I started making this type of jewelry after the loss of a special dog, Gonzo.
The day came when I couldn't quite remember the texture of his fur, or the way he smelled, or exactly what his bark sounded like.
The ache of his absence was already nearly unbearable: This forgetting of all his "dogness" shattered me.
Creating a piece of jewelry-something tangible- helped me feel a physical connection to him.
It gave me a container: A way to hold those memories. A way to touch them.
And I realized: Jewelry is powerful
The first piece I made for someone else was for a man who had admired my reliquary and wanted one for his wife, to honor their recently departed dog. I put their pups image on the front, and sealed it with an enameled disc in deep burgundy- the same color as his collar.
When it was presented, she told her husband it was the 'most thoughtful gift he'd given her in twenty plus years of marriage.”
That's the moment something shifted.
I have a Masters in Social Work, but burnt out quickly as a children's crisis clinician.
I became a social worker because I wanted to help people.
I became a metalsmith because I needed to help myself.
And then I discovered that through metal forged by hand and heart, I could do both.
And now I want to offer that experience to you.
This is not a jewelry making class. You're not here to learn a skill — you're here to make something deeply personal. You'll be beside me the entire time, shaping the piece as much or as little as you feel called to. I'll guide your hands, replace your saw blades, and hold space for whatever comes up.
It's not therapy — though it's deeply therapeutic.
This experience is about connection — to your story, your memories, and the people, places, and moments that shaped you.
It's not limited to loss or grief. We've made reliquaries with a grandfather's plaid shirt enshrined behind glass, sand from a childhood beach, a coffee bean representing years of friendship over hot drinks.
Hair, soil, crystals, fur, ashes, beans. It all becomes precious through love.
To get started, book a free 30 minute call to get all your questions answered.
