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.
Carnelian in the sunlight
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!