I created Hieropice ("Hi-Row-Pie-See") back in the 90's, when AOL was the internet provider of-choice and their character-limit, my fascination with Egyptology, and Pisces-pride resulted in Hieropice's unusual name. After years of practice and study of jewelry-making, I've found that nature, in its infinite incarnations, has provided the most inspiration, which is why you see it's influence in Hieropice's Terrarium necklaces (http://www.etsy.com/shop/Hieropice?section_id=12846379) and One-of-a-Kind pieces (http://www.etsy.com/shop/Hieropice?section_id=13694634).

Hieropice is a one-woman operation, and all of its pieces are designed and created by me, Dara Cheek. I hand-sculpt the miniatures inside each mini terrarium, hand-bead every Maasai piece, and hand-drill/lacquer each nutmeg pod.

Hieropice's Maasai beaded pieces are inspired by a month abroad volunteering in Tanzania, where I learned a traditional beading technique of the Maasai tribe. Back in the states, I modified the technique, and created designs that incorporated luxurious materials like Sterling silver and garnets, to create pieces that honored the traditional concept but suited women worldwide. The nutmeg pods in our nutmeg pod necklaces came from that same volunteering trip, where I acquired them at a spice farm in Zanzibar.

I also make full-size terraria, but customers at craft shows would always tell me how terrified they were of killing the plants inside. So I decided to make a maintenance-free, miniature version, and thus, Hieropice's terrarium necklaces were born. I've branched off into creating whole miniature landscape terrarium necklaces, that are one of a kind (http://www.etsy.com/shop/Hieropice?section_id=13694634)

To read more about how Hieropice's pieces are conceptualized and created, check out the Hieropice blog at: http://hieropice.wordpress.com/

I hope you enjoy my shop, and come back frequently!

Ms. D