apple of my eye

Engraved on the moon

star stuff

Too many people move through this world understanding themselves as individuals. Caught up in our own daily dramas, we feel unique and separate from the world around us. We take our interconnectedness for granted.

When we stop to look closer, however, this separation dissolves. Ants and bees perform daily tasks as collective systems. Trees communicate with one another and sustain their young. Carl Sagan writes that “We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.” How then, can we understand ourselves as separate individuals?

This project acts as a grounding reminder that I am as much a part of the stars above my head as the tiny life beneath my feet. The lost-wax-cast charms possess a rough, hand-carved, earthy quality while the shiny bronze material speaks to the enduring treasures that surround us constantly. By using these charms to adorn a pair of boots, I physically ground myself, while exploring the often overlooked connections that intrinsically bind us to one another, the Earth, and to the universe itself. I invite a compassionate shift in perspective from individuality to interdependence.

Pinecones

Buttons and yarn

Buttons and yarn: these are staples of every grandmother’s home, and my grandmother is no exception. I grew up with a fascination for my grandma’s collection of buttons of all shapes and sizes, and beautiful yarn of every color. When my grandpa became ill, we were spending days at a time in the hospital together.This is when my grandma taught my mom and I how to crochet. It has been a cherished hobby and way to spend time together ever since.

This project is a tribute to the women in my family.

Not only did I explore different ways to make found buttons into wearable jewelry, I also created my own functional buttons that I incorporated into a crochet button up shirt. To me, the set represents the beauty that can be found in seemingly insignificant everyday objects like buttons, and the feminine strength of the women who adorn them.

Pansy Waist Chain

When someone calls you a “pansy” it has a certain connotation of weakness and fragility. However, in reality, pansies are very hardy, resilient flowers. They are some of the first flowers to bloom in the spring and are very cold tolerant. They offer a variety of beautiful vibrant colors while simultaneously remaining simple and elegant. To me, pansies are a symbol of strength, resilience, and protection, all contained in a charming little flower. I explore this duality in my work as flowers are often seen as delicate and temporary, while metal is durable and everlasting.