Jewelry

Central themes in my jewelry are reclaimed horsehair and natural dyes. My work has been called a study of skilled juxtaposition. The strength of metal combined with the softness of horsehair evokes a delicate balance of opposites often found in nature.

Workplace

I’ve been working at the Scintillant Jewelry Studio for seven years. Scintillant is a workshop located in the heart of the Mission district of San Francisco, right on Valencia between 23rd and 24th streets. The building used to be a law firm back in the day, and after Adam Clark, an owner of Scintillant and master craftsman, came across it became a space for our creative community to flourish. What I love about it the most is the shared spirit of creativity that comes from many artisans of all walks of life that work at Scintillant. We share the space, learn from each other, and create together. I consider myself incredibly lucky to be in that space.

Production Model

My production model ranges between made-to-order and small-batch production. I work with a precious organic material- namely horsehair that I source from the Native American people that obtain it as a by-product of their work with horses. Because it is ethically sourced, it is a limited resource. I treat my raw materials with respect and reverence for their natural beauty. Small-batch production allows me the flexibility to evolve my work and express seasonality and the passage of time with colors and shapes that feel “of the moment.” 

Tools

The materials we use (e.g., horsehair, metal) have primitive roots traceable to ancient times. Although they are fascinating on their own, I explore and maximize their possibilities with soldering, shaping, cutting, binding, dyeing, etc. Our shared workshop is full of vintage metalsmithing tools that the owner Adam collected over the years. These traditional tools have history, and I am grateful to be able to use them for my metalsmithing work. I use a lot of stovetop cooking wares for my natural dyeing. I love a good pair of scissors to cut and shape horsehair. 

The mixture of metalsmithing, which is hard, hot, and heavy, combined with the soft, watery process of dyeing horsehair in my work, makes for an exciting juxtaposition blending traditionally male craft with the delicate and feminine craftwork.  

Materials 

I use horsehair ethically gathered by the Native American artisans for my wearable art jewelry. After receiving raw horsehair, it is bound and dyed by hand with flowers, roots, and spices such as roses, Himalayan salt, indigo, redwood bark, and madder root. It is then set in sterling silver, gold-plated brass, or recycled gold.

I intentionally incorporate biodegradable materials used since ancient times. My work is meant as an exploration of innovative design that also celebrates traditional craft and the symbolism of our human connection to the Earth. The stones I use in my jewelry come from US deadstock mines which I then custom cuts for each design. Our Sapphires are vintage from the 1980s, sourced from London, UK.