Hello friends,
I wanted to take a moment to share a little info on why I started StarGaze Studio and the processes behind the handcrafted jewelry you will find here.
StarGaze Studio came to be out of a deep longing to do something more intentional with my life and be more connected to nature. I’ve always loved art and creating and after finding my medium in metalsmithing, the dream of sharing my creations with others was born. I am inspired by this incredible world, the changing of the seasons and the magic of nature that is in us and all around us.
Every item is made entirely by my two hands in my tiny studio on Camano Island, Washington. I use traditional silversmithing techniques that I have learned over the last five years of my metal smithing journey.
I source the majority of my silver, tools and other supplies from Rio Grande and Stuller.
All of the gemstones I use are carefully selected from lapidarists and stone sellers I know and trust.
You can be assured that when you purchase jewelry from me that you are getting .925 or higher sterling silver and beautiful unique stones.
Each piece of jewelry starts from a sheet of silver, silver wire and stones. I hand draw, pierce and saw out each element of each design. Everything is carefully formed through annealing, hammering, shaping and soldering. There are multiple stages of soldering, filing, sanding, applying patina, more sanding, polishing and so forth. The process of making one piece of jewelry can take anywhere from several hours to several days depending on how intricate the design is. Traditional silversmithing is a slow craft and takes patience and careful attention.
Hand crafted items will never look as flawless as machine made items. Minor blemishes or slight imperfections from hammer marks, sawing or other tools can sometimes be visible. I do my best to get each piece as close to perfect as is humanly possible but personally think little marks add to the unique charm and character of each piece.
Being an environmentally responsible and sustainable business is incredibly important to me. I am always looking for more ways that I can reduce my environmental impact in metalsmithing and in my everyday life. Some examples of this are:
I save all my scrap metal and use it or send it back to Rio Grande to be recycled.
Wherever possible I use nontoxic materials in the jewelry making process.
Packaging materials are reusable and/or recycled/recyclable materials. When you order a piece of jewelry from StarGaze Studio it will be carefully packaged and shipped in a recycled padded mailer. I pack each item in a gift box or bag ready for gift giving.
It is my aim to continually research, learn and implement sustainable practices at StarGaze Studio.
I absolutely adore the art of designing and forging silver jewelry. This craft is a spiritual process for me and a way to share my connection and love for earth through the earthly elements of metal, stone and fire. In short, my mission is to create beautiful and whimsical heirloom jewelry that will be loved and cherished for many many years to come.
Thank you for being here.
🖤 Anna
