Aspen Trunk Shows at The Mollie and Gravity Haus

Summertime in Aspen is nothing short of glorious. If you haven’t been there for the shimmering aspen trees and stunning display of wildflowers, I highly recommend a visit. And what could be more delightful than to pair your beautiful nature getaway with some glittering jewels? I couldn’t be more thrilled to announce that Talisman is coming to Aspen for a back-to-back double header of trunk shows…

Thursday, June 12th, 9am - 3pm @ Gravity Haus Aspen - this event is open to both members and outside community!

Friday June 13th - Saturday June 14th, 12pm - 6pm @ The Mollie Hotel

Hope to see you there!

Magical Jewelry: Creating Custom Talismans

Every once in a while, I find that it’s necessary to reiterate that my jewelry collection is called “Talisman Fine Jewelry” not just because it’s a cute name. In fact, the moniker is quite literal. While some folks may not be into the ‘woo-woo’ side of what I do, and that’s a-ok with me, others appreciate learning that every piece I make by hand is in fact charged with specific energy and intention for the wearer… whether that be to invoke a specific goddess, archangel, or simply bring in unconditional love energy. Some pieces have hidden sigils, some even were sculpted with ash, but all are held, prayed upon as they are made, and blessed on an altar before they make their way to you. They are, in fact, “talismans” in the truest sense of the word.

With that in mind. I also want to throw my hat into the proverbial ring for custom talisman jobs… If you find that you’re seeking to call in a certain energy in your life, want to honor a stage in your life’s journey, or simply want protection or a good luck charm, please reach out and let’s start a conversation about what I can create for you. Jewelry, and in particular a piece created with the magical resonance of solid gold (which also happens to be a highly conductive metal), is such a powerful, personal type of talisman to wear on the body. It’s my honor to make this kind of magical jewelry for you. Let’s talk.

Bringing All of Myself to the Table: A DJ Set

Illustration of me DJing courtesy of Brian Pescador

As a creative person, I find that having a variety of outlets to experiment with, explore, and channel creative flow through only just contributes to making me a more fully-actualized, well-rounded human. (To a point, of course, when one then has taken on too much and becomes depleted.) While jewelry and fashion are by far my primary passions, music also calls. And in fact, those things need not be siloed: most days I am appreciating music and creating setlists while I do bench work. In fact, that’s pretty much my fav combo… the two inspire each other.

Over the holiday weekend, I had the joy of DJing at a friend’s house show/party (enter my new DJ moniker, Bark Barc, shout out to James Gardner!). My set was a mix of house, synth pop, jungle, African psych, tropicalia, new wave, and other oddities. While most DJs don’t publicly share their set lists, I think you might enjoy listening to these groovy jams while dancing in your kitchen or bopping in your car. So share I will. Enjoy, and happy summer!

<3 - Vanessa

The Latest: Custom Work and Using Your Family Gold

Meeting with clients for a custom project - two very unique commitment rings

While releasing a new collection twice a year is certainly a big part of what I do, many may not realize that a lot of my work at Talisman involves custom projects for clients. It’s really a treat to be able to hand-make meaningful pieces like commitment rings, commemorative pendants, or to work 1:1 to bring a client’s unique vision into reality. Below are a few recent custom projects I’ve been working on. These projects usually start with sculpting the piece in wax, which is shown to the client for approval before it’s cast in solid, recycled gold. Most often I work in recycled 14k gold, though on occasion I am asked to cast in 18k, or in sterling silver. Thanks to the handmade nature of my work, anything is possible!

Speaking of recycled gold, it’s also worth mentioning - I often get asked whether I can incorporate a client’s heirloom jewelry or old gold into new pieces. The short answer is YES - it is entirely possible to melt scrap gold that might be collecting dust at the back of your jewelry box, and to reuse it in a new Talisman piece. Be aware that it does take a bit of extra time, as it’s always safest to have the gold refined first, to eliminate any impurities or aging alloys that may cause brittleness or instability, and then re-alloy back into 14k or 18k grains for casting. Regardless, it can be done, and in fact I do it often! So if you have any family jewels sitting in your safety deposit box that you just know you’re not going to ever wear, why not give it new life by repurposing it into a piece you’ll love and cherish?

One link at a time…

These one-of-a-kind links are first sculpted in wax, but will soon become a chunky 18k gold toggle bracelet for a lucky client! Stay tuned for more on this baddie.

As always, thank you to my amazing clients who allow me to do what I love for work! Infinite gratitude for you <3

A custom initial pendant for a client, to be cast in recycled 14k gold

First it’s sculpted in wax

Then cast in solid, recycled gold

Then assembled/soldered, and put through a strenuous hand-finishing process to get to the final piece. I loved these little stud earrings so much that I decided to add them to the regular collection here.

