Designer

JOURNEY 

My grandparents lived modestly in a 500-square-foot cottage but spent their retirement traveling the world. Upon their return, my grandmother would bring me little trinkets from their journeys. I cherished these treasures, imagining the distant landscapes and cultures they came from. These artifacts were a way to connect with her and the broader world.

My father has been crafting stained glass windows for 50 years and introduced me to the art show world from a young age, instilling a passion for creativity. I grew up in Cleveland, OH, near Lake Erie, and in my teenage years, I dabbled in making friendship bracelets and seed bead flower necklaces. I pursued a BFA in painting at Miami University. After graduation, I drove to San Diego, CA, and began working for a small jewelry designer. When the 2008 recession hit, I applied to graduate school at SCAD and moved to Savannah, GA, to pursue a master's in Design Management. While conducting field research for my thesis, I fell in love and moved back to the Midwest after graduating from SCAD. Settling in Detroit, MI, in 2012, I co-founded a non-profit, Ponyride, which supported creative and social entrepreneurs by providing affordable rent in a 30,000 sq. ft. industrial building. I was also an entrepreneur that worked closely with a corporation to launch a global-local project in 2014.

After nurturing and raising two young children, I've been patiently waiting to return to my creative pursuits. I started taking multiple online classes, watching a plethora of tutorials, and reading extensively to hone my craft. It's been a lot of trial and error but my journey is multidimensional and generational. 

 

HEALING
My studio was built during an intense period of grief. After losing two brothers, I needed to refocus on healing through working with my hands. Designing and making jewelry became a meditative process for me, where time and space disappeared, and the present moment was all that existed. I find that grief needs an outlet, and creativity helps me heal from the inside out.