I'm Julie, and every piece of jewelry you see here is made by my hands, one at a time.

Although I was born and raised in Detroit, I've spent the past three decades in a tiny rural corner of Illinois known—quite affectionately—as "Forgottonia." At first it felt worlds away from city life. But over time I came to appreciate its quiet beauty, and today the woods, fields, weathered textures, and small details that often go unnoticed have become my greatest source of inspiration.

Interestingly, jewelry wasn't my first creative language.

For twenty-five years I taught painting at a local university. Then, nearly a decade ago, I enrolled in a metalsmithing class simply to learn something new. I had no idea that one class would completely change the course of my creative life. I haven't picked up a paintbrush since.

Looking back, though, perhaps I was always headed here.

My mother was an antique dealer specializing in Victorian and Edwardian jewelry, and some of my happiest childhood memories are of rummaging through trays of brooches, lockets, rings, and necklaces as she prepared for antique shows. I was captivated by their craftsmanship, their history, and the feeling that each piece had already lived a life before finding its next owner. Even as a child, I wasn't just looking at the jewelry.

That appreciation has never left me.

Today, I create jewelry slowly and intentionally, allowing each piece to develop at its own pace. Every piece begins with a question.

Can silver capture the softness of moss?

Can it suggest the curve of a petal?

Can it preserve a moment that would otherwise disappear?

I don't work in large collections or rush the process. Instead, I spend my days at my bench, exploring ideas inspired by the natural world and translating them into pieces that I hope feel timeless, personal, and deeply connected to the women who wear them.

When someone tells me, "This feels like me," I know I've succeeded.

I don't believe jewelry changes who we are. I think the right piece simply reflects something that has been there all along. It becomes part of the way we move through the world—quietly, confidently, and in a way that feels completely our own.

If my work has found its way to you, thank you for visiting my little studio. I hope you find a piece that feels as though it has been waiting for you all along.

Warmly,

Julie