Why I decided to pursue a creative path?
I’ve been making jewelry ever since I can remember. At age 10, I started my first jewelry business selling beaded necklaces alongside my lemonade stand on a small island off the coast of Massachusetts with the women in my family.
Through high school, I attended “metalsmithing club” every Wednesday afternoon and quickly developed a love for the craft while also working as an assistant bench jeweler in Portland, Maine. Around this time, a mentor planted the seed that learning these skills could change my life. She was right.
Photos: My first 3 metalsmithing creations
I love the process of transforming a simple sheet of metal into something new and beautiful. I find my flow working long days at the bench where my material provides direct feedback as I saw, file, and solder. I strive to make jewelry that is so comfortable you’ll never want to take it off.
Fast forward to today — after earning a BA in studio art, working for years as a teacher, and casually building up my ring inventory on Etsy — I’ve decided to take a leap and turn my lifelong side-gig and passion into my full-time job. I aspire to not only make jewelry for others, but to teach and share in the craft of metalsmithing with my community.
In short, I couldn’t help pursuing this career path. I’ve always been drawn to the arts, and I am eager to share my passion for jewelry making and design with everyone!
I’m so grateful for the people in my life who’ve helped me get where I am today. I have so many folks to thank, from my mentors, teachers, family, and friends. Here are a few who deserve a special shoutout:
Sarah Collins: Sarah taught a metalsmithing class after school once a week at my high school, and I was hooked! I don’t think I have ever fallen in love with something so quickly as I did with metalsmithing. I would dream up jewelry designs all week and couldn’t wait for Wednesdays when I’d get to work with metal and learn new techniques. I think Sarah sensed my eagerness to learn and asked me to be her apprentice. I am forever grateful for her mentorship and for teaching me metalsmithing.
Folia Jewelry: After learning some metalsmithing basics with Sarah, I started working at Folia Jewelry in Portland, Maine while in high school. There, I was surrounded by supportive women who continued to help me improve my metalsmithing skills. I especially want to thank Edie, the owner, who believed in me and pushed me to make pieces that advanced my skills. Sometimes, she had me work in gold, and I would say, “Are you sure you want me to make this? I’ve never done that before.” With the help of the women at Folia, I learned so much about jewelry making and business as well.
Lastly, I have to thank my parents: Growing up, I can’t remember a time when there wasn’t an art project set up at my house. From beaded jewelry to water color painting and flower pressing, my mom deserves a great deal of credit for keeping me busy with at-home art projects and fueling my artistic endeavors. My dad encouraged me to start investing in metalsmithing tools when I was in high school, and I think this early investment is what’s made my business possible today.
