Simple elegance is what I try for with every piece. Minimal designs that may involve rhythm, line, surface texture, or implied motion appeal to me. The unique reflectiveness of silver and the reaction of light with the surface of the material always seem to guide the process.

 

The personal rewards of making jewelry are, for me, three-fold. First, the challenge and satisfaction of creating a design that looks good and just seems to work.  Then developing the techniques and strategies necessary to make the piece. Last and best is when someone appreciates and derives meaning from something I have made.

 

My techniques are basic, centuries-old, and very hands-on, but can result in a modern, refined look. Overlay, hammer texturing, forging, and fabrication are my preferred methods of work.

As a young girl growing up in Iowa you would often find me sitting on the front porch turning my old gum wrappers into beads.  The love for creating wearable art has always been a constant in my life... 

 

I now live and work from my home studio in Salida, Colorado surrounded by the Sawatch range of the great Rocky Mountains.
 

My inspiration truly comes from those very mountains!
 

The colors, the critters, the blood, sweat and tears all manage to find their way into my designs.  Nature is, after all, as much therapeutic as it is awe-inspiring!

 

While I've honed my technical skills by taking metalsmith classes and working with some great mentors, I am for the most part self-taught.
 

Cold forging, lost wax casting, traditional silversmithing, lapidary and wire wrapping are all techniques I use in my work. 

The oxidized metals I use include: sterling silver, 14k gold fill, bronze, copper and brass.  Prospecting is another passion of mine and you will often find my unearthed finds used in my designs.

My pleasure is to design lively, declarative, satisfying, high-quality wearable art that is worn with ease.

 

My working with metal goes back to the late 1960s, when I discovered a passion for the creation of wearable personal adornment as a soulful expression of self.  At KU, I took jewelry/metalsmithing classes while pursuing a degree in another field.  Working as an apprentice to a jeweler gave me additional skills teaching me great patience with this challenging artform.  Exploring museums fueled my enthusiasm for color from natural precious and semi-precious stones.  Surrounding myself in environments that celebrated creativity, I discovered the soul of my painter within – much like the other painters in my family but uniquely expressed in personal art to wear.