About the Jewelry Artist

All of my life I have loved the little things: little boxes, pens, stickers, a new notebook, and above all I loved a great story. I began writing my own stories at an early age, and in college I majored in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. I was sure that was my calling, until I took photography and fell in love with large format still life. I ended up minoring in photography, and once I graduated, I dabbled in both mediums for several years until I gave birth to my first child.

I began beading as a small supplemental income that I could do from home and selling my earrings and necklaces at music festivals where my husband’s band would play. Eventually, I wanted to learn more and as many small infatuations grow, I looked for classes. After the birth of my second child I quit my job and began metal smithing full time.

There were times in my life when I had great passion for what I was writing or a new portfolio in photography but I was always able to put it down, walk away, and not come back for quite some time. I could not do that with art jewelry. It took my breath away and has yet to give it back.

I trained with master metal smith Bill Churlik at Earthspeak Arts in Asheville North Carolina and began taking beginner through advanced classes in metals and techniques. In 2010 I was awarded the BMAC Merit Award, a national award to help springboard a wholesale career.  Then in early 2011 is was a Niche Finalist in Silver with Stones for my Pebbles Timepiece Ring.  The Niche Awards are the greatest honor an artist can be awarded at the national level.  I am honored and humbled by both recognitions.  Most recently I was juried into the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, one of the largest guilds in the country and only for artisans in the southeast, it is a very difficult guild to get into and I am very excited to have become a part of it. 

Today, I am still inspired by those boxes and the simple pleasures, especially my children. I look to create dimension and motion as much as I can. My current work includes fusing, forging, raising and stone setting in Argentium silver, sterling silver, gold plated and vermeil pieces and copper. I love creating the movement and depth that can be interpreted in so many ways. The fusing and shaping allows me to make a unique piece every time. The simple lines and graceful curves lend a timeless quality and sophistication that I strive for in my work.