What’s the biggest influence behind your designs?

What moves me most in my design process is if the particular piece I’m working on makes me feel good or not. If it makes me happy, it’s a keeper. It’s as simple as that.

How do you find pieces for the collection?

I am always hunting around antique stores and estate sales to see what I can find. Although, the bulk of my vintage materials come from old costume jewelry warehouses where I can find small runs of dead-stock vintage parts and pieces.

Since your buying trips are really treasure hunts, what’s Plan B if you come up empty handed?

Well, I have had to get industrious at times, it’s true. It’s important to me that this line of jewelry maintains its authentic vintage integrity. So, it is all dependent on what I can find when I'm creating a new line. I recently began to use kid leather from antique gloves within the jewelry I’m designing. This has expanded my options in vintage materials and at the same time it has increased my creative range. I am in love with the aspect of leather in jewelry!

What was the single biggest score? Where did “X” really mark the spot for you?

My single most incredible score occurred three years ago when my sweet and lovely Great Aunt Mary, passed away and left me her gigantic and incredible collection of costume jewelry! That was a significant moment for me.

Is each piece in the collection 100% vintage? All the chains, charms, earrings?

With the exception of the earwires, which are contemporary gold, every single piece I use in my designs is entirely 100% vintage. Everything.

Describe your line in 3 words.

Special. Effortless. Now.

What’s one piece of jewelry in your personal collection that you’ll never give up?

It was in this beautiful store named Papillon Antiques, in Jerome, Arizona, where I found one of my most treasured pieces. It is a pendant locket in the shape of a gold apple. Inside the locket there are two photos of the sweetest little babies. I bought the locket with the photos already inside it and I will never take them out.

If you weren’t designing jewelry, what would you be doing?

I’d love to design suspended installation art. I’m really into mobiles, actually. It would be great fun to be the Dale Chihuly of mobile sculptures!

What’s your favorite place to shop?

The vintage shopping here in Portland is outstanding. People come from all over the world to shop the numerous vintage stores in the city. Check out shopvintageportland.com for more information.

If we’re ever in Portland for a day, what’s the one place we must see?

One of the many unique things about this city is Forest Park. It is the largest wooded city park in the United States. Covering 5,000 acres, it offers more than 70 miles of trails. And, it’s only 5 minutes from downtown!! Forest Park is a must see.