Since I was a child, I have been fascinated with nature and creating things from small objects. The combination of these two ideas is the basis for my jewelry creations.
My first exposure to metal work was in high school when I had the opportunity to study metalsmithing and jewelry. I attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, which was an experience that changed my life. It was there that I was able to focus fully on art, and specifically where I got most of my formal training in metals. After high school, I attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and completed a BFA in sculpture. Since then, I have worked under two jewelry artists who taught me as much about the craft as did school. I am currently an independent, full-time jewelry artist working in Asheville, NC.
Nature and travel, two of my favorite things, take many forms in my jewelry. Nature takes the shape of leaves, snowflakes, flowers and tree branches, while my travels to Europe have inspired a new line of quatrefoil pendants and earrings. Most recently, I have incorporated the fascinating symmetry of the rose window into my designs.
My process involves forming wire, cutting out shapes from sheet metal, soldering, hammering and polishing. To complement my metal designs, I often include gemstones or pearls. The metals I work with include sterling silver, gold-filled, brass and oxidized copper. I also use a wide variety of stones in my jewelry, which include some of my favorites such as sapphire, kyanite and aquamarine.
