Does it seem like I'm using more gold these days? You’re right, I am! Why, you might be asking? Well, for starters, don’t PANIC! I’m not abandoning my beloved sterling silver. But I love working with gold for SO many reasons. Here’s just a few:

Color and Contrast

Gold contrasts beautifully with oxidized sterling silver, which you already know I love. White gold, yellow gold, or rose gold. There’s a flavor of gold for every taste!

• When paired with the darkened sterling silver, the rich yellows and pinks of rose gold and yellow gold add visual interest and warmth to my pieces. 
• Also, many of the stones I use look best in yellow or rose gold: 
• Turquoise with gold is dreamy! 
• Ruby with gold is regal! 
• Aquamarine with gold elevates and brightens the delicate blues of the stone.

Strength and Durability

Gold is durable, especially 14k, a combination of zinc, nickel, silver, copper, and 58% actual gold. Because of its strength, 14k is the perfect choice for your on-the-go busy lifestyle and also for heirloom pieces you want to pass down to future generations. Gold maintains its natural luster, stands up well to everyday wear, and doesn’t scratch easily.

Gold doesn't quickly tarnish

It’s all about science. Gold is a pure metal, which means it doesn’t react with oxygen, the culprit in discoloration. Tarnishing, if there is any, is usually minimal. If you notice a slight darkening, you can quickly bring the piece back to its natural luster with regular care and a few easy cleaning tips. 

It’s a DREAM to work with!

I love creating with gold! It has excellent workability, and for a designer, it’s heavenly. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always love silver too, but gold is exceptional. 

• It’s surprisingly forgiving.
• A little goes a long way.
• A single ounce of gold can be drawn down into a long wire or rolled into a large sheet and used in many ways.

Also, gold can easily be recycled and reused to create new pieces. Old coins and broken pieces of jewelry can be melted down and used to make something new and amazing!

Gold adds a touch of elegance and sophistication

Let’s face it, even just a small detail of gold, when added to a piece of sterling silver jewelry, immediately adds a whole new level of elegance and sophistication. When paired with a bit of warm, richly-colored gold, Sterling silver creates a stunning visual contrast next to the cool darkened metal. 

There’s just something about even the simplest gold pieces when combined with a sparkling gemstone that feels a tiny bit more decadent. 

Gold elevates the value of a piece

lGold retains its value quite well in a volatile market. Even in small amounts, the addition of gold elements elevates both the perceived value and the piece’s actual value. Jewelry, especially gold, feels luxurious, plus it’s an excellent investment. Win-win!

It’s great for people with sensitive skin

Allergic reactions to sterling silver are relatively common, which is why gold is perfect for those with sensitive skin. Most people aren’t allergic to gold, so it’s an ideal choice for rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earring wires. Pretty much everything!

Some people are just gold people

Just like there are cat people and dog people, there are silver people and gold people. I might be the exception because I love them both equally. Depending on my mood, the occasion, or my outfit, I could go either way, but sometimes there’s just a little extra magic with gold. 

A little goes a long way. Shop my latest gold pieces today!

“In this world, I am happy. I can be myself without judgment. No rules for how I should behave, what I should say, or how I should look.”

Just shy of 15, she’s not a kid, but also not an adult. She’s trying to figure out who she is, in relation to the universe. Her friends may be preoccupied with boys and trying to decide how to feel about them. Most of the girls have insecurities about body image. They wonder, are we pretty enough, tall enough, or skinny enough? Is our hair too curly or straight enough? Is anything about us enough?

She feels boxed in by society and social norms. Everybody gets put in a category because that understanding puts others at ease. But for a young girl like her, she craves freedom and fluidity.

Still a child in many ways, and dependent on adults, the love affair with her horse provides a sense of being in control and independence. She feels confident and free. Learning to control a 1,200-pound animal is empowering, and that feeling extends to all parts of her young life.

