The Stones We Choose

Every gemstone has a story long before it reaches my bench.

From local suppliers in the Willamette Valley to dealers across the country, I work with a variety of sources to find materials that fit the vision of a piece. One of my favorite suppliers is a fair-trade gemstone dealer based in Vancouver, Washington.

Fair trade is important to me because a gemstone does not simply appear in a jewelry store. Someone had to discover and recover it from the earth, sort it, cut it, facet it, and bring it to market. Fair-trade sourcing helps ensure that the people involved throughout that journey are compensated more fairly for the work they contribute.

I have a deep appreciation for suppliers who value transparency, ethical sourcing, and respect for the people behind the materials. When the opportunity arises, I enjoy incorporating those stones into my work and helping support a more equitable journey from mine to market.

Jewelry is more than metal and gemstones. It is the combined effort of many hands, many skills, and many stories brought together into a single object. Ultimately, the story of the person who wears it becomes part of that journey as well. I believe those stories matter.