The Process

There are so many different aspects of jewelry making, continuously inspiring me. This is what draws me in the most- I will never stop growing in this craft. Once I have mastered one technique there are thousands more to dive into.

I took my first metal fabrication class in 2016 with M.B. Zappellini, designer and smith that spent extensive time learning from Florentine master goldsmiths and creating her own techniques. I immediately fell in love with the notion that I was able to create art out of metal, a medium that would truly stand the test of time and surely out live me. Along with the basics of metal fabrication she also demonstrated chip inlay. This was like a domino affect in my brain- realizing I could manipulate stone in the same way I was polishing metal. I craved to not only form the metal, but the stones as well.

It didn’t take me long to find Old Pueblo Lapidary Club. I immediately feel in love with lapidary and it is a major part of my craft. Fortuitously, Tucson is known for hosting the largest yearly gem and mineral show in the world. That’s a large statement. I tell people this and I feel like the gravity doesn’t sink in. Largest Gem show in the world! If you haven’t had the chance to witness this first hand, you shouldn’t imagine it as one show. Imagine if your city hosted the olympics every year, but instead of one stadium it was at every sports field in town. It’s like that but with rocks from around the world. I have always had the notion that where you live is a choice, and one that has the largest impact on the rest of your life. I had been drifting from place to place for years, and this realization of finding a hobby I was genuinely obsessed with, in the perfect city to supply for it made everything feel like it was meant to be. Every year I find myself perusing the Gem Show(s). Although I mainly look for rough to cut myself, I do not limit my work to only stones I have cut. If you have questions about who cut a specific stone please ask. I believe in ethically sourcing my materials, in most cases I can tell you exactly what mine it came from and who cut it.

Limitations I found in hand fabricated designs pushed me into building my casting skills. I took my first wax carving class in 2017 with Chuck Lundstrom and continued to learn as much as I could on my own until I was confident in operating a centrifugal casting setup by myself. Lost wax casting is an ancient method using hand carved wax as a model to create a one time mold that molten metal is poured (or slung) into. It’s an exhilarating process that gets my heart pumping every time. Fabrication had taught me not to melt the metal and casting was all about melting it, this was something my inner pyro could get behind! Many designers and metal smiths send their carved waxes off to be cast and don’t do the casting process themselves. It is an intimidating process and specialized equipment is needed. I currently volunteer at a local non profit, monitoring studio space for lost wax casting for those who want to learn. I have been centrifugal and vacuum casting flasks for myself and other creatives twice a month consistently since 2019. This space has allowed me to meet and share ideas with countless other artists that have the same passions as I do. It has been my second home and I cannot imagine where I would be in my craft without the Old Pueblo Lapidary Club.

It had always been a dream of mine to be able to incorporate fine precession detail into my metal work. In 2021 I traveled to learn engraving from Master Engraver Jason Marchiafava. This was a decision I would make 10 times over again, the experience and wealth of knowledge he gave me is undisguiseable. All of my engravings are done by hand, line by line. I guide a sharpened point through the metal, it requires tremendous skill and patience. It is a slow process, but the results are worth it.

In 2023 I dove deeper into wax carving and studied under Liam Powers, where we also explored specific techniques for hand engraved embellishments on castings.

Being able to combine all of my skills into single pieces of jewelry that will outlive me makes me proud to call Ringtail jewelry a one woman business.

Before I launched RingtailJewelry.com, I sold my work on Etsy. I am currently leaving my Etsy page open for those that feel more comfortable buying through an established site that offers mail protection.

I currently have a few stockiest where you are able to shop in person:

-Laughlin Mercantile, 100 South Avenida del Convento suite 116 in Tucson, Az 85745

-Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch, 5501 N Hacienda Del Sol Rd, Tucson, Az 85718

-Ampersand Old and New, 2527 E 6th Street Tucson, Az 85716

-Canyon Ranch, 8600 E Rockcliff Rd, Tucson, AZ 85750

-Savior, 267 South Avenida del Convento building 1 suite 105, Tucson, AZ 85701

To see more behind the scenes processes, follow along on social media! @ringtailjewelry