It wasn’t until I quit my day job, got quiet and still, and asked the Universe to bring more purpose and meaning to my jewelry that I really began to make what I’m meant to make: Pendants with Purpose. My journey in art began at a young age: appreciating artwork by M.C. Escher, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Ansel Adams on the walls of my childhood home; looking forward to hand painted and hand carved orna
ments from my Grandma at every Christmas; and watching my older sister draw. in Art from UNC Asheville in 2002, concentration in ceramics, taught myself to make jewelry in 2006 and took a metalsmithing class in 2009. I made Gritgoods Jewelry for 10 years, selling online, in galleries and at many festivals in the Southeast. My new line of silver work is incredibly fulfilling and inspired by my experiences with yoga (I am 200hr certified through the Asheville Yoga Center) and meditation. My pendants are a work of art and a functional tool:
A functional tool because they serve as a mindfulness aid. When you touch your pendant, your fingers slide to the middle and meet in the center, creating a well known hand mudra (gesture) in the yoga/meditation world. Connecting the tips of the fingers can calm and center you, lift dull energy, and brighten your mood. When your fingers find each other in the center of the pendant, you also find your center. If you find yourself frustrated and too busy to meditate or do yoga, this pendant will help remind you to take just a few deep breaths to feel mindful and calm. Every pendant is also a handmade work of art. I start with a hand drawn design, pressed into precious metal clay, which is then assembled and fired at 1650 degrees in a kiln. The pieces come out as 99.9% pure silver and they are all double sided. The pendants are then tumbled, oxidized, brushed, polished, tumbled again, and ready to serve. The form of my pendants is completely unique. You will feel the energy of the Universe funneled through the front of your pendant, through the hole, and into your body, and know that the energy you create is also funneled back into the Universe. When your fingers slide to center along the two sided funnel shape, it will give you a feeling of coming home. When I touch my pendant I feel full, centered, complete, and grounded. And speaking of grounding, I create every pendant standing up, in mountain pose. As I make each one, mindful of balancing equally in both feet and grounding through the earth, I imagine the positive energy of the universe flowing up through my bare feet, through my body and out of my hands into your pendant. I know this pendant is capable of helping you through challenging situations, and to completely feel moments of joy and happiness. Buy a pendant that speaks to you. What you need, what you want, who you are and I will send you a mantra to use with it.
