Jewelry Designer Uses Washington Beach Rocks for Jewelry
As a jewelry designer and lapidary artist, I take the term "handcrafted" to heart. My name is Kahlia, a Washington State native and rock enthusiast. My passion is to turn beach stones into jewelry.
Let me show you!
Black River Jasper from Jefferson County, Washington
Washington State Rocks
Each piece of jewelry is truly made with love. These stones are hand-picked from local beaches and river beds on the Olympic Peninsula. Some of my personal favorite semi-precious stones include Jasper, Agates and fossils. The rock hounding and beach combing aspect of my work is a very important and intentional part of the process. It's not just a hobby, it's a job that happens to be quite fun and exciting!
Most days, I never know what I'll find at the beach. My human instincts kick in, foraging the beach for unexpected treasures. The beach could be covered with sand, or completely covered in rocks! That's part of the fascination for me. The beach is ever changing, with treasures buried right beneath your feet.
I get a lot of questions like "how do you find these on the beach?!" or "what's your secret?". The answer is patience. I tend to dedicate a full day to rock hounding. I let my eyes adjust, slow my mind and just have a good time.
I guess you could say it's a form of meditation for me, so I say it's good for my mental health!
Unique Agate with Pyrite flecks from Clallam County, Washington
Lapidary Process
Once I've picked out a rock I want to work with and the weather is nice and warm, it's time to cut rocks.
Lapidary is an interesting process which involves cutting, shaping and polishing stones. These local rocks are then used as cabochons for stone setting! Doing the lapidary work myself, I am able to freely create cabochon shapes and styles I wouldn't normally be able to purchase. This process makes my jewelry unique and 100% handmade.
Generally, the process starts with taking the rock home to cut it on my tile saw into chunks that are easier to shape down. Then I take it to the lapidary machine that has 6 different wheels on it from coarse shaping to fine polishing grits.
I shape the stone up to my liking and polish it smooth and shiny, making sure there are no dents or scratches, and move on to the metalsmithing process.
Colorful Jasper from Jefferson County, Washington
Metalsmithing Technique
All jewelry at Woodland Metalsmith is entirely designed and created by me. As a Washington State jewelry designer, the dark and gloomy days are the best time to head inside to get some metal work done.
Once I've completed my lapidary work, I head to the bench to start drawing designs. I already have an idea for the design since I've shaped the stone, so I will take my time adding the little extras to make the design unique.
Then I saw the sheet metal, file and sand it smooth to get out the rough edges, solder it together, and oxidize the metal with liver of sulfur.
You're probably wondering what types of metal I work with. I have been working with raw copper and solid brass since 2018, and now I work mainly with sterling silver. I love them all, pairing metals with different color stones. Complimenting the stones with their metal really makes them stand out.
Setting the stone into the metal is one of the last touches, making sure the bezel (strip of metal around the stone) is pushed down nice and tight around the stone so it doesn't jiggle or fall out. After setting, I will clean up the oxidation and polish the metal to a shine.
Bam! Done!
Of course, the piece of jewelry needs to be photographed, put on my website and sold. I also do artisan markets and local craft fairs to sell my jewelry.
Epidote I collected in Jefferson County, Washington
Types of Jewelry at Woodland Metalsmith
Pendant necklaces are handmade with pure copper, sometimes sterling silver and brass, and hand picked stones. The adjustable polyester cord that the pendant hangs from is comfortable and durable! The cord extends up to 28 inches for you to pull it over your head. Then, you just tighten it to the length you prefer! Super easy.
All copper and brass are coated in a high quality lacquer to prevent tarnishing and maintain luster.
Hypoallergenic Earrings
Dangle, post and hoop earrings are delicately handcrafted with hypoallergenic niobium hooks. These hooks are great for ultra sensitive skin and give the earrings a mixed-metal look. Find simple earrings or statement earrings, the choice is yours!
All earrings come with silicone backers so you don't lose your precious earrings while wearing them.
Handcrafted rings are adjustable to account for finger fluctuation, and they are extremely comfortable! Made with 14 gauge wire, they are sturdy and just small enough to barely notice you are wearing them. The band is easy to adjust, and you won't have to do it often if you are wearing it on a particular finger.
Jewelry for Everyone
Most jewelry is made for both men and women. The designs are intentionally made all-inclusive, with a few more feminine and masculine designs available. Natural gemstone jewelry makes great gifts for your mother, daughter, son or husband. If they live in the Pacific Northwest, it will be easy to shop for them.
Why Buy from Woodland Metalsmith?
Unique and local semi-precious stones. Find Jasper, Agate, Epidote and more.
Woodland Metalsmith ships jewelry exclusively within the US, using eco friendly paper packaging.
Using local stones cuts down on unethical mass mining.
Never plated, no exceptions.
A truly local and handmade small business.
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