My name is Jenny, and I'm the heart and hands behind Thunder & Dust Studio.
Born and brewed in Wisconsin, I earned a BFA in Sculpture (& a Minor Degree in Spanish) from the good ol' UW-Milwaukee. For me, it was always going to be either making art, or becoming a zoologist or wildlife veterinarian... I decided that going for the Fine Arts degree, and then supporting my art making habit by working in the animal wellness field was a happy compromise.

I've enjoyed time in several different vocations over the years -- from the veterinary world, to operating a successful sports & orthopedic massage therapy practice, to owning/managing a boutique wine bar & listening room... What I've really needed to come back to though is making.

Opening Thunder & Dust Studio was inspired largely by working as a studio assistant for 4 years with The Rubbish Revival. That's where I first started learning metalsmithing and jewlery making. (Check out that amazing shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheRubbishRevival?ref=search_shop_redirect !)

When the wine bar club closed, my partner and I relocated from north of Boston with our feline companion, Bertie, to the ever-sunny, surrounded-by-mountains, brimming-with-creativity city of Tucson, Arizona --exactly 1 day before the Covid-19 pandemic was officially declared.
When I wasn't scrubbing bins and doing punch-downs for a top Arizona winemaker, I used the at-home time of 2020 to do some deep soul-tending -- and found a sudden spark and burning drive to begin creating full-time.

So, here I am! The jewelry pieces that I love crafting are largely one-of-a-kind. They tend to take a modern, avant-garde, sometimes boho/sometimes gothic twist, and feature unique gem stones to which I am drawn. I tune in to each one, listening for what shape it wishes to take...what flourishes, or not, it desires. I do my best to use only ethically-sourced stones from reputable sellers and lapidary artists. I also strive to keep my art-making carbon footprint on the smaller side -- I often use 'recycled' silver metal in my work, and always package the finished pieces with eco-friendly materials.

Thanks for reading this far and for stopping by my ThunderAndDustStudio shop! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send me a message.

Cheers,
Jenny