Blog

Early in my jewelry career I was told by a very respected intuitive that she saw me creating jewelry that others could “literally feel”. She felt my work would be deeply healing for the wearer and let me be clear, she didn’t know anything about me. I responded by telling her that I in fact did made jewelry professionally and loved working with gemstones, but that I could never see myself creating the typical healing crystal jewelry. 

As a highly sensitive person and one who has studied many healing modalities over the years,  the New Age definitions of the gemstones didn’t resonate with me at all. In fact, despite all of the things I had studied I felt like crystal healing as I knew it had absolutely no merit. I no doubt loved stones and were really drawn to certain ones, but I didn’t feel anything in their presence. 

In December 2021, I once again found myself sitting eye to eye with an amazing seer in Maui. His name was Roy, but everyone affectionally called the Japanese Yoda and I could see why. Among the many mind blowing things Roy shared with me that evening,  he mentioned that he saw me working with stones in jewelry and in combination with plant medicine to create potent medicine for others and the earth. As I had been studying plant medicine for the past two years I found the idea of making medicine for others and the earth interesting, but I quickly shrugged off the stone part.

Shortly after returning home I somehow came across Sarah Thomas (they/them), a master acupuncturist, wise multifaceted healer, and teacher of stone medicine. I was buzzing with excitement after reading about their bio and the school they founded - the Upper Clarity School of Stone Medicine. I had honestly forgotten about what Roy shared regarding my work with stones, until Sarah began talking about combining stones and plant to create potent holistic medicine. I gasped at the realization that these two amazing seers that came to me many years apart may have been right. 

Sarah is a part of an ancient lineage of stone medicine practitioners and studied extensively under the tutelage of Jeffrey C. Yuen, 88th generation priest of the Jade Purity Lineage. To this day he is still one of Sarah’s most cherished mentors. 

I confess that I’m very much a novice in stone medicine and I know that my learning with this fascinating field will never be done. Using the framework of ancient Chinese medicine, the meridians, and the acupuncture points, along with the elemental composition of each stone and its effects on the body, we focus on healing the multidimensional layers of the human body. I have personally been gobsmacked by the beautiful shifts I have seen in my own life. I’ll admit that I still don’t feel a tangible energy when I hold a stone in my hand, but I have found that each stone I’m drawn to has held the healing that I need in my life and it has communicated with me in other powerful and validating ways. I have learned the basics of how to make stone elixirs and I’m so excited to dive deeper in this and explore combining stone elixirs with healing plants. I’m also learning how to place stones on specific points of the body to support healing. Looking back at some of the multi-elemental talismans I previously created intuitively, I’m amazed at how they carried the energy I intended without knowing why. Of course I’m definitely paying more attention to stone combinations in my jewelry, but each still comes about intuitively. Simply having these powerful, sentient beings close to your body can create unimaginable shifts and jewelry is a great medium to do this.  

Mother Earth has provided all the medicine we need to thrive and the ancients knew this. I’m so grateful for teachers like Sarah and countless others who are sharing their wisdom with the world. 

I have been learning a lot about plant allies as I study herbalism. In a nutshell, an ally is being that you partner with for healing, growth, transformation, and support when challenges arise. This may be on a physical, emotional, or even a more subtle metaphysical level. So how do you find an ally? Often they catch your eye and when you're in its presence it feels like an old friend. An ally naturally lifts your spirits. 

After letting this idea of an ally marinate inside me for a while I realized that certain stones make me feel the same way. Until very recently I couldn’t quite fully embrace the idea of stones possessing specific energetic qualities . Don’t get me wrong, I’m more than a wee bit woo woo, but I have to feel it to believe it and it has to pass through my trusty bullshit meter before I’m on board. However, I can’t deny the fact that certain stones provide me with a strong sense of comfort and joy. Colorful tourmalines are pure joy to me and one of my very favorites as you know. As individual as the soul itself, I always feel as if I’m sitting smack dab in the middle of a beautiful flower garden when I surrender to their colorful magic. Give me an aquamarine and I will wrap it in the sunny warmth of yellow gold every time. Metalsmithing is an alchemic process, bringing together different elements with fire and transforming them into something new. Combining an aquamarine with gold and perhaps a precious pearl, brings me to a state of beachy bliss when I admire the end result. 

Thinking about allies and the alchemy of my work in this new way feels big. Looking even deeper, I think we can see this in other ways we each create. From preparing a wonderful meal to creating a home that brings us healing and comfort, there is energetic and metaphorical alchemic process that we all create with. 

I've been wanting to model a pair of my twisted earrings, but I recently had my ears pierced for a second time and we have a couple months of healing to go. Not interested in committing to a second piercing? No problem! This is what these earrings were made for! My new twisted ear wire simply threads through a single piercing, but gives the illusion of wearing a small hoop in an additional piercing. The end rests comfortably against the earlobe and this fashion forward design insures that you won't accidentally lose an earring. 

This pair of Twisted La Calavera Catrina & Scapolite Earrings are my newest favorite! 

I've been reluctantly leaning into the shorter days and trying to find ways to nurture my soul. Scents, color, beautiful imagery, books, enchanting lighting, fluffy blankets, movement, and music seem to be my go to's right now.

I found this picture after I created my latest La Calavera Catrina Earring. When I saw it I immediately wanted to just crawl into this image and cover myself with the blooms. Then I realized how similar the colors were to what I had chosen for the flowers on my earring. I often use the hashtag #colortherapy in my IG posts and like most people I'm really drawn to certain colors, but I'm really starting to understand how powerful color is for my happiness. Don't tell this to the gray sweater and black jeans I'm wearing right now! But truthfully, these colors scratch the nagging itch in my soul. They give me immediate satisfaction followed by a feeling of completeness. I want to linger in their presence and fill my world with them. Funny, it sounds like love. #colorcrush

Can there be anything better than little light catchers for your ears? I think not. These single La Calavera Catrina Earrings are my current obsession. I'm definitely going to be making more and some in silver as well. You can grab yours here!

This morning we have sun! Quite fitting for a Sun-day, don't you think? Sunny days and color make me so happy, so since it is early in the winter season I thought it might be nice to share what gives me a little boost when the days don't cooperate. A snip it here and there... a visual beauty break.

I'm so in love with the work of Lewis Miller Design, a floral artist and event designer. Lewis has created these wonderful "flower flashes", giving a second life to flowers while beautifying ordinary spaces. I don't know about you, but I would probably linger at this intersection a little longer. 

I'm always obsessed with color and composition in my own work and my newest La Calavera Catrina Earrings pay homage to beauty and impermanence. Mother Nature may not give me sun and flowers throughout the winter, but I can create my version of a sunny day.