Radio Silence and Update

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written anything here or even posted on Instagram and Facebook. After all of the shows and travel this summer, I needed to take a step back, take a breath and regroup. From July through the beginning of November I drove over 7000 miles. Some of it for vacation, but most of it for shows. I saw some beautiful places, met some great people and had a lot of fun. I also thought a lot about the direction I want my business to go and needed to step back for a while to have time to process these thoughts.

I will never stop learning new things and incorporating new techniques into my work, but I did come to the realization that I truly want to put my focus on chasing and repousse. With so many modern machines and advances, including lost wax casting and the hydraulic press, work that looks somewhat similar to mine can be reproduced quickly and cheaply. But there is something so magical about taking simple tools and a flat sheet of metal and turning it into something beautiful, something that will be destined to become a treasured family heirloom. The skills necessary to hand fabricate things are becoming lost as we turn to these quicker and cheaper methods. I feel strongly that it is my calling to carry on these traditions and do my small part to keep at least some of these skills alive.

I have spent a lot of time reorganizing my work into the collections they were destined to be a part of, and I now have three current collections. The Athena Collection is comprised of loop in loop chains, an ancient chainmaking technique that was the predominant technique used during the Roman era. Some of the pieces in this collection also have a modern “twist” as I’ve taken some liberties with the technique.

The Aphrodite Collection focuses on pollinators such as hummingbirds and bees, and the flowers that provide them shelter and habitat. Many of these common flowers and trees can be found right in your yard. The final collection is the Neptune Collection, which focuses on my sea life pieces such as dolphins, sea turtles and shells.

What happened to all of my other work? It was a very difficult decision, like removing a little of my soul, but I have decided to pull everything else from my inventory. I’ve put these pieces on sale at one of the local galleries, and what doesn’t sell will be destined to become something new and wonderful. I’m very proud of the pieces that remain in these collections, and hope you love them as much as I do.

I have recently started working on a new collection that I’m very excited about, my Pegasus Collection. In Greek mythology, Pegasus was an immortal winged horse, one of the two children of Poseidon and Medusa. He often is thought to symbolize resilience, which is one of the first things that comes to my mind when I think of wildflowers. These flowers persevere through so many adverse conditions to be able to continue to thrive. This collection pays a tribute to these beautiful wildflowers.

While I’m going to wait and release the entire collection once it is complete, I’ll give you a sneak peak at the first piece. This ring features a violet that has a Montana sapphire and 18K gold at it’s center. The ring is a size 7. While not currently on my site, it is available for sale, so feel free to contact me if you are interested.

I am going to do my very best to write more consistently but if I am not in touch before the holiday, I hope your holiday is wonderful and I will see you in the new year!