BTS: Shooting The Spring/Summer 2025 Lookbook Campaign

Shooting the spring/summer lookbook campaign this season with photographer Matt Nager was nothing short of an adventure. It also held a lot of deeply personal meaning and gratification for me, as our shoot location was a very special place that I’ve wanted to photograph at for the last couple years (shout out to Jacqueline and Micah for turning me onto it). 7 of us made the trek to a tiny campus outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico to photograph at the Dwan Light Sanctuary - a meditation center and spiritual sanctuary (perhaps even a vortex?) commissioned by arts patron Virginia Dwan, and built by iconic solar artist Charles Ross. The sanctuary consists of a circular white room, along with two walls and a ceiling made of Ross’ life-size rainbow prisms. Charles Ross was one of the first people to successfully construct prisms at that scale, which cast brilliant rainbows across the room as the sunlight moves across the sky. I highly recommend a visit.

Rainbows hold a lot of special meaning to me - growing up as a kid in Boulder, my new agey father had prisms in our windows, and the memories of the rainbows that were cast across our maroon 80s carpet while Fleetwood Mac played on the turntable are something I hold dear. I read once that rainbows are “portals to another dimension,” and I couldn’t agree more. There’s just something so magical about the fact that simple sunlight can be revealed to contain every color of the spectrum within it. Perhaps there’s something analogous there to our own human existence. Regardless, rainbows are simply just a joy and a delight to behold.

Beyond nostalgia and mysticism, rainbows also hold a more current significance for me, as a mid-life queer woman and jewelry designer. As a symbol of the gay community that I am a part of, rainbows have now come to embody multiple meanings for me. Not the least of which being a statement of queer joy and triumph - the concept that ultimately was the guiding light for our spring photoshoot. During these challenging times, photographing two visibly queer, gender nonconforming models - the gorgeous Apple Hultz and Royal Zaiking - in a place filled with prismatic rainbow light, holds special significance and importance. I hope that this photoshoot stands as a manifesto and testament of queer joy as resistance, and is as statement-making as it is simply beautiful to behold. As such, I titled this campaign “We Create Our Own Utopia.”

Now, this adventure was not without its trials and tribulations. We made it through an accidental venue double booking (discovered at the 11th hour!), a model’s impulse to dye zir hair purple that morning on a whim, an E. coli outbreak in the town’s water supply (thus rendering showers risky at best), and even a car breakdown at the end. BUT, we persevered. I’m still putting all the pieces together as to what all that meant on a cosmic level. But regardless, our spring/summer campaign shoot turned out as magically as intended. I hope you enjoy it too.

Special thank yous are due not only to Matt and our models, but to my assistant Madeline Cohen, and our photography assistant for the day, David Goodheim, who were both instrumental. Thank you to Recital boutique (and to homie Hannah Proff!) for graciously lending us their beautiful clothing, which I styled along with pieces from my own closet. Shout out also to Lillian Marsh for consulting on hair and makeup, as well as to Matthew Morris, who helped us successfully maneuver the purple hair scenario.

Scroll down to see more of the behind-the-scenes footage of this magical kaleidoscopic adventure. Prism/Solar Spectrum Artwork by Charless Ross © 2025 Charles Ross/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

For Your Ears: SS25 Playlist

What have I been jamming to in the studio as I make the SS25 collection? Answer: A mix of some sexy AF R&B, house, disco, hip hop, and world music. Guaranteed to soothe your weary ears and inspire you to get up and move. Enjoy!

Work in Progress: The Making of SS25

Sculpting the Growth Spiral Studs

This season’s collection came together in a rather powerful, symbolic way. After feeling stuck, stagnant, and overall a bit depressed by the state of the world this winter, the light came back to me by way of seeing how everyday humans were showing up for each other in crises. In short, I saw that through our interconnection, interdependence, mutual aid, and furthermore through love and joy as forms of resistance, ‘we’ve got us.’ As such, I’ve dubbed SS25 “We Create Our Own Utopia.” It is an homage to these concepts, and even more specifically it is an homage to queer joy as resistance. Because the queer community, amongst others, is no stranger to these realities, having been reliant on interdependence and mutual aid to get through centuries of hate and oppression.

Wax models for the Interconnection Ring

Follow along here as I begin the process of making the collection by first sketching and sculpting the pieces in wax. After that they’re cast in solid 14k recycled gold, and sometimes soldered together, followed by hours of refining - sanding, polishing, buffing - into the final piece.

Interconnection Ring during soldering, mid process, and after final polish.

Also, fun fact: you can watch my manicure progressively disintegrate before your eyes as my hands work to finish the collection piece by piece! Bonus.

The Journey Spiral Hoops, in process from wax to raw castings, and before earwire is soldered on

The Journey Spiral Hoops post-soldering, and after final polish

In any event, the joy of creating this body of work helped lift me up out of a funk and enabled me to see the light once again. I hope it can inspire the same in you too. That is, after all, the point ;)

New Diamond Sirius B and Diamond Sirius C Rings, both with inlaid reclaimed 2mm diamonds. Part of what I love about (ethically-sourced) diamonds is their ability to create prismatic light.

Research. The work of artist Charles Ross and his lifesize rainbow prisms have also been hugely inspirational this season… stay tuned for more on that front.

The Interdependence Ring from raw casting to finish

This conky guy will be a part of the Abundance Bracelet, where a portion of proceeds will go to charity. Keep an eye out to see how this piece develops ;)

Growth Spiral Studs in process. These were initially created by request of a special client, but I loved them so much I had to add them to the collection.

CO <3 LA Fundraiser + Giveaway

Many moons ago I lived in LA county, not far from Altadena. Needless to say, the utter devastation of what has happened there really hits home. So when the call came (quite literally, from fellow jeweler Anne Gangel) to do something for those affected by the LA fires, I jumped. I’ve built an incredible community of creative friends over the years here in Colorado. And what, pray tell, is the ultimate point of that if it isn’t mobilized for the greater good?

Here is our response: We’re fundraising for direct support to individuals in the LA arts community who have lost their homes and/or studios to the fires. 20 of the best stores and designers from Colorado have come together to sweeten the deal for you, by donating items like diamond jewelry, handbags, gift cards and more to create three amazing giveaway bundles that you can win by participating. Every time you donate counts as another entry. Here are the deets:

1. Donate $25 via my website here, and you will be entered to win one of the three incredible giveaway bundles. There’s no limit to the number of donations you can make! Each donation serves as another entry to the giveaway!

2. The three giveaway bundles you can win including the following:

Giveaway bundle 1, clockwise from top left: FM boutique $200 gift card, Clare V handbag from Eleanor boutique, handmade dalmation jasper and sterling earrings by Avery Lee, gift bundle from Sacred Thistle, handmade ceramic mug from Miller Lane Mercantile, handmade 14k gold Ouroboros Necklace from Talisman Fine Jewelry, and $100 gift card from Petals and Pages of Denver.

Giveaway bundle 2, clockwise from top left: Anne Gangel healing turquoise ring, Gaetano Pesce vase from Recital boutique, Denver hoodie from Puppet Theater, $100 gift card also from Recital boutique, $500 gift card from Blue in Green Denver, clutch handbag from Animal Handmade, 14k gold and diamond stud earrings from Aurum Jewelry, and handmade horn sunglasses from Bardo Editions.

Giveaway bundle 3, clockwise from top left: mixed metal bangle set from Dante Perozzi Jewelry, 14k and diamond UFO Beams pendant from Oxbow Designs, 14k Celtic Love Knot ring from Erica Simon Jewelry, Jacques Marie Mage limited edition sunglasses from Queen City Optical Provisions, $100 gift card from Yucca boutique, and Voyage et Cie candle from Tula boutique.

Insane, no?

3. 100% of all money collected will be donated to the Grief and Hope fund as well as the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund (50/50 split), both of which are disbursing grants to individuals in the arts community who have been displaced and affected by the fires.

4. Three lucky winners will be announced on Monday 1/27!

Let’s generate some $$$$$!

For Your Ears: Winter 24/25 Playlist

DJ V here. I made you a playlist. You may be thinking, ‘Oh how sweet, must be some holiday classics.’ No, no it is not. Not this year at least. It is, however, a total vibe, much of which is best suited for the dance floor. I figured we all needed something to get us through these colder-than-cold months ahead, and what better way to move through than to moooove. R&B, electronic, hip hop, and a few more ambient, bewitching tracks thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!

The Last-Minute Gift Guide 2024

This holiday season is officially a week shorter than the last… which may explain why we all seem to be buzzing around like bees that lost their hive, desperately trying to gather our sh*t. Or maybe that’s just me… No matter, Talisman has you covered with some no-fail, in-stock gifts that are timeless, heirloom and handmade - all crowd-pleasers that are sure to be a hit. Do note that while the deadline has already passed for made-to-order purchases to be received in time for Xmas, there are plenty of ready-to-ship goodies that await, which I’m highlighting here. Read on for my cheeky little gift guide of favorites that are certain to win friends and lovers…

Classic cuties love timeless, everyday staples like (clockwise from top left) the Freyja Necklace, Orbit Bracelet, Linear Y Necklace and the Petite Plane Earrings

Artsy fartsy creative folks are bound to love unique, artful pieces like the Spiral Stud, Wave Theory Ring, Held Necklace, and Sirius C Ring

Minimalist mavens prefer the bold, clean lines of styles like the Rollo Band, Flow Chain, Infinite Ring Stack, and the Sanguine Drop Earrings

Maximalist masterminds like big, bold, layerable jewels that they can pile on… Think pieces like the Shroom Necklace, Linear Threader, the weighty Conjunct Cigar Band and XL Infinite Hoops with Diamonds

Spirit junkie types love meaningful, energetically-charged talismans like the Protective Eye Y Necklace, Ouroboros Ring, Michael Amulet Necklace, and Peace Stud

Good Company Austin Holiday Trunk Show

I’m reuniting with my friends at Good Company shop in Austin, Texas for a special holiday trunk show! Join me IRL and shop the FW24 collection, with a selection of ready-to-take-home gifts and newly-released creations.

Even better, we’ve paired up with Bre Stings piercing for an in-house piercing party too! This is gonna be a fun one, don’t miss out.

Friday, Dec 13th + Saturday, Dec 14th

@ Good Company on 12th Street

Holiday Market with Recital Boutique

Join Talisman along with a beautiful assortment of designers for a holiday market at Recital boutique in the RiNo neighborhood of Denver. Some of my favorite artisans will be there - Oxbow, Animal Handmade, Goodluck Handmade, Recollect Records and more.

Saturday, Dec 7th

3 - 8pm

@ Recital’s upstairs loft

Sacred Thistle Trunk Show

My dear friends Cornelia and Sydney, who own what is hands-down one of the most beautiful stores out there - Sacred Thistle - are having one of their last in-store events before closing their doors. Please join me, along with designers Ariana Boussard-Reifel and Paulina Warren, for a very special jewelry trunk show on Saturday, November 16th and Sunday November 17th.

I must add that I’m particularly excited for this one, as Ariana and I used to work together back in my Goldyn boutique days, so this should be a fun reunion as well. Most importantly though, let’s help send Sacred Thistle off with love and support! Hope to see you there <3

Saturday November 16th 11-6

Sunday November 17th 11 - 5

@ Sacred Thistle - 1110 Acoma St., Denver

Drinks by Madre Mezcal + Dram

Fall Trunk Show with Eleanor Boutique

Join Talisman Fine Jewelry and our friends at Eleanor boutique in Louisville, CO for a fall trunk show, where we will be launching the new FW24 collection IRL! Come shop with designer Vanessa Barcus all day on Thursday, October 24th. The full collection will remain in-sore for the weekend that follows.

Thursday, October 24

10am - 6pm

@ Eleanor boutique

For Your Ears: Fall 2024 Playlist, aka Music for Mermaids

What would a mermaid listen to these days? Well, allow this mermaid to provide your imagination with some possibilities…

For your ears only, I rounded up a little playlist of the songs I’ve been jamming to in my mermaid cave - aka the studio - as I designed the fall/winter 2024 collection. In true spooky season spirit, it’s full of a lot of darkwave synth pop, ambient electronic, angsty riot grrrl vibes, and even some moody blues thrown in for good measure. I suppose you could say this mermaid is a bit on the dark side. Enjoy!

BTS at the Fall 2024 Lookbook Shoot

Photographer Matt Nager with model Rachel Xie wearing the new Soleil Earrings. Jesse Kamm shirt and Baserange undies from Recital boutique.

Given that “Jewelry for Mermaids” was the theme of the fall 2024 collection, I of course found myself in search of the perfect mermaid for this season’s campaign photoshoot. Models Rachel Xie from Wolves Management and Vanessa Luka played the part - even if there were no crashing waves or tide pools in sight. She’s a modern mermaid, after all - washed ashore, very far from home. So far, in fact, that she found herself all the way in a photo studio in Denver, Colorado (shout out to Studio Office in LoHi for lending us their amazing space!). Photographer Matt Nager, my longtime friend, captured our moody, architectural shots, which you can now see the final results of here. Below is a fun little peek at some behind-the-scenes moments from that day.

Rachel, in the new Duality Necklace, wears a Rachel Comey mesh top and Sandy Liang skirt from Recital

Major thanks are in order not only to Matt and Rachel, but also to makeup artist Lillian Marsh, my styling assistant Katie Miner, Studio Office, and to Recital boutique for lending the wardrobe for the shoot. Be sure to check them out next time you’re in the RiNo neighborhood of Denver.

Lily Marsh works on Rachel’s hear. Rachel wears the new Piscean Dream Necklace, Yin Yang Necklace, and shirt by Jesse Kamm from Recital.

Rachel in the Vortex Necklace and Ariel’s Comb Necklace, also wearing a top by Sandy Liang and pants by Jesse Kamm from Recital.

Stylist Katie Miner and MUA Lily Marsh make adjustments on-set. Rachel wears the Vortex Necklace, Soft Body Venus Necklace, and the Duality Necklace, along with red velvet undies by Baserange from Recital.

Rachel in the Zoe’s Heart Necklace and Soleil Earrings. Rachel Comey top and Sandy Liang skirt from Recital.

Rachel strikes a pose in the Duality Necklace and look from Recital

Rachel wears the Piscean Dream Necklace, Yin Yang Necklace, and a look from Recital boutique

Aspen Art Week Trunk Show

Join me for a summer trunk show along with my dear friend Laura Moretz - the incredibly talented painter, astrologer and tarot reader - for a very special pop-up during Aspen Art Week.

1-5pm, Wed, July 31st + Thurs, Aug 1st

@ Upstairs Aspen - 525 E. Cooper Ave in downtown Aspen

Sneak Peek at Talisman Fine Jewelry Fall 2024

All life at Talisman begins as wax… or most at least.

July is the time of year when, just as everyone escapes town on their summer vacation, I dive back into the studio to begin work on the prototypes for fall. Many of my creations, if not most, begin their life as wax. I adore the process of carving and sculpting wax, so this is always a happy endeavor - if busy - for me. Check out what I’ve been working on below - it’s a sneak peek of what’s to come in solid 14k gold.

A golden comb fit for a mermaid

This season I found myself revisiting my trip to the South of France… this time, however, it was my own reimagined version of what once was. A more feminine-leaning tale of mermaids and sirens, of water and abundant fish and the spiraling crests of waves. Sapphic, voluptuous, and fertile. These themes come through in abstract ways in my work, of course, which allows every observer the chance to spin their own tale too.

Three guesses for what this will become…

A siren’s hook or a jewelry clasp?

The Embrace Earring

Spiraling out

Field Trip: NYC

NYC in the summertime has its own whole soul to it… it’s a sweaty, grimy, rawness that’s not for the fair weather traveler. Only die hards remain when the temps get up past 90. One could argue it’s New York in its most authentic state: 2am halal on the street corner, buzzing traffic and the drips of air conditioner condensation falling on your head; fellow revelers everywhere, wearing wild ensembles that no one bats an eye at. A few weeks ago, I had the joy of experiencing this version of NYC, and I’m sharing tiny glimpses of my trip below. It was a work-and-pleasure combo, and as always, creative inspiration in spades. Enjoy!

40th birthday dinner for my oldest and dearest friend Lauren <3

Makeup free city style is a must in the heat… and a one-and-done necklace look with the Anchored Chain.

Takeaways from artist Jenny Holzer at the Whitney Biennial, courtesy of my friend Bonnie Gregory

Stunning metalwork on a doorway

I highly recommend an evening at Company XIV in Bushwick

A scene from Company XIV’s burlesque show “Queen of Hearts”

More stunning burlesque at Company XIV… take note of the mermaid theme…

Dressed up for a night out. Wearing the Soft Body Venus Necklace, and Helix Hoops

Visiting chain vendors… stay tuned for what I found for fall ;)

Pride month in NYC… turns out this heart was designed by none other than Denver’s own Koko Bayer

If you can’t tell by the looks on our faces, we were pretty delighted to discover that Judd Apatow was the surprise headliner at the Comedy Cellar the evening we went

Daily goods, from front going clockwise: The Protective Eye Y Necklace, Anchored Chain, Portal Ring, Helix Hoops, Rollo Band, Linear Stud, Diamond Mini Orb Stud, and Conjunct Cigar Band.

Redfin's Guide to RiNo Denver

A painted alleyway in RiNo courtesy of RedFin

The writers over at real estate giant RedFin’s blog recently approached me about my favorite spots in the Denver neighborhood now known as RiNo (aka parts of historic Five Points, Globeville and Elyria-Swansea). Their piece is all about things to do in Denver, and while there are many fun restaurants and bars (ok, maybe too many bars) in the area, I had to give a shout out to my homies at Recital boutique. And NOT just because they carry my line. It’s a hip shop with many under-the-radar designer labels that you otherwise might not discover outside of NYC or LA. Have a gander here.