 as a college student, setting out to make a brooch for the cloak he wore to re-enactments.  He developed a true passion for metalwork, continued studying jewelry-making, and created his business, Crafty Celts, to sell his work to other re-enactors. Upon graduation, he became a typesetter by day, but he and his wife Sherry continued to create and sell jewelry. It wasn’t long before he realized that he could support himself and his growing family via his art and craft as a jeweler.

Crafty Celts slowly grew as the Hansens developed a reputation for producing high quality historical jewelry.  One day, a phone call changed everything: Ardmore Studios purchased an assortment of buckles, brooches, and pendants for various characters, but they particularly focused on a selection of bracelets to be used as arm rings for a “brotherhood of warriors.” “Vikings” quickly became a hit, and Crafty Celts gained international renown for the jewelry they created for the show.

Over time, Crafty Celts became increasingly connected to Ardmore Studios and created new designs for each season of “Vikings.” In 2014, during filming of the third season, Daniel and his son Kelley were invited to visit the set of “Vikings,” near Dublin, Ireland, to tour the studios and appear as extras in two episodes. In 2017, Daniel and Kaellan, another one of his sons, flew to Hollywood to meet with MGM executives to become the “official” jewelers for “Vikings.” The sixth season of “Vikings” premiered in 2019 and features a new selection of jewelry from Crafty Celts.

When he’s not designing, producing, or selling jewelry, Daniel Hansen continues to participate in the re-enactment community as a teacher, athlete, organizer, and judge in art and design competitions.

Crafty Celts’ booth makes appearances at Renaissance Festivals, fantasy and sci-fi conventions, and SCA events around the country – and in the summer of 2020 they are thrilled to be joining BreyerFest!