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The Artist

About the Artist

I am a metalsmith, jewelry designer, and artist. At a young age, I began to explore various mediums of visual art. It wasn't until a metalsmithing class at the University of Kansas that I discovered my real passion. During my last semester at KU, I had the honor of studying at Lahti Polytechnic Institute of Design and Fine Arts in Lahti, Finland. There, I had the experience of a lifetime that continues to influence my work to this day. I would go on to receive my BFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design from KU in 2006. Since graduating, I have had the privilege to gain inspiration from continued travel and am happy to call Lawrence, Kansas my home.

Traveling across the country, I have exhibited my jewelry in hundreds of art fairs. It is an exciting time of year, with adventures around every bend. I have gone from Portland to the Florida Keys, from the upper peninsula of Michigan down to the sunny skies of Houston. Denver, Chicago, Dallas, Memphis, Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, have been some of the sites of my journey. It is a nomadic lifestyle that has filled my life with cherished memories; a life I am proud to be living. My business has given me the world and the freedom to travel it.

I am dedicated to making unique jewelry. All of my work is handmade, giving each item individual attention, so no one piece is exactly the same.

I draw my designs from life around me. Made to last, I work hard to make sure that my pieces are as durable as they are timeless. It is important to me that my customers are able to purchase my jewelry with a clean conscience. All materials and stones are ethically sourced with the utmost care, focusing on both an environmental and humane impact.

Charity

I believe it is important to give back to the world, and community, that has given me so much. Below I have listed the various charities that I give a portion of my profits to.

MOCSA

The Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault's mission is "To improve the lives of those impacted by sexual abuse and assault and prevent sexual violence in our community." For more information you can visit their website here.

CASA

"The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, together with its state and local member programs, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every abused or neglected child in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive." For more information you can visit their website here.

Lawrence Art Center Benefit Auction

"Established by artists in 1981 as a way to fund a not-for-profit gallery, the Lawrence Arts Center Annual Benefit Art Auction provides funding for the exhibitions program now occupying five spaces in the Arts Center and enriched by Art Talks, films, and more. Approximately 150 pieces generously donated by artists will be on exhibit for four weeks. Bidding on auction works is an opportunity to support exhibitions at the Lawrence Arts Center – all proceeds from sales go toward continuing to support the program." For more information you can visit their website here.

YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment

"YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all." For more information you can visit their website here. 

The Techniques

I was taught at The University of Kansas, through their metalsmithing and jewelry design program, as well as Lahti Technical Institute of Design in Finland. There, I learned traditional goldsmith and silversmith techniques which I use in my work today.

  • Chasing and Repousse. This is a technique where metal is shaped by hammering from the back side of a piece to create a low relief design. The piece is then flipped to the front and hammered again to create greater detail. This is then repeated until the piece is complete.
  • Fold-Forming. This is a technique where sheet metal is folded, repeatedly hammered, and unfolded: creating a three-dimensional form.
  • Soldering. This process is where two or more sheets of metal are joined by melting a filler metal alloy (solder) into the seam. The solder has a lower melting point than the rest of the metal in the piece allowing it to melt and create a seam.
  • Fusing. Fusing is done by heating metal just enough to slowly melt it. This can be used to join two or more pieces of metal together or to melt an edge, thus creating an organic texture on the piece.
  • Keum-Boo. Keum-boo is an ancient East Asian technique used to apply sheets of gold to silver. This is done by heating the sterling to bring up a thin layer of fine silver, or pure silver. 24 carat gold is then attached with heat and pressure to produce a permanent bond.
  • Vermeil. Vermeil is achieved by slowly fusing layers of 24K gold to silver. This technique dates back to the sixteenth century and is also known as silver gilt.
  • Riveting. A metal pin is placed through a hole that goes through sheets of metal and holds them together. The rivet is made with a head at one end, usually by fusing, and the other end is hammered into a head after insertion.