As Greek myths tell it, the people of Athens were plagued by the Minotaur, a beast with the head of a bull and the body of a man. Ariadne provided the hero Theseus with the tools he needed to defeat the Minotaur: a sword to kill it with, and a ball of thread so that Theseus could find his way back out of the labyrinth that contained the Minotaur. Ariadne's association with mazes fits neatly with my love of geometry and architecture, while the length of string she gives to Theseus appeals to me as a representation of connection, foresight, and flexibility.

At Ariadne Jewelry, steel and thread are still my tools - along with silver, copper, leather, and semiprecious stones. I love discovering the hidden harmony in a jumble of beads and findings, threading my way through trial and error to the finished work.