Creating Unique Pieces
Many people ask, “Do you take custom orders?” My answer? A resounding “YES!” I absolutely adore crafting one-of-a-kind pieces that celebrate special moments for you and your loved ones. Whether it’s for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries, or any cherished occasion like Mother’s and Father’s Days, I’m here to help. I also create heartfelt memorial pieces for loved ones and even pets, using mementos, old photos, and found objects transformed into beautiful treasures in silver, bronze, brass, and copper.
Every piece starts with a photo or a story, and can be crafted into stunning pendants, necklaces, bracelets, charms, or rings. The only time I might decline a commission is if I’m limited by time, skill, or materials (like wedding bands or solid gold). If that’s the case, I’ll gladly connect you with a trusted colleague who can bring your vision to life.
Got a question or want to learn more? Use the contact form below to start the journey! And don’t forget to scroll down to see some inspiring examples of commissioned pieces!
Swimming with Memories: A Custom Manta Ray Pendant for a 20th Anniversary
September 2025
I’m thrilled to share the final version of this custom manta ray pendant, a piece that’s been quietly evolving behind the scenes. Crafted by hand, shaped and reshaped through countless hours of sculpting and filing, it’s finally ready to meet the world—and more importantly, its forever home.
This pendant was a commission for a dear friend’s 20th wedding anniversary—a huge milestone! While the traditional gifts for 20 years are emeralds and platinum, we decided to create something a little more personal and symbolic. Inspired by a magical night snorkeling adventure the couple took, where they swam with manta rays under glowing green waters, this piece is a celebration of a memory rather than a material.
The couple had shared photos and video from that unforgettable experience, and I was struck by the way the light danced on the water—shimmering emerald greens, almost ethereal in tone. I wanted to capture that glow and grace in the final design. The elegant, flowing lines of the manta ray, paired with the soft green of chrysoprase, give a nod to both the ocean and the anniversary’s traditional color, without being too literal.
This pendant is more than just silver and stone—it’s a little time capsule of joy, wonder, and connection. I truly hope the recipient feels the love and meaning that went into every detail.
Materials: Sterling silver, chrysoprase
Inspired by: A night swim with manta rays in emerald-colored waters
Occasion: 20th Wedding Anniversary
From Keepsake to Statement: Pendant to Ring Redux
July 2023
When a friend approached me with a unique request, I knew it was going to be a special project. She had two beautiful pendants—one a piece of larimar from the British Virgin Islands, the other a shell from Greece. Each one held a memory of her travels, tucked away in a jewelry box. They were meaningful, full of personal history—but rarely worn. She’s not a necklace person.
Her dream? To transform these sentimental pendants into bold cocktail rings—something she would wear and love. “In my imagination, it seems easy,” she told me. “But I know in the real world of solder and metal, it’s probably not.”
She was right—these kinds of projects aren’t always straightforward. Each material brings its own challenges. Shell can be delicate, larimar is soft compared to many gemstones, and incorporating them into sterling silver settings that are both secure and stylish takes careful planning.
But that’s the kind of challenge I love.
The Process: The first step was to assess the materials. The shell had an organic, flowing shape that I wanted to honor, while the larimar—blue as the Caribbean Sea—called for a setting that felt clean and elegant. I designed each ring around the piece itself, letting its natural shape and energy lead the way.
I crafted custom sterling silver settings by hand, ensuring the stones were secure without overwhelming their natural beauty. I used a mix of traditional metalsmithing techniques—sawing, soldering, forming, and setting—and took extra care with the heat and pressure, especially when working with such delicate stones.
The Result: The result is two one-of-a-kind cocktail rings: bold, wearable, and full of story. My friend now has her memories not just stored in a jewelry box, but literally at her fingertips.
This commission was a joy from start to finish. I always feel honored when someone trusts me with something sentimental—especially when the goal is to bring those memories to life in a way that feels new and wearable.
If you have a keepsake or heirloom you’d like to transform, I’d love to hear your story.
Materials: Shell, laramar, sterling silver
Design: two cocktail rings
Occasion: Commission for a friend
Bat Mitzvah Name Pendant
March 2025
Another simcha, another opportunity to dive into some experimental techniques! For this project, I had the pleasure of designing and etching a custom pendant to celebrate a special Bat Mitzvah. A friend commissioned a name pendant featuring the young woman’s Hebrew name, and I was excited to take on method I hadn’t tried in many years. Since I try to avoid using harsh chemicals in my process, I steered clear of ferric oxide—commonly used for etching silver but not ideal for the environment or the studio. Instead, I opted for silver nitrate, which is a cleaner, reusable alternative and even allows for recovering silver residue from the etching process. Once the design was etched, I set a 3mm rose-cut pink tourmaline for a subtle sparkle and an extra touch of color.
Materials: Sterling silver, pink tourmaline
Inspired by: Hebrew name
Occasion: Bat mitzvah
Cyanotype Earrings
December 2024
It’s always a delight when someone likes a piece they aquired from one of my markets that they ask their family to commission a pair of matching baubles to go with it! This was the case with this unique pair of cyanotpye earrings. The pendant that goes with these has a sterling silver bail that is granulated to look like an abstract geometric blossom. Each of my cyanotype pendants have a REAL cyanotype (sunprint) that I made with very simple ingredients: paper empregnated with cyanotpye (iron) solution and sunshine! I create my own illustration templates that I overlay on top of the paper and expose to the sun. Once exposed, over the course of about a day, the paper darkens to a beautiful hypnotic ocean blue. These individual plant paintings are then enclosed under glass and set in sterling silver. What’s next? I am experimenting with green cyanotypes. I don’t know what to call them yet.
Materials: Sterling silver, glass, cyanotype minatures
Inspired by: nature prints
Occasion: Christmas
Forever in Bloom: A Unique Wedding Bouquet
August 2023
When wedding bells rang in Holland, Michigan, they brought with them a unique gift: a bouquet of copper tulips! These custom-designed, hand-fabricated tulips were crafted to complement the couples’ centerpieces, which featured real flowers. Each table bouquet included a single copper tulip, creatively showcasing the table numbers. After the festivities, the couple collected the tulips, and now they proudly display them in a beautiful vase in their new home.
Materials: Copper
Inspired by: Holland tulips
Occasion: Wedding
Rudy's Reliquary
September 2012
I crafted this locket during a course at the Maryland Institute College of Art, taught by the talented Damon Thompson, titled “Box it and Locket.” Inspired by Victorian mourning jewelry, which often held a lock of a loved one’s hair, I wanted to create a piece that honored my beloved cat, Rudy, who passed away a few years prior.
To memorialize him, I placed a tuft of fur given to me by the vet beneath a watch crystal in the locket’s inner chamber. The exterior is made from beautifully domed nugold, adorned with a bezel-set glass crystal that allows light to illuminate the interior. Surrounding the crystal are three rings of dots, with the outermost circle consisting of 14 holes, symbolizing the years Rudy graced my life. The three concentric circles represent the additional three years the vet said I helped him live through the care and medication I provided during his battle with small cell lymphoma.
Finally, a silhouette of a cat captures the spirit of Rudy, dancing among the clouds. This locket serves as a cherished tribute to his memory, keeping his spirit alive within its precious confines.
Materials: Nugold, sterling silver, glass, watch crystal, cat fur
Inspired by: loving pet cat
Occasion: Memorium
Silver Magen David with Topaz
August 2007
I always find myself with leftover silver scrap. Unlike paper, which might easily be discarded, every ounce of silver—no matter how small—can be transformed into something precious. One day, as I sifted through my scraps, a Jewish Star emerged in my mind’s eye. I added two 3mm settings for topaz cabochons, creating a piece that held deep meaning. I ultimately lost that creation to my mother, who loved it so much that she took it without even asking. To this day, it remains with her. Those two stones serve as a beautiful reminder of our close bond. My mom has always been my biggest supporter in my artistic journey, and I am forever grateful for that. While not all parents believe in a career in the arts, my parents consistently encouraged me, instilling the belief that with dedication, one can achieve mastery and find fulfillment both emotionally and financially.
Materials: Sterling silver, blue topaz
Inspired by: Judaica
Occasion: Mothers
Memento: Into the Garden
2017 Halstead Challenge Copper, red brass, sterling silver, glass, photo, silk, dried flowers; cast, granulated, etched, and fabricated 3.5 x 3.75 x 0.25 inches Photographed by artist; Inspiration photo by Milton Aaron NFS Last year, I received a letter from my mother’s first cousin, Teri. She and my mother were very close. Teri had discovered a small collection of old family photos when cleaning out a drawer. As I opened the card she sent, spilling forth were 4 pictures of a familiar face. I didn’t even read Teri’s note; I knew the little girl in the photos with that “Gerber Baby” face was my own mother, Jane. There she was: that perfectly round face, coming down the stairs of my grandparents’ porch wearing a white cotton dress. Another photo shows her in the backyard on the swing set. A third has her emerging from the garden wearing only a cloth diaper. Lastly, there is a picture of my grandparents standing together with their two daughters -- my mother Jane in Grandpa Miltie’s...
New Year, New Creations: Handmade Tallit Clips with Etched Doves & Magen David Design
September 2025
Gahhhh! I can’t contain my excitement over these newest pieces—two sets of tallit clips, just finished and ready to fly off into the New Year!
Each set features etched sterling silver doves, carefully designed and hand-cut, then layered into a Magen David (Star of David) shape for added depth and symbolism. The double-layered effect gives these clips a beautiful texture and dimensionality—elegant, meaningful, and oh-so-special.
These were timed just right for the Jewish New Year—when we reflect, reset, and reconnect with tradition, meaning, and beauty. I’m honored to contribute to that moment through handcrafted Judaica.
Whether you’re dressing up your own tallit or searching for a thoughtful, one-of-a-kind Jewish gift, these clips are available made to order in my shop. Each pair is created with care, intention, and a deep appreciation for the role Judaica plays in our lives and rituals.
Materials: Etched sterling silver
Design: Dove + Magen David, double-layered
Occasion: Jewish New Year, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Wedding, or any sacred moment
Happy Graduation CO 2025!
June 2025
One of my colleagues had purchased an already made orchid necklace I had created a while back for their 19th wedding anniversary. Knowing my work, he came back and asked me to create a special birthstone pendant for his daughter who graduated form high school in 2025. I custom designed this idea in my notebook and texted it to him based on a description of what she likes style-wise. I was happily surprised to see how she liked to layer necklaces, with this new creation as a new centerpiece for her look! It is a simple multi-layered sterling silver blossom design, with grnaulated trim and a small opal bezel set in the ceter of the flower.
Materials: Sterling silver, opal
Inspired by: tiny flowers
Occasion: High School graduation
A Symbol of Unity
September 2024
When a good friend reached out to ask if I could design a wedding bangle for his soon-to-be stepdaughter, I was honored. He envisioned a bracelet made of three strands tied together in a knot, symbolizing the wedding idiom of “tying the knot” and the union of him, his bride, and her daughter as a new family.
As the design process began, the couple decided to add a more feminine touch, incorporating a blossom element. This introduced a new challenge: finding a balance between the blossom and the knot. To achieve this, I added a second knot with a twist. While keeping the original triple knot intact, the second knot evolved into on strand running alongside the other two entwined, representing my friend’s entry into the lives of his wife and stepdaughter. The triple knot ultimately completed the narrative of their new family, beautifully intertwining their stories.
Materials: Sterling silver
Inspired by: two families becoming one, meandering pathways, relationships
Occasion: Wedding
Wonder Twin Powers… Activate! Custom Superhero Rings for a Shared Birthday
July 2023
Some projects start with a sketch. Others start with a challenge—and a joke.
I share a birthday with a fellow medical illustration colleague. Over the years, we’ve embraced this quirky coincidence, dubbing ourselves the “Wonder Twins” (yes, like the superheroes). We always joked that we needed matching rings so we could fist bump and yell, “Wonder Twin powers, activate!” One day, after hearing me say this for probably the hundredth time, he replied, “Yeah, I think you should get on that.”
Well… challenge accepted.
Designing the Rings: I got to work designing a pair of matching rings—one for him, one for me. I knew they had to be bold, a little geeky, and totally wearable. I went with a coin-style top, stamped with our initials: “J” and “D.” Simple, striking, and perfect for a superhero-style clink when we bump fists. Each ring was handmade in sterling silver, brass and some color treatments, with just enough heft to feel powerful, but still comfortable to wear. The smooth, round tops give them that iconic “power ring” vibe, while the custom initials make them truly personal.
The Big Reveal: I surprised him right after our shared birthday, at an alumni event surrounded by old friends and colleagues. He had no idea it was coming—and let’s just say, his reaction was everything I hoped for. Now we both have our own custom “Wonder Twin” rings, complete with shared meaning, an inside joke, and a reminder of our creative connection.
Materials: Sterling silver, brass, powder-coat and patina
Inspired by: The Wonder Twins
Occasion: Our shared birthday
The Queen Bee: a Tribute in Design
May 2022
Celebrating individuals who embody selflessness is a wonderful opportunity to create something truly unique. Recently, I had the privilege of designing a special piece for a remarkable woman being honored for her decades of public service. Her colleagues affectionately called her “The Queen Bee,” a fitting tribute to her leadership and impact. With her love for bold brooches and her fondness for the color purple in mind, I designed and hand-fabricated a striking brooch in the shape of a queen bee. The thorax and eyes were crafted from beautiful amethyst, symbolizing her strength and grace. This piece serves as a heartfelt homage to her remarkable contributions and the admiration she inspires in those around her.
Materials: Brass, sterling silver, amethyst
Inspired by: Leadership, dedication, “queen bee”
Occasion: Retirement
What the Sun Will Bring
February 2020
This custom necklace, created for the 2019 Halstead Jewelry Design Challenge (earning an Honorable Mention) themed “connection,” embodies the relationship between science and art, a daily focus of mine as a medical illustrator. Influenced by pioneers Karl Blossfeldt and Anna Atkins, I aimed to capture nature’s beauty. Blossfeldt’s close-up plant photography inspired my vision of metal creations reflecting natural forms. Meanwhile, Atkins’ groundbreaking cyanotypes of algae taught me to appreciate the elegance of silhouettes formed through chemical reactions. Designed to be interchangeable, this piece transforms into a brooch and two bracelets. I approached the project as a science experiment, testing techniques and asking questions. My focus was on creating cyanotypes under vintage watch crystals and sculptural representations of botanicals, echoing Blossfeldt’s imagery. I inscribed my own poem on the brooch’s backside, expressing anticipation for what the sun will reveal:
Though I’ll wait 17 years to hear the songs they sing,
On the morrow, I shall wake to what the sun will bring.
A bat mitzvah gift to my niece
May 2022
Several years ago, I attended a fun workshop on electrolytic etching, where I learned to etch my own designs on silver and copper surfaces. I printed these designs on blue PNP paper, which I used as a frisket on metal to etch my creations. I included my name as well as those of my son, daughter, and niece. When my niece’s bat mitzvah came around, I transformed one of these designs into a unique pendant. I added some botanical embellishments and stones, featuring her Hebrew name, Chana Sarah (on the left), alongside my own, Yosefa Leah (on the right).
Materials: Sterling silver, bronze, blue montana topaz
Inspired by: Hebrew name
Occasion: Bat mitzvah
Custom Bridesmaids Jewelry
September 2005
Having acquired basic jewelry skills in 2005, I set out to create unique, handmade pieces for my bridesmaids and chuppah holders at my wedding. I honed my metalsmithing skills in silver, glass, and gold at the Cambridge School for Adult Education in Harvard Square. For each bridesmaid, I crafted a necklace featuring dried Queen Anne’s lace set against silk from my own gown. Each piece was encased in glass, framed with a sterling silver bezel, and strung on a necklace adorned with glass and crystal beads. To complement the necklaces, I also made matching bracelets for each chuppah holder, creating a cohesive and meaningful collection.
Materials: Sterling silver, glass, silk, queen anne’s lace, czech glass beads
Inspired by: nature, victorian tradition, bridesmaids
Occasion: Wedding
Birds I View
June 2011
This pendant was created entirely by hand as an avant-garde decorative piece meant to be worn as a pendant. My intentions in the creation of this piece were to experiment with new materials and techniques in metalsmithing and fabrication; specifically using custom bezel settings for a prosthetic eye, carving and finishing, using primarily natural materials. The picture bezel (glass and silver frame) is also hand made to fit a traditional painting of a bird.
Materials: Sterling silver, nugold, opal, blue topaz, glass, prosthetic eye, paper
Inspired by: nature, anaplastology, science visualization
Occasion: VT Auction item