MATERIALS
I work with all natural gemstones, fossils, and precious metals. I do not work with any gems or fossils that have been died, lab grown, simulated, reconstituted or modified. My passion is to share the beauty of the earth and I am dedicated to using only the best materials and keeping them in their natural state. Sterling silver is my favorite metal to work with because it is the most reflective of the precious metals but I also incorporate 14k yellow gold into my work for its warmth and alluring glow.
MY MATERIALS PHILOSOPHY
I use my love for ancient history and geology as I create every piece of my collection. I always want my jewelry to showcase the natural beauty of the earth and reflect the incredible creativity of God, our creator.
I make a point of only working with natural gemstones and fossils. It is important for me to stay as close to the source as possible so that I can ensure the quality of my materials and be able to tell my customers exactly where their stones and fossils come from. I source my stones from around the world and know many of the rockhounds personally. It is my intention to create my version of a “farm to table” experience for my customers. I am at the helm of every step from extracting, cleaning, cutting and polishing the stones and fossils to designing and fabricating the jewelry itself.
As much as I love my gems and fossils, I also have a real passion for precious metals. Sterling silver has always been my favorite metal to work with because it is the most reflective of all the precious metals. With my jewelry being so “stone-centric” I adore the bright pop of light and sparkle that highly polished sterling silver offers. However, I do have a love for gold as well. I have always been fascinated by ancient history and therefore am drawn to a more satin or matte finish in my gold work. My goal is always to use the metals in my work to accentuate and further the beauty of the gems and fossils I pair it with.
For me, it’s all about the stones. I started as a rock and fossil collector and that is still at the core of who I am as an artist.
I love the beauty of translucent stones like garnet, citrine, peridot, sapphire, and diamonds but also have a deep appreciation for the precious uniqueness of opaque stones. To me the term “semi-precious” just doesn’t work. It’s all about the quality of the stone, its rarity, beauty and how we feel when we see it.
It is no secret that my Christian faith plays a central role in my work. A funny thing happened as I made the conscious decision to create my Walls of Heaven® collection is that I discovered that I was already using the stones referenced in Revelation without even realizing what I was doing! I love it when God does stuff like that. I was going in the direction he intended for me to go without even knowing it! Too funny. The stones I use in this collection are all described in Revelation 21:15-21 as being the foundational walls of the new Jerusalem. These stones include jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, carnelian, chrysolite (peridot), beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth (red zircon), amethyst, and pearls. I love this collection because it is a way to celebrate your faith without having to wear the traditional cross. For more information on this collection and the stones, click here.
