To avoid accelerated tarnishing or color change of metal store your jewelry in plastic bag with an anti tarnish cloth in a cool dry place. In hot climates keep in an air conditioned room. Avoid keeping jewelry boxes in bathrooms or anywhere moist and warm. Metals can be polished with a polishing clothe.

It is always a good habit to remove jewelry before showering, bathing, swimming or working out. This includes swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, and hot springs.

Wait for lotions and perfumes to dry before wearing jewelry.

With care and attention, you'll be able to enjoy your jewelry for many years to come!

• Jewelry made before 2023 are covered in an acrylic sealant. They are water repellent, but not waterproof. Avoid submerging jewelry in water. Store in a cool dry place and avoid storing in bathrooms.

• Jewelry made since 2023 are covered in a waterproof sealant. Prolonged exposure to water will accelerate tarnishing of metals. Avoid wearing jewelry in hot tubs, saunas, and hot springs.

I hand fold paper following traditional origami patterns. For extra small precision folds I use tweezers and jewelry pliers. I love using Japanese Chiyogami paper and upcycling paper.  

Traditional silversmithing techniques are used in my metalwork. This includes hammering, stamping, sawing, soldering, and polishing.

Metals and components are purchased through Rio Grande Jewelry Supply in New Mexico. Stones and beads are bought at local bead and stone stores in Minnesota and New Mexico. I don't do lapidary work such as cut stones or drill holes in stones.  

Paper is purchased through local paper shops and online retailers, but I also love to thrift books and magazines. 

In the studio I practice reusing and recycling as much as I can. I purchase recycled sterling silver when available through Rio Grande Jewelry Supply. All scrap metals (sterling, copper, and brass) left over from projects are saved and reused.

Whenever I can, I love using secondhand or found materials that I can upcycle; such as books, magazines, semiprecious stones, beads, bullet cases, thread, yarn, plastic, and tins. 

I do my best in being as sustainable in my jewelry packaging as possible. Jewelry is packaged in Kraft recycled gift boxes. Recycled Kraft paper covers each 100% recycled cardboard box (made with 90% post-consumer fiber and 10% pre-consumer fiber).  When ever I get a package in the mail with kraft paper I save it to reuse as folded inserts to give extra protection to your jewelry pieces. Jewelry boxes are then mailed in Ecoenclosed Recyclable Bubble Mailers, the world’s most eco-friendly bubble mailers -- made with at least 32.6% recycled content and fully reusable and recyclable!

For information on how to reuse and recycled these mailers click HERE

Yes, tarnishing is natural:

Sterling Silver is comprised of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Copper naturally reacts to moisture and sulfer in the air causing jewelry to tarnish. Sterling silver jewelry will tarnish faster in areas with high humidity and air pollution.

Brass is made of copper and zinc, which will naturally tarnish when exposed to oxygen. Oils from your skin in addition to oxygen will accelerate the tarnishing.

Copper when exposed to air can tarnish. It can turn a green or bluish green color and stain the skin with prolonged contact with air, sweat, chemicals such as soaps, lotions and makeup.

To slow down the process of tarnishing remove jewelry before washing hands, bathing, swimming or working out. This includes swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, and especially hot springs. When applying lotions, oils or perfumes, wait to dry before putting on jewelry. 

Metals are known to stain skin with prolonged exposure to sweat, humidity and chemicals. Remove jewelry prior to washing hands, applying lotions/perfumes and before bathing or swimming. Use a polishing clothe to remove tarnishing and oils.  

Yes, the metals I use - stainless steel, titanium, sterling silver, brass, and copper are all nickel free.

Although I cannot guarantee all pieces are allergy free because everyone has different sensitivities. If you have experienced allergies to sterling silver, brass or copper before I highly recommend looking for jewelry made with gold, gold-filled, niobium or titanium.