Where to begin? I’m from a big family, raised in a small town in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains called Forest Ranch. Most of my childhood was spent outdoors and it really shaped my perspective on what happiness means. I believe we’re fed by beauty, and that we’re amplified by our connection to the intricate weavings of the universe – the transformations and cycles of life and time – in ways that our culture tends to mask. Symbolism is very important to me, both as a reminder of concepts and emotions I want to hold front-of-mind, as well as being a way to give shape to the things we can’t quite articulate but somehow know. I’ve always had some sort of creative element to my life (costume and clothing design, writing, dance, cooking…) but making jewelry is one I’ve come back to over and over in different ways, starting with macrame and beading, on to upcycling/reworking used or prefabricated items and finally metal work and stone setting. What I love about jewelry is the way it elevates what is already beautiful about us: adding those lovely details to the lines of our bodies and the way we move, and serving as visual echoes of the things we love and admire. Silversmithing has really captured my heart over the past few years, and it’s been very exciting to learn how to fabricate from ideas and base elements up to wearable art.

Ethical sourcing can mean a spectrum of things in this industry, and ultimately that definition is personal, based on individual values. For me, it means a commitment to purchasing all my gems and metals from socially and environmentally responsible sources.

This does limit the selection of gemstones I can offer, since it narrows the field to countries that have strong regulations and sellers that go through a certification and inspection process to ensure they meet a higher standard of environmental and worker care. They also cost a little bit more, but it’s important to me to be part of a healthier system and to have everything about my jewelry be based in joy. 

I prefer to use American mined gems, for the sake of a smaller carbon footprint, support of localized economy, strong regulations, and for the deeper connection-to-place that I like to nurture. When the desired stone is only available from another country, I first look to places with similar standards (like Canada or Australia), or at the very least from a gem seller who is committed to fair trade and certified by the AGTA. 

All of the Silver I use at Joy Garden comes from companies that are SCS Certified Responsible Sources, dedicated to environmental responsibility (including using recycled and American mined silver) and fair labor conditions at all points of the supply chain. For more information about what this means, see the SCS certification website.

I go into some detail about the types of silver I use on my Materials and Care page, but the short version is this: 

Sterling Silver (.925 purity) is a durable alloy of silver and copper that is prone to tarnish, darkening any area that isn’t regularly polished and creating an antique, contrasting look over time. 

Argentium Silver (.940 purity) has a higher percentage of pure silver, less copper, and includes a small percentage of germanium. It is brighter, more durable, tarnish resistant, has enhanced hypoallergenic and antibacterial qualities, and its manufacturing is more friendly to the environment. 

Fine Silver (.999 purity) has the highest percentage of pure silver, the brightest finish, greatest tarnish resistance, and the most hypoallergenic properties. It is also softer than the silver alloys and is only suitable for pieces that have a lower opportunity for damage (such as earrings or pendants).

I do! Well, everything but the chain fabrication, because that would be bonkers. I do cut and handcraft the chain rings and clasps. But yes to the essence of the question: all the pendants, earrings and rings begin as silver sheet and wire and loose gemstones, which I forge, cut, fuse, and generally transform into what you see.

You can absolutely ask, and usually my answer will be yes, but depending on the nature of the request it will likely become a custom commission and the price will change. For example, a change in gemstone could mean a more or less expensive price depending on the cost of the gem. Removing a complicated element but keeping the same basic design would bring the price down, but adding an element or changing the design in a time consuming way would bring it up. Very simple changes wouldn’t affect the price at all. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, I’m happy to hear your ideas and sort out how to create the piece you’re looking for.

Yes! As I touched on in the previous question, the pricing of a custom item would vary depending on the nature of the request. It all comes down to cost of materials and how time consuming it would be to create – considering both the manufacturing time and the design time. My rates for design work also fall into two categories depending on whether the piece is meant to remain one of a kind or if I’m free to use it in the future. In the first case it would be a matter of how complex the piece would be, whereas in the second I simply add a modest surcharge to the cost of fabrication. Again, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, I’m happy to hear your ideas and sort out how to create the piece you’re looking for.

I can, but only freehand and on flat surfaces. I don’t have the incredibly expensive equipment it takes to do the really crisp, computer-perfect lettering you often see, so I don’t tend to offer it unless someone is happy to have my nice-but-rustic penmanship on their piece. If this is something you’re interested in, please feel free to contact me.

Personally, I love silver – it’s like solid moonlight, reflects clean tones into every gem, flatters every shade of skin, is a pleasure to work with, and it’s an affordable luxury even in its purest form. Gold also has its charms, but (apart from plating, which, depending on the thickness and degree of care, can be vulnerable to wearing off) it’s an extremely expensive material to work with. At this point it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for me to invest in making samples in gold, but if you have your heart set on it as a material for a custom piece, please reach out and we can discuss options.

I can usually ship orders out within 1-3 days unless I’m experiencing an unusually high volume, and then depending on the speed of the postal service it would be an additional 1-5 business days. If you’re shopping with a specific deadline in mind please let me know so I can be sure to meet your needs.

Returns are addressed on the Refunds and Returns page

Yes! I provide free standard USPS first-class shipping on all US orders. Upgraded Priority Mail service is also available at current USPS rates.
If you live in the Chico, California area, local pickup or delivery can be arranged.

It’s not personal, really. I am an extremely small, one-woman operation who cannot stay on top of the ever-changing global regulations pertaining to manufacturing, selling, and shipping precious metals and gemstones. Additionally, the costs associated with shipping globally would likely make many pieces cost-prohibitive. That said, if you would like to chat about options and see what can be worked out please contact me.

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