I started making jewelry years ago as a hobby, taking old jewelry and remaking it into something new to extend the life of an item out of style, or fixing something broken or missing. When I moved to Nevada City, I had a large space to turn into a studio, and being new to the area, I had a lot of spare time on my hands.
I have a degree in Fine Art, and many years ago I used to create physically with my hands making large paintings and collages. I eventually moved into graphic design and web design, which meant a lot of time "plugged in" making digital works, and I missed having something tactile and tangible made directly with my own hands. So, somehow the space and the time allowed me to start trying new techniques, new materials and new tools in jewelry making. Soon enough I was soldering silver, hand-piercing bronze sheets, setting stones and texturing and etching copper and silver and making jewelry pieces that I would wear. I got encouragement from friends and strangers who wanted similar pieces and so I started selling my creations.
I love to be adorned by jewelry that has personal meaning to me, either because of the stone, the artistry of a piece, where I've worn it, or the way it makes me feel. Jewelry is a very personal expression, worn close to the skin, sometimes every day for years and years. For me, jewelry is best when it's made with quality materials by a human, is built to last, is unique and tells a story (both about the wearer and the maker).