This necklace titled, “Evanescent Beauty” is currently on exhibition at the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum at the Inamori Pavilion. The Necklace is a part of a group Cherry Blossom exhibition. The necklace is made of sterling silver, 14kt gold, colored sapphires, opals and a flame pearl.

I was inspired by a Japanese garden in Springtime. Rain, Cherry blossoms and its falling petals, meandering streams, and the colors of the garden are represented in metal and stones.  This necklace is made out of silver, pear-shaped black opal cabochon, pink tourmalines, blue opals, specially-cut Jasper, silver, flame pearl and 14kt gold.

The necklace I made is an expression of both sunshine and rain as well as sadness and happiness – both sides are represented in the necklace. Depending on which side one wears, the necklace can model either our negative or positive feelings. The necklace can also act as a positive reminder of whatever difficulty we face, there is always a valuable lesson that we can gain if we are willing to find it. The necklace symbolizes the idea of the entirety of our human experience as necessary for us to create a complete and fulfilling existence. This piece exhibited at The Mingei International Museum as a part of Maker Project 3, an exhibition and fundraiser organized by The Women’s Jewelry Association. The necklace is made of sterling silver, pearls, citrine, gold, topaz, and cold enamel.

This necklace was inspired by the first female photographer, Anna Atkins, the creator of the cyanotype. She often photographed foliage and her images took on a blue hue as is characteristic of cyanotype photography. This piece exhibited at the Women’s Museum of California and was a part of Maker Project 2: a group exhibition and Fundraiser titled, “Something Blue”, organized by the Women’s Jewelry Association. The necklace is made of sterling silver, pearls, sapphire and formed blue acrylic. This necklace was photographed by Sara Rey.

This necklace is inspired by American wildflowers. The necklace is made from found twigs, pearls and formed and colored recycled plastic. I wanted find beauty in plants that are overlooked and considered weeds. They can also be beautiful and play their own important role in the biotic community. This necklace was photographed by Sara Rey.

This Leaves and Rain necklace was made for the First Women’s Jewelry Association Maker Project Fundraiser. This piece is made of sterling silver, topaz, resin and a freshwater pearl. This necklace was photographed by Sara Rey.

Queen Bee: I fabricated this silver queen bee captured in dance. Bees often communicate with each other in the form of dance. I dedicated this small sculpture to the importance of bees. This small sculpture exhibited at the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum in Balboa Park in my exhibition, “Hajime”. 

Vanishing Butterfly Ring: I made a double finger ring to match my Vanishing Butterfly Necklace. This is made of silver, gold, white sapphire and opals. This ring exhibited at the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum in my group show, “Hajime”.

Vanishing Butterfly Ring (Detail)

Sacred Earth Container: This box is fabricated out of sterling silver, 18kt gold, and cherry wood. Sand is stored within the box. Earth is a sacred element in Shinto practice and is used for spiritual cleansing. This container exhibited at The Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sacred Earth Container: Detail Image. Back of Container.

Sunrise Necklace: Made of sterling silver, 18kt gold, 24 kt gold and blue topaz briolettes. This Necklace Exhibited at the Japanese Friendship Garden& Museum in my group show, “Hajime”.

Rocker Ring: Inspired by punk rock fashion, this double knuckle is ring made  of sterling silver and formed acrylic hot pink spikes. The ring pays homage to punk rock culture and its non-conformist roots.

Vanishing Butterfly Necklace: I sand cast the stylized wings in silver and bronze. I also fabricated additional gold details and set white sapphires and opals. This necklace exhibited at the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum in my group exhibition, “Hajime”.

Savage Beauty: This is a head piece based on the kudzu plant. I fabricated this piece from antiqued sterling silver, 18kt gold, and prasiolite beads. This piece was featured in “Ornament Magazine” in 2009. I enhanced the piece in 2015 by adding gold details and giving it a dark patina. This piece was also featured in a group invitational exhibition in 2015 at The Metal Museum in Tennessee titled, “Inches from the Earth”.

Savage Beauty: Detail Image. Back of head piece. In 2015, I added gold details and added a patina to give the head piece a darker feel.

Cherry Blossom hair combs: I fabricated these hair combs out of sterling silver, gold, pearls and cherry wood. These pieces won first place in a national competition, The Niche Awards,  in the Fashion Accessories Division. This hair comb series also exhibited at the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum in Balboa Park through an exhibition I organized titled, “Hajime”.

Sublime Senescence: I fabricated these teacups in silver and gold. This piece was a part of my MFA thesis show “Instruments of Vanity”. The teacups also exhibited at The Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum at a show I organized of my work and my students’ work from the original UCSD Craft Center titled, “Hajime”.

Sublime Senescence: Detail Image

Fairness of Frailty: I made this hand piece out of an old magnifying lens, sterling silver, gold, and antique mine cut diamonds. This was a part of my thesis show in 2009, “Instruments of Vanity”.

Vulgar Transcendence: I fabricated this diadem out of sterling silver, gold, antique mine cut diamonds, and an old magnifying lens. This was a part of my MFA thesis show, “Instruments of Vanity”.

I fabricated this life- size silver shoe as part of my MFA thesis show titled “Instruments of Vanity”. This shoe also exhibited as part of a traveling group show organized by The Fuller Craft Museum titled “The Perfect Fit”.

Estee Lauder Compact: I fabricated this compact out of sterling silver and champleve’ glass enamel. This was a piece in my MFA thesis show,” Instruments of Vanity”.

Estee Lauder Compact: detail image of the opened compact.

Creme de la Terre: This piece was a part of my MFA thesis exhibition, “Instruments of Vanity”. I fabricated this jar and spatula out of sterling silver, glass, lotion, and fishing tackle.

Creme de la Terre: Detail image of cream jar opened.

Dome de Chrome: I fabricated a polishing kit for a bald man out of sterling silver, nickel, gold and zircote wood. This piece was a part of my MFA thesis show, “Instruments of Vanity”.

Dome de Chrome: Detail image of polishing kit revealing the brush and wax.

Stealth X: This is a men’s razor I carved out of alabaster. I fabricated the base out of sterling silver, steel, aluminum, titanium, 10 razor blades, and nickel. This piece was a part of my MFA thesis show, “Instruments of Vanity”.