handmade

I remember being mesmerized by lockets as a little girl. And now, I still am. I love surprises. And secrets are exciting. Loving something enough to circle your neck with it and wear it on your chest gives strength. For all these reasons, I adore lockets. Lockets...

Today I greeted dust on my bench pin. This is a first. Never before, in 18 years, has there been dust on my bench pin. For a metalsmith, the bench pin is the center of the studio universe. It's like the bottom of a skillet for a...

Returning to a favorite form — the box — I decided to answer fewer questions than I had in previous works in the READING THE KEY series. It was time to tell the viewer less with this sculptural piece.  This represents a departure from the...

Eliza Cook was a 19th-century English poet and writer, from whose words the title of this painting is taken. She wrote that it would be better to “build schoolrooms for the boy, than cells and gibbets for the man.” This is a compelling statement, ringing with...

On my blog and website, you will see a badge that says, "I TOOK THE HANDMADE PLEDGE/BUYHANDMADE.ORG" I first discovered the Pledge on the website of another metalsmith, checked it out, and signed myself up. So, what is it? Buy Handmade is a consortium of nine...

Because memories are valuable, and heirlooms help us keep our memories and transfer the stories to the next generations, I am honored to assist families with transferring their heirloom jewelry into the contemporary world. We are able to preserve the memories and enjoy a contemporary...

When a baby is born, we count. Ten fingers. Ten toes. All is well. At this point, no one knows what will become the function and purpose of those fingers and toes. Will those hands become the hands of a plumber? a chef? a nurse? a...