Born on Oʻahu and raised in Volcano Village on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, I have always been inspired and deeply connected to the natural beauty in my surroundings. The path to becoming a jewelry designer began in my youth as a model for local designers and photographers. The richness of colors, fabrics and textural elements of these fashion moments left an indelible impression in my young mind. I went on to work in the beauty and fashion industry as makeup artist and stylist, eventually landing a career in banking. It was through this work that my passion to create jewelry was born. As an admirer of Hawaiian apparel, I started making jewelry to complement my own wardrobe. I desired accessories that had never been seen before- bold, contemporary, sculptural jewelry that highlighted the unique flora and fauna of our island home. This is how Clay & Cane emerged and evolved. Each creation is made with polymer clay that is custom mixed to create a unique base color. Then, the design is developed with various techniques that may include silkscreen with acrylic paint, embossing/debossing patterns onto clay, layering clay (pressing images onto a clay slab using multiple colors), and hand painting directly onto the piece. Once the designs are created, each piece is lacquered with uv resin or treated with a matte sealant if needed to ensure it’s long lasting beauty… All designs are thoughtfully handcrafted, and no two are exactly alike. I hope you enjoy this wearable art as much and I enjoyed creating it for you!
