Magpie and Ember

Artist statement:

Magpie & Ember is the combined offerings of a creative life and mindset.  As a metalsmith for the last twenty years, I lean into creating modern talismans designed to anchor you into how you want to feel.  Themes of self love, acceptance, new beginnings and embracing your inner magic are highlighted in my collections. 

 I love working with themes of serpents, seeds and the otherworldly nature of the stars, how these ideas connect us to ourselves and to our ancestors. 

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a sketchbook tucked nearby, pens scattered all over so I could jot down an idea or draw up something that had come to mind.  My mother once told me that as soon as I discovered drawing she knew how to get some quiet time to herself - I would happily sit and colour for as long as she would let me!  After high school I finished the Foundation Arts program at Camosun College in beautiful Victoria BC and then flew to the other coast of Canada to study jewellery & metalsmithing for three years at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD). 

My jewellery line grew from a desire to make heirlooms that my children would some day cherish.  My own treasured pieces, handed down from my grandmothers are some of my greatest inspirations.  The stories told to me while they showed me each piece are forever etched into my mind, as are the times spent with the incredible women I looked up to so much.  It was afternoons spent gazing at their jewellery boxes that inspired me to try my hand at learning the art and craft of goldsmithing over twenty years ago, and I remember very clearly, stepping into the studio at NSCAD for the first time and feeling like I had come home.

My work is inspired by nature and our connections to each other.  Simplicity of form and comfort are important to me, as I design each piece with the intention of daily wear and the hope that my work will be passed down to loved ones in the future. 

Future heirlooms with a touch of whimsy and an eye for detail.