FireAndZen

I have two passions in my artistic world - jewelry and hand-bound books. One adds a little fire, and the other helps add a little reflection, a little Zen. I have been a working artist for 15 years, and from the beginning, I loved the unique challenges of working with vintage materials.

Much of my jewelry incorporates rare glass stones, old chain, original brass stampings, and hand-set rhinestones, combined with new components, to give it a unique twist. Searching out rare and unique, high-quality materials is part of the real joy I get from designing, and nothing makes me smile like finding an 1890s locket, just waiting to be used.

On the Zen side, once or twice a year or so, I dig into my stash of vintage and antique books waiting for a new life (generally missing pages, spines, and showing their age) and create hand-bound journals. My journals have been in galleries and shows in Atlanta, and Handmade Arcade here in Pittsburgh.