1: Choose the stones

This is a chicken-or-the-egg step for me. Sometimes the stones inspire the collection and its theme, sometimes it's the other way around. Metamorphosis was a clear thematic choice for me for lots of reasons: springtime, the theme of 'change' and many of the stones I wanted to use resembled insects and wings in their natural patterns.

2: Research and plan designs

I dove deep with my field guide for this one. Many of the designs were planned from studies of various species of butterflies - especially Swallowtails.

3: Begin production - shown here: making bezels

4: Progress update - some midpoint images

I got to know my jeweler's saw VERY well this month. I hadn't picked up this tool for intricate work in a while, and it was a challenge and a joy. Each 'punch out' in the butterfly wings is created through an intricate process of piercing and sawing. The design is first planned onto metal, then in each spot that there will be a cut out, a teeny tiny hole is pierced with a drill bit that is less than a millimeter. Then, the saw blade (which is about 1/100th of a millimeter) is threaded through each hole and the shape is sawn out. 

5. Progress update: ready to set stones

There are so many steps in between (many of them are rounds of cutting, filing, sanding, and soldering). Once all of the components are soldered together and the pieces are polished to perfection, we are ready to stone set!

6. The collection is complete! Visit the Metamorphosis collection page here to see close ups and videos of each piece.