Have an idea for a unique piece of jewelry? Interested in a particular piece but wish the size, shape or gem type were different? Get in touch, I'm open to working with you on custom creations.
I often incorporate pattern and texture by hammering annealed silver over embossed brass plates. Shown above are some currently available options. I also have a rotating selection of faceted and cabochon gemstones. Many are unique and all are limited as I acquire them individually through online auctions, designer lapidary artists and other random suppliers. I always look for natural, untreated, genuine earth-mined stones. I work mainly in 925 sterling silver which is hypoallergenic and I only purchase quality components like earring push backs, lever backs and necklace chains that are 925 stamped. Everything else is constructed by hand from raw materials. Some examples of custom work are shown below. Your own level of involvement and input on a requested piece is entirely up to you.
Mock-up Options
In Progress
The Finished Earrings
For these earrings, a client referenced my arrowhead leaf studs but wanted specific dimensions and more layered shapes. She also requested a gold keum boo application (a technique which bonds 24 karat gold leaf to the surface of depletion gilded fine silver through heat and pressure. It's also why the silver in the finished earrings looks so white, quite an interesting process!). Based on her ideas I came up with a design and sent her a digital mock-up with some different combinations to choose from. The finished pair has been embossed, gilded, surface burnished to enhance the textural contrast and polished with a protective conservator's wax.
This client wanted heart shaped dangles with keum boo gold and embossed silver. I stacked two concave domed hearts back to back making them more dimensional, reflective and interesting from all sides.
For these earrings, the design was left completely up to me. I talked with the client about what stones I had available and which cut and colors she preferred. She chose the marquise citrines, a general desired size and lever back closures for security and ease of wear.