About my Jewelry

With my background in Printmaking and Fashion Design, I strive to create accessory pieces which pair individuality with wearability. The materials I use to create my jewelry components are polymer, sterling and fine silver. The polymer process begins with cane building, a technique similar to that used in mosaic and millefiori glass, but employing polymer instead of glass. To

make a cane, long rods of various colors of clay are layered, wrapped and arranged in such a way as to create an image which runs throughout the length of the cane. The cane is then rolled, pulled, and squeezed until the rods fuse together. When the cane is sliced at any point on the cane, the same image is seen throughout. These canes are then combined with other canes to create intricate geometric and floral images. I arrange many slices of various canes on the polymer shapes, to create a watercolor or collage effect. these shapes become some of the elements used to create my jewelry. The beautiful colors of the polymer contrast and work with the textured silver accents to give my jewelry the unique look for which it is known. The fine silver process begins as precious metal clay. Precious metal clay consists of microscopic particles of precious metals suspended in a pliable organic binder. The precious metal clay is shaped and formed just as a potters clay. It is then fired in a kiln and the binders in the metal clay are burnt out leaving only precious metal.