I grew up in rural farming country. This early influence created a lifelong love of folk art and indigenous arts and crafts. I learned to value nature, heritage, story-telling and the elegance of simplicity. I also had the advantage of lots of personal freedom, the safety of a small community and solitude. More than an artist or designer, these influences have made me a design thinker. Design is my world view; the lens through which I view, evaluate and understand the world around me. I use empathy, creativity and rationality to find successful solutions to tricky problems. Trained as an architect and a metalsmith, my work is a reflection of the world around me, experienced every day — with my family, in nature, in my travels, and in architecture. I love to travel, and to meet people and hear their stories. I love history, and the connection I feel to past civilizations when I use the ancient and revered techniques of goldsmithing. I am fascinated with history, lineage and mythology, and my jewelry reflects the convergence of ancestry, identity and ornament. I believe that personal history has staying power and it never goes out of style.   I am captivated by the shape, color and simplicity of a beach stone, a tree branch or a landscape, by ethnic and traditional handicrafts and textiles, by worn brass doorknockers on peeling paint and old wrought iron gates in hand laid stone walls,  and by vintage toys and mobiles… It all serves as inspiration. When I am dreaming, sketching and designing I draw on these experiences to influence, motivate and reveal, ultimately synthesizing insights with my hands into tangible new ideas and objects.

Each resulting piece is created to be inspiring, to be delightful, and to be enjoyed!