ShapeShiftCollection

I learned how to shape stones in 2011, when I happened to move next door to the San Francisco Gem and Mineral Society. The members of this club were so generous with their knowledge and time, and taught me the basics of lapidary work. When I left SF and began traveling, I lost access to the stone shaping equipment necessary to do the work, but I always planned to come back to it one day. Ironically, it was during the pandemic of 2020 that allowed me access to stone shaping again. When the homeless shelter I was working was running out of hazard pay for the employees, they gave us all a bonus with the remaining funds. I put all of this money into getting stone shaping equipment, and renting a studio space here in Portland, Oregon. It was only then that I was able to dive into silver smithing as well, which has quickly become a passion of mine, still very much a student to the material. I am happy to be in a position where I can make jewelry for other working class /queer people around me, and to continue to develop this craft from mutual support. My current goal is to save enough money to buy a van, and make/sell jewelry as I travel around the US seeing all the beautiful places and building queer networks. injoy!