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BTS Making The Fall/Winter 2025 Collection

A (still very raw, unfinished) hand-carved, sculptural wooden bracelet by Cornelia Max, with the wax model of an interlocking ring that will be cast in solid 14k gold. This is part of a special collaboration project by myself and Cornelia, titled Tete-a-Tete.

While I’m deep in the studio working on completing the fall/winter 2025 collection, I thought I’d give you all a little sneak peek into what I’ve been doing. This season is challenging me to go beyond my usual MO, to work with natural materials I’ve never used before… yet still bring them into the fold with Talisman’s signature sculptural, wabi-sabi style. These projects included bead work with semi-precious stones, soldering around wood (eek, wish me luck!), and working more with reclaimed natural diamonds and snake chain. I also had the fortune of getting to collaborate with a dear friend of mine, Cornelia Max Peterson. She’s a sculptor who works in wood, among other talents like floral design and pearl work. You may also recognize her name from the iconic (now shuttered) Denver shop Sacred Thistle, which was her former business. I feel incredibly fortunate to not only call Cornelia a friend, but also to collaborate with her on a very special sculptural bracelet, which will incorporate both her wood work as well as my gold work. I like to think of this piece as our two designs being in conversation with one another. Hence the name we’ve given it: Tete-a-Tete. Each bracelet will be one-of-a-kind, and made to order, for those asking.

Detail of the wax ring that will be cast in 14k recycled gold for the Tete-a-Tete Bracelet

The theme that came through as I was inspired to create these pieces was that of a return to nature as a place of healing. Our natural state is to be in equilibrium… in flow with the All-That-Is. When life feels chaotic, it can be easy to lose sight of this. So these are, quite literally, pieces to help you ground, and bring you back into that natural state of healing. We need it more than ever right now, don’t we?

A stunning pear cut natural diamond will be set in this fluid form (now in wax, soon to be cast in gold), which will be set within a 14k gold snake chain

A peek at the raw casting of the gold piece, to be cleaned up and then set with inlaid pear diamond, for the Where the Light Comes Through Necklace

For the first two Prayer Necklaces I’m making for the collection, I chose carnelian and lapis lazuli… two of the most powerful healing stones I know of. Carnelian is a force of creativity, helping us connect with our self-expression, joy, abundance, positivity, courage, and inner radiance. Meanwhile, lapis lazuli works with both our third eye and throat chakras to promote clarity, communication of truth and pure self-expression, connection with divine guidance and intuition, inner peace, as well as stress and anxiety reduction. While I’m always open to working with stones of your choosing in the future, for the permanent collection these two just called to me first. Bonus that they’re also just gorgeous, stunning stones, all healing powers aside. I spent months searching for the most beautiful stones I could find, and I don’t think these disappoint.

A necklace toggle clasp: loop and bar, both hand-sculpted in wax before being cast in 14k recycled gold

Said toggle clasp, now as raw castings (to be cleaned up) in 14k recycled gold

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details, and for the release of this very special collection!

Work in Progress: The Making of SS25

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.

interconnection rings first sculpted in wax — 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 in process — 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.

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

journey spiral hoops after soldering and final polish — 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 sirius c rings — 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.

charles ross prism — 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.

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.

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…

Happy New Year and a Tiny Sneak Peek

The sky at Boyce Thompson Arboretum outside of Phoenix, AZ. Taken December 2023. A sign of shapes to come?

Well friends, this new year did not exactly start off with the bang I was expecting. First it was 2 weeks of Covid starting NYE, then it was getting trapped in the mountains for 5 days due to avalanches shutting down all outgoing roads, and then even a day of jury duty on top of it… it seems the universe has been telling (forcing?) me something, and I have no option but to acquiesce. So we’re getting a bit of a late start over here, but - as I am oftentimes wont to say - the journey is not always linear. Which funny enough, was a theme that repeatedly seemed to come up in my new SS24 sketches that I began working on this December. The spiral - a symbol of growth, the journey of life, and also a representation of the sacred geometry that underlies nature - is a favorite of mine, and found its way into my work once again. That, along with themes of death and rebirth, abound. So I’ll give you a little sneak peek of what I’ve been working on, now that I’m finally (hopefully?) back at my bench once again. There will still be some surprises, though, to be sure. Stay tuned as these hand-sculpted wax models turn into solid gold…

The Growth Necklace, in process as a wax carving. Originally inspired by some small shell remnants I found in Florida last year (thanks Jill!).

A wedding band to symbolize the journey and growth of two souls intertwined - unofficially called Danielle’s Band.

Beginnings of the Christ Consciousness Necklace. Who better to represent the concept of rebirth than the man Jesus himself?

Zoe’s Heart Necklace. This one was personal - for my beloved dog Zoe who passed away last August. To be worn as a reminder that those you love will always be in your heart, and to have a little piece of their love with you.

Sneak Peek at Fall/Winter 2023

July and August are the months in which I’m busy dreaming up new designs to be unveiled in the fall. What begins as a sketch, and then a wax carving, slowly morphs into solid gold. You’ll have to use your imagination to picture these rough models as the final product in glistening 14k, but I still thought it might be fun to give my clients a little sneak peek into what I’ve been working on. This is by no means a comprehensive group… there are a few more tricks up my sleeve that will be released when they’re ready, for the record.

The Conjunct Cigar Band and Conjunct Ring are designed to pair together, but can just as easily be worn separately. I’m absolutely in love with them… it took a bit of trial and error to get the asymmetry and leaning angles just right.

This season I found myself increasingly called to create more streamlined, simple shapes that felt like the daily essentials that the collection was missing. Really, I was just getting back to the core of what Talisman Fine Jewelry is all about - everyday heirloom jewelry that still feels sacred and sculptural. Ok, maybe with a wilder piece or two mixed in, because I’m still an artist and I have to express myself as such. Scroll on for a taste of what’s to come.