Welcome!
Hi, I’m Sharon, the designer and maker behind the bench. My jewelry journey has been a long and wonderful winding road.
As a serial entrepreneur I have played in the world of corporate technology..ha for far too long and had a fantastic time as the owner of a travel agency that crafted international workshops for artists.
Throughout those years I have always maintained a studio practice making jewelry, selling to boutiques and lovely supporting friends. Workshops, apprenticeships even the good fortune to work as a bench jeweler doing repairs has helped me create this jewelry journey.
Now as a full time jeweler I split my time between my studio’s in New England + Southwest Florida.
A heartfelt thank you for taking the time to get to know who’s behind the bench.
Refined + Untamed
The process is slow and intentional as the flame, hammers and tools create a story buried deep within the surface layers and textures of the metal, blended together to create beautiful jewelry with the touch of the makers hand left behind.
Strong + Confident – Curious + Adventurous
I believe that beauty and confidence come from within. While the lastest fashion and trends have their place, personal style takes a confident and adventurous women or man to pull off. So why follow all the trends, isn’t it fun to break the rules every once in a while and express your beautiful self in a uniquely different way?
Inspiration
What keeps the inspiration in motion?
Wanderlust and yes there is a cure. When I lace up those traveling shoes and head off with a curious and open mind to wander, be it rugged coastlines, colorful markets, ancient cities with structures beautifully textured by time. And sometimes like most of us it’s just that short journey to the sea that helps keep design inspiration fresh.
Craftmanship
All jewelry is handcrafted from my studios in New England + Southwest Florida. Traditional metalsmithing techniques are used to produce most of my work, but I also love the ancient tradition of lost wax casting. . Although I do not cast in my studio, I work with local independent casters in Rhode Island and then handle all finish work from my studios. Because of the handmade nature of my jewelry, slight variations may occur mostly with the textures all while maintaining high standards of craftsmanship. Being a maker and having the evidence of the maker’s hand delights me and I’m happy to say those of my collectors also.
Ethical Mining Of Metals + Gemstones
We care and are mindful of the precious, limited and delicate resources found on this beautiful planet of ours and for that reason we strive to source metals and gemstones from sources that understand the importance of sustainability practices within our industry. We have implemented clean green studio practices and have carefully selected our packaging from suppliers who work within the same standards minimizing our impact on the environment.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. ~LaoTzu