It’s a sense of adventure and an escape from things she wishes she didn’t have to pay attention to. She’s in control, in a world that otherwise tells her what do to. It’s freedom and self-direction, something every young teen craves.

How can you describe the connection between a horse and a girl, not yet a woman?

It’s a feeling, far deeper than words.

It’s unconditional love and admiration for a majestic beauty, with enviable confidence that’s innate, and that humans can only wish for.

It’s a best friend who accepts you as you are, no matter how you look. It’s the eyes that say “trust me, I will never hurt you,” from rider to horse, and horse to rider.

It’s the unspoken words, “we can accomplish anything together, we can go anywhere and need little else to be happy.”

Others might not understand. Why would we expect them to? The horse and the girl, in their own little world, surrounded by snow but still warm. Unaware of anything but each other. You take me as I am. You don’t question my love, affections, or motives. We’re good to each other, and that’s enough.

The chill in the air is not a bother. Together in their little world, there is nothing else that matters. The sun on her face reminds her to breathe and cherish the moment. She is where she should be, and she is enough of everything.

It’s every little girl’s dream. Right up there with becoming a princess, nearly every little girl dreams of having a horse of her own. When I was a child I had a total fascination with horses, and with their beauty and grace. I had an intense desire to ride and learn to jump, but aside from a few years of dressage lessons, I never got to do any of these things. Still, the dream persisted for years.

I can still feel it and remember it vividly. As a child, pure and innocent, I imagined the connection I’d have to my very own horse. Like something out of a dream, I could almost feel the soft, thick mane, the natural woodsy scent and the sweet smell of warm breath while I snuggled and kissed my horse. I even had a book, The Love of Horses, that further influenced my strong desire to have my own horse.

This connection between a horse and a young girl is powerful. While some little girls collect Barbie dolls, others were meant to ride. My dear friend Julie, owner of Firefly Horse Co. is living out that little girl’s dream. She grew up on a farm, with her own horses, and now owns a beautiful horse farm. She’s grown into an amazing rider, and an equine therapist as well. Through her deep connection to nature and horses, Julie helps her clients, many of them children, approach and cope with life through grace, self-control and compassion. Invaluable lessons for a purposeful life.

Julie can attest to the lifelong dream and magic of riding and owning a horse. There’s a reverence, and awe, in the presence of these majestic animals, with their strength and wisdom. They are gentle, calm and soothing, but large and powerful at the same time.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll journey along this path, into a new year. I invite you into this magical world, as Julie’s story unfolds. Together we’ll celebrate our shared connection to nature and mother earth, with kindness, self-love and hope. 

I encourage, and welcome your interaction. Imagine yourself inside this majestic place, surrounded by nature and beauty. Be still. Stay in the moment. Tell me what you see and how it makes you feel.

Without my family, my friends, and my collectors, the past year would have looked very different…

The love part…

Gemstones are amazing! Each with their own juicy, colorful goodness, plus so many shapes and sizes. I also love the symbolism of each stone, and I think about this when I’m in my creative zone. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you love your birthstone. I don’t happen to love Emeralds, my birthstone, and I’m pretty sure my hubby would never wear Pearls (giggle).

The ish part…

The meaning behind birthstones, has been somewhat randomly assigned by the commercial jewelry industry, to sell more jewelry. Sometimes there are many different interpretations for each stone, so this is kinda sketchy. So, what if you don’t love YOUR birthstone? Are you just S.O.L.? No way. If the meaning of another birthstone resonates with you, go for it. If you were born in July, but you love the rich golden color of Citrine, don’t listen to anyone’s stinkin’ rules. Buy the damn Citrine.

That said, I’ve set aside the ish part, and I’ve challenged myself to make small capsule collections of birthstone jewelry each month, in my own edgy, industrial signature style. On my bench right now, I’ve got some beautiful Opal and Pink Tourmaline for October, Citrine for November and Turquoise for December. Garnet, Amethyst and Aquamarine stones are gathering in their trays for the beginning of 2021. I think you’re gonna LOVE the combination of cut, fine stones, combined with gritty, mineral specimens and stone slices. 

Just for fun, I’ve compiled a list of traditional birthstones, and their meanings below. Several months have more than one birthstone. Keep in mind, gemstones often have more than one meaning or interpretation.

Before you go, make sure you sign up for my VIP Insiders List to get updates on these new monthly capsule collections. I’ll be sending updates the first Thursday of each month to show you the collection for that month. VIP's get to see it first, so don’t miss out!

Birthstones by Month:

January

• Garnet:  Believed to bring safety to the wearer during travel. Good health, wealth and happiness. 

February

• Amethyst:  Strengthens relationships and brings the wearer courage. Personal empowerment and inner strength.

March

• Aquamarine: Purity of spirit and soul.
• Bloodstone:  Brings health and strength

April

• Diamond: Everlasting love. Courage, clarity and strength.

May

• Emerald: Wisdom, growth and patience. 

June

• Pearls: Purity.
• Alexandrite: Good luck, fortune and love.
• Moonstone: Love, passion and fertility. 

July

• Ruby: Love, passion and youthful energy.

August

• Peridot: Strength, shielding from evil
• Spinel: Eases anger, promotes harmony
• Sardonyx: Courage, happiness and clear communication

September

• Sapphire: Purity and wisdom. Sincerity, truth and faithfulness

October

• Opal: Purity, hope and truth
• Pink Tourmaline: Artistic expression, compassion and love

November

• Topaz: Long life, beauty and intelligence
• Citrine: Soothe tempers, brings calmness 

December

• Turquoise: Health and good fortune
• Tanzanite: Transformation
• Zircon: Promotes sleep and scares off evil spirits

 
If you really wanna geek out on all the juicy details, you can read more about gemstones here on the GIA Website.

To say this is my happy place, is a total understatement. Imagine a lush birch forest with a little wetland bog, deer happily frolicking everywhere, raccoons, wild turkeys and sometimes pesky mosquitoes. Just steps away from home, my studio is literally 2 doors down from my house.

Inside it's quiet and super cozy, with a little pot belly stove burning in the corner for warmth. It’s practically a cliche, except it’s very real, and exactly what you’d expect for a little rural Montana art studio. 

There is no need for a shop front, with only occasional visits from a customer here and there, who comes in to pick something up.

I share the space with Tammy, a friend and fellow maker, and also Les, my step dad, who is a retired goldsmith. Often, you’ll find him inside, forging beautiful little copper vessels, but usually when Tammy and I aren’t working, because he makes a ton of noise. 

The coffee is hot, strong and plentiful. The snacks are naughty and decadent, but necessary. Most days you’ll find music, or a juicy audio book playing in the background. It’s comfy, and it feels like home, but without distraction. So much creativity bubbles out of this space, too big to be fully contained.

Some days I go there, by myself, to sit and just be. Quietly replenishing my mind, my body and my creative flow.

On any given day, you’ll find Tammy, Les and me, gathered around a bench, solving huge design challenges together. Pencils, sketchbooks and stones strewn everywhere, as we work through a design hurdle for one of us. An outsider might see chaos, but this is our happy place.

Sometimes I'm in there using loud equipment with my headphones on, listening to an epic fantasy fiction novel, like the Queen of the Tearling trilogy. Time flies in my happy place. At times, you’ll find me sprawled on the floor, doing the stretches prescribed by my physical therapist, to keep me safe and comfortable during my long hours at the bench. This work takes a toll on my body.

My studio. My happy place. But it’s so much more than that. I never know what will consume me there each day. Some days I have a clear plan, and I carry it out seamlessly. Other days the plan unfolds before me, sprinkling in a few surprises and challenges here and there. More than just a happy place, my studio is a place of peace, healing, creativity, excitement, problem solving and, of course, endless snacking.