An artist and jewelry designer, ilana is a metalsmith, a freeform beadweaver and generally makes wearable and often symbolic jewelry. She uses sterling silver, shiny and oxidized, 14 karat gold filled and rose gold filled metal.. many different gemstones and raw or rough cut diamonds, freshwater pearl's leather and silk in her work currently.

Recently she was inspired by the beauty and industriousness of the honeybee, when her parents began to keep bees at their West Asheville home. Fascinated that the life’s work of a honeybee amounts to a 12th of a teaspoon of honey, she was compelled to create her line of "honeypot" jewelry. “I think it is poignant that the honeybee works so hard to create such a small amount of honey, and that they are now facing decline, so I think the honeypots help us to appreciate the beauty and sweetness in the smallest of things,” said ilana "I want my work to have social meaning and importance.