I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio where my interest in jewelry design was sparked from a young age. In high school I began making jewelry as a hobby, using beading and wire techniques. I would then take my designs to sell at local craft shows and events. While selling jewelry, I realized I had a knack for business, which led me to earn my Associate's degree in Business Management Technology in 2014 and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 2016 from the University of Cincinnati. After working in the business and retail industry I decided to return to my passion for jewelry.
I have been influenced and inspired by the work of Wendy Yue and Heidi Daus. Wendy Yue is a world-renowned jewelry designer that has made a big impact in the industry; known for creating bold and unique statement pieces. Along with her travels, she is deeply inspired by nature, animals, color, and her dreams. I love her attention to detail as well as her view and interpretation of nature. Heidi Daus has been making jewelry for 39 years, she designs large, colorful statement pieces. In her collections, you can find vintage styles reminiscent of art deco and art nouveau. I love her work because I also like to design large and colorful pieces of jewelry. This led me to attend the Academy of Art University where I am working toward my Master’s in jewelry and metal arts, with the intended graduation in 2022. Themes of nature and its mysteries are used in my designs to create a bold statement using bright colors. Techniques such as foldforming and stone setting help me to create whimsical one-of-a-kind pieces. I find a therapeutic and stress-relieving quality in being able to stretch and bend metal into organic, nature-like shapes. As I finish my Master’s degree my thirst for knowledge continues as I intend to attend GIA to receive my certification in gemology to further cultivate my skills as an artist and jeweler. |