I design collections of unique jewelry to express the concept of deep connection with the infinite beauty of the natural world.  I fabricate each piece by hand in my Santa Monica studio workshop.  I offer my work here on my website. 

I didn’t set out to become an artist making jewelry, but then, that’s not usually how it happens.  I see now it began with learning the joy of making things by hand.  For me that joy has provided a life path that eventually led to jewelry making.

Learning Craft From A Master:  Textile Arts

My grandmother was an accomplished dressmaker and needlewoman.  During summers, she taught my sister and me the traditional crafts of sewing, knitting and embroidery.  My grandmother would guide us to plan our projects, source materials and then…make things.  Over time I developed an eye for textiles and textures and an enjoyment in making things.  I also discovered I enjoyed learning craft from a master.  

Handmade Means Freedom To Be Unique

By the time I reached high school, I was uninspired by commercially available clothing.  I found I preferred designing my own.  I made distinctive wearable pieces from hand-selected fabrics and fittings.  My handmade Andy Warhol-inspired Campbell’s Tomato Soup Can pants were, I submit, legendary in my high school.  I believe they earned a spot in the yearbook.

A Law Career

After college at the University of California at Santa Barbara and Berkeley, I went to Law School.  I then practiced law for four decades.  I found the law to be a very meaningful, challenging and satisfying career.  

Wearing jewelry every day, I began to feel dissatisfied with the quality and design of the jewelry I was seeing in shops.  Either it was mass produced with poor quality materials or it was too overdone with diamonds and stones.  Too faux or too fine.  Hmmmm…..I may need to make some things myself…..

The Accidental Metalsmith…  

And so I signed up for a Metal Chain Making class at a local center. Something about the process of learning the craft felt very familiar to me.  Yet novel, too.  And I got to use FIRE (a torch)!

I took metal smithing classes wherever I could.  I became fascinated by metalworking and by gemstones.   By the time I retired from my law practice, I had developed an active jewelry studio.

More About Donna

I live in Santa Monica, CA, a coastal community in Southern California, with my husband and my rescue Bengal/tabby cat.  I am blessed with two step-daughters, three grandsons, and five nieces and nephews.

Also–

• I love to hike and ski cross-country 
• I admire plants and trees (they can photosynthesize!) and I enjoy growing a garden
• I love working with fine yarns and creating objects by knitting
• I adore Meyer Lemons (a cross between orange and lemon most often found in home gardens and farmers’ markets)