I have a deep love for pearls that almost rivals my love for metal. 

While my jewelry aesthetic is far from traditional, I am in LOVE with all pearls, classic and otherwise. Here’s why…

• I love pearls because the shimmery, pitted surface reminds me of what I love most about metal. 

• I love them because they come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and types. There are SO many lovely options to get my design juices flowing. 
• I also love pearls because they are unique and mysterious in their own particular way.

You may already know a bit about how pearls are formed, but here are a few morsels you might not have known:

1. Did you know that they’re the only gemstone to come from a living creature? 
2. Freshwater pearls come from mussels, while saltwater pearls come from oysters.
3. The process begins when an irritant finds its way inside the mollusk in both freshwater and saltwater pearls.
4. This irritant or particle is the nucleus of the pearl, right from the very beginning.
5. As a defense mechanism, the mollusk begins to coat the irritant with a substance called nacre.
6. Nacre is made up of a substance called aragonite that creates the iridescence you see in pearls.
7. The mollusk continues to coat the irritant with thousands of layers of nacre over two to four years.
8. When the pearl is fully formed, it’s carefully removed with the intention of not harming the mollusk. 

Pretty amazing when you think about it, right? A little ocean creature covers a small irritating pebble with a beautiful, magical substance that makes them smooth and shimmery, and irresistible.

For as long as I can remember, I've used pearls as accents in my jewelry designs. As I’ve grown and evolved as a designer, pearls have become a core focus for my collections. I love the gray Tahitian pearls with pits and lines and rainbows. The Edison pearls are beautifully iridescent with warm peachy, yellowy tones. South Sea pearls are soft pale yellow, and the Fireball pearls look like little comets. The rustic and organic surfaces that I select to use in my work contrast beautifully with my metalwork’s smooth, industrial style.

I hand select the pearls and have my own pearl drilling machine to drill them, leaving the most beautiful part exposed. If I leave the drilling to the pearl seller, they will assume I want to cover up the part of the pearl that has the most texture. This couldn’t be further from the truth. My favorite pearls are the ones with the most beautiful pits and imperfections. I choose to celebrate those imperfections for their unique qualities and the effort it took to get them from their rough “irritant” beginnings to me, in all their imperfect beauty.

This month, and every month really, let's honor the noble pearls for their beautiful perseverance and all their grit and glory!

Shop the Pearl Collection now to find a lovely, shimmering pearl necklace, charm, or earrings to match your style and personality!

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.

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.

When designing a color-themed collection, I typically bypass the sketchbook and start with the stones themselves. The beautiful hues and tones delight my imagination and inspire my work.