Jewelry has always been an obsession for me. As a little girl, I could sit for hours on my mother’s bed going through jewelry box. I began making jewelry at about eight years old from colored telephone wires and gum wrappers. As a college student at Denison University, I majored in fine art, specializing in intaglio etching printmaking, where metal is etched using a fine stylus. My jewelry is made in a similar fashion by carving wax with a very fine tools in order to create detail within the design.

The process begins with an idea, inspired by the beauty around me. I could be pattern from the gorgeous architecture in Spain, where I lived for 18 years, or simple forms found in nature and everyday objects. These ideas keep me awake at night until I can see the finished piece in my mind. Then I sit down at my workbench and begin creating.

My newest work includes enamel. I am combing my cast pieces with glass fused onto metal to add a little color to my work. It is a fascinating technique. Once again, I am using etching techniques to work in Champleve. The metal is etched and enamel is placed over the etching.

When I work with my hands, I am reminded that i can create objects that will last forever. Jewelry can be passed down from one generation to the next. These pieces can be sentimental and hold precious memories. It can be a talisman or bring luck. As my Aunt Bernadette once said, “Jewelry, and our ability to accessorize, is what separates us from lower forms of life.”

“When I create jewelry, I like to think that I am making something that will last long past my lifetime, a timeless adornment.”

-Michel McNabb