Behind the Inspiration
What inspires you?
Drawn from symbols of wisdom, courage, hope, and resilience found in nature coupled with my curiosity with nature's connection to the human experience, jewelry is a meaningful way to share my exploration of those metaphors (in jewelry form) as I learn and evolve from my own life experiences.
Each piece I create reflects the thoughts and feelings that empower me to have the courage to keep growing and comfort me when life is being life - full of unexpected changes, lessons, and emotions. I want to share this experience with you.
I hope wearing my jewelry reminds you of your personal truths, strengths, and like nature’s infinite beauty, how uniquely beautiful you truly are.
What is your process?
Honestly, the process feels a bit romantic to me! After sourcing the feathers I want to work with, it takes 4-5 months to clean, prep, and individually find matches for the feathers. Since each one is unique like each of us, finding the “perfect” pair is near impossible. I take my time to find the most harmonious match, and that can be a very patient process as a feather matchmaker when going through hundreds of similar-looking feathers! Once I have a variety of feather pairs, I play with the feathers’ natural patterns and hues to arrange, trim, and bond layers of different ones together to create unique designs. I truly enjoy seeing how all the feather layers seem to blend together as one, yet stand out in a complimentary, harmonious way.
What do feathers symbolize to you?
There is no right or wrong answer. Each person interprets the world from their own life’s perspective, thus there are many different, unique ways to appreciate feathers, draw meaning from them, and understand the messages we see in them. In my life, feathers remind me of the strength to break out of the cage of self-limiting beliefs. Grow to embrace the person we are free to be and soar the open skies of possibilities of living authentically. Like us, feathers are multidimensional in meaning, and physically they have depth too. A feather may appear one way at first, however, when given enough time to be truly noticed, new details, patterns, and iridescent colors emerge from the surface that were there all along. Sometimes I feel humans forget how uniquely beautiful we are as individuals, and I believe feathers are here to help us remember we are worth being seen as we truly are
How do you source the feathers?
It is important to me I ethically source the feathers from farmers who raise the birds for meat, and occasionally from licensed game keepers. By purchasing these feathers from them, we are able to use mostly everything (from the bird), and less goes to waste.
What do you find fascinating about the history of feathers?
There was a time when a few ounces of feathers were just as valuable as gold and precious gems and stones (and sometimes even more) as feathers were used as status symbols for the wealthy and Elite. They became highly sought after during the Victorian Era as European fashion trends made feathers extremely popular. Imagine buying 10 ounces of Egret feathers for $1000! The irresponsibility of this feather craze led to the endangerment of many bird species becoming extinct. Fortