Metalsmithing & Jewelry
Welcome to my portfolio showcasing the culmination of my training and passion in Metalsmithing & Jewelry.
Rooted in traditional benchwork and guided by exploratory methods, my work reflects a partnership to delicate metalworking and fabrication techniques. From intricate stone settings to innovative piercing designs and creative body jewelry, each creation demonstrates my commitment to craftsmanship and expression.
Commission
14k White Gold, Argentium Silver, Emerald
Crafting this ring started by shaping pre-annealed 14k white gold into a uniform size 8.5 using a swage block. An Adobe Illustrator vector file enabled intricate engraving on the ring with a laser engraving machine, ensuring every detail aligned perfectly with the client's expectations.
The centerpiece—a Celtic Tree of Life symbol—was crafted from 20-gauge Argentium silver wire, hand threaded and braided to imbue the ring with symbolic depth. A ring base was laid, strategically designed to accommodate 6 tube settings and 3 additional tube settings within the woven detail, destined to house emeralds.
Each tube setting underwent careful shaping with flat nose pliers, transforming cylindrical forms into secure, elegant profiles that cradled each emerald snugly and securely. The process included precision adjustments to ensure each stone was set securely without compromising its stability or aesthetic appeal.
Final touches included the skilled use of specialized burnishing tools to gently shape and polish the metal around each emerald, enhancing both the security of the setting and the overall visual appeal of the ring.
After drilling holes in both front and back profiles, wires were soldered onto the back profiles to serve as interlocking elements between units. Using a needle-shaped diamond burr, a U-shaped cavity was delicately carved at the bottom of each unit to securely accommodate these interlocking wires.
Metronome Tuning
Sterling Silver, Cubic Zirconia
At its heart, 6mm cubic zirconia shines, held by custom-made tennis stone settings crafted from heavy wall tube stock. These settings were assembled into 13 units, each standing 4mm tall.
The process commenced with preparation and marking, using a square punch scribe to outline cutting and soldering points on the tube surfaces. Each unit's front and back profiles were carefully delineated into three sections (1mm, 2mm, and 1mm), ensuring exact alignment for subsequent drilling and soldering tasks.
With all units prepared with drilled holes, soldered wires, and prongs, the focus turned to soldering prongs onto each unit to securely cradle the CZ stones. Each prong received tipping using a ball burr and careful filing to ensure precise contact with the stones. A 45-degree heart-shaped burr was then employed to carve into the prongs at the unit's height, facilitating easier bending and secure setting of the stones.
Once all stones were set, the units were interlocked by flipping each upside down and looping the extended wires from one unit's back profile into the accessible holes of the next unit, progressing systematically from right to left. The previously carved U-shaped cavities ensured a snug fit, allowing the wires to lock securely into place. Excess wire length was meticulously trimmed, and the interlocked joints were then laser welded for enhanced stability, chosen strategically to maintain flexibility in the jewelry piece's movement.
Meeting You Halfway
Sterling Silver, Cubic Zirconia
Following the same custom-made tennis stone settings, ‘Meeting You Halfway’ is a jewelry piece worn on the hand, symbolizing tension and surrender through its design and gesture. Using the tennis line technique, a delicate line rests on the third finger, connected to the thumb by a shortened chain, symbolizing life's constraints. The intentional discomfort prompts a natural inclination to cup the hand, illustrating the easing of tension through acknowledgment. This piece embodies surrender and co-creation, suggesting that embracing discomfort is transformative. By taking responsibility and co-creating with discomfort, we access emotional clarity and growth.
Decide
Sterling Silver, Cubic Zirconia
Crafting this industrial bar piercing began with the use of a tap and dye set, allowing me to create a custom threaded pin. This innovative approach ensures the sleek bar allows a twist and locks securely when worn on the ear. Each spherical end piece has a threaded attatchment to snugly secure onto the bar. To create these spherical elements, flat discs of sheet sterling silver were formed into hollow dome shapes through a dapping process. This dimensional look was achieved by fluxing and soldering two of these dome-shaped discs together.
“Decide” embodies the personal decision-making process, inviting the wearer to listen to their inner voice and trust their instincts. The sleek bar design signifies interruptions, while the set gemstones symbolize the power of making choices. The outer eliptical form acts as a container, offering the opportunity to move with life's flow, making this earring a visual representation of the significance of conscious decision-making.
Integration, series n.3
Copper
Building upon the themes explored in "Invitation," the series continues to delve into geometric sequences and their transformative potential. Adobe Illustrator expands upon the modular system, exploring its adaptability in pieces like nu gold lingerie. This phase celebrates fluidity and feminine allure, enhancing grace and movement through the synergy of fashion and jewelry.
The culmination of the design journey is embodied in "Integration," featuring a blazer adorned with copper metal buttons. The metal accents are personally hand-sewn onto the garment. Inspired by the principles explored in "Invitation" and "Experimentation," this detail merges craftsmanship with innovation. Each crimson-red powder-coated button enhances the blazer's allure, seamlessly blending structured metal with the soft crepe fabric.
Adobe Illustrator
Experimentation, series n.2
Nu Gold Copper
Invitation, series n.1
Copper, Cubic Zirconia
In "Invitation," the exploration of merging fashion and jewelry began with a study of garment construction and assembly. The series started with a scarf and intimate necklace crafted from sewn-together fabrics. To streamline production for the subsequent pieces, a custom "Pancake Die" was developed, a steel spring shear designed at a 19-degree angle for cutting. Using a hydraulic press, this tool allowed for efficient stamping out of designs from metal sheets, ensuring precise cuts without the need for soldering or hand-sewing.
The design of the spring shear was crucial in establishing a cold connection modular system that defines this series. This approach enabled pieces to interlock seamlessly, enhancing flexibility and design continuity. Adobe Illustrator was utilized to conceptualize extended shapes and connections, laying the foundation for geometric sequences that transcend traditional jewelry design.
Inspired by the intricate connection between the vagus nerve and self-affirmation, this piece celebrates the power of trusting oneself to integrate daily experiences. Drawing from the energy of my lower belly, the seat of passion, I choose affirmations that honor the innate intelligence of my body, nourishing my gut-brain axis with vitality and resonation.
Self-Trust
Sterling Silver, Citrine
Either/Or
Sterling Silver, CZ stones
A pendant necklace intricately woven from argentium silver symbolically represents processing from top to bottom or bottom to top, drawing inspiration from the ways information is processed and the paths of incremental pursuits and radical understanding. The design metaphorically channels the dynamics of female uteri.
Mindful Poise
Argentium Silver, CZ stones
Step into contemplation with 'Mindful Poise,' a body jewelry that encourages deliberate movement and graceful presence. Each foot finds its place within the chain loop, offering a moment of rest and reflection, while rings on the fingers uphold the elegant structure. With eyes cast downward, every step becomes a mindful act, guiding the wearer towards a path of conscious direction and metaphorical alignment.
Making Space
Sterling Silver, CZ stones
With Me
Sterling Silver
This aromatic jewelry features a spherical design with a locket to hold precious herbs, inspired by the form of a tea infuser. The sterling silver construction simulates the look of granulation and features three 'S'-hook clasps for easy opening and closing. Inside the band, a Korean inscription pays homage to the historical origins of Asian culture.
“얼마나 자유롭고 재치 있는 단순성이 있을 수 있는지”,
“How free and witty simplicity can be.”
Retranslated from Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu.
PeaPod
Sterling Silver, Black Onyx
A valuable way of creating structural and voluminous forms from sheet metal. Hand-made sterling silver beads are paired with black onyx stone. A process called dapping is performed to make hemispherical components, which were soldered together. A dimensional difference between the silver’s spheroid and the onyx’s sphere demonstrates a shift of energy and playfulness. Delicate weight of the bracelet glides across the forearm, inspiring the wearer’s graceful movement.
Character Synergy
Copper, Nickel
Each copper finger cuff corresponds to Japanese Geisha imagery. Through the allure of Geisha and female hostesses' performances, there is an understanding of the fetishization of visual culture and a shift in attention to the objectified story. Each symbolic image narrates a hero's journey and embodies the feminine voice, with each finger expressing stories titled "Smelling the Roses," "Bittersweetness," "Discipline," "Promiscuity," and "Bravery."
Cusp
Sterling Silver, Resin, Peridot
A handcrafted necklace featuring a Buddhist motif in symbolic iconography of the Buddha's ear embodies the transformative power of spiritual guidance and deep listening. Reflecting on the fixed energy that can hinder growth, balance is found by being present with the body, emotions, and intuition. Through this practice, unexpected opportunities and precious gems of wisdom are discovered, celebrated through the intentional placement of a peridot stone within the ear lobe. The necklace serves as a personal reminder to embrace the element of surprise and continue growing in knowledge of self and wisdom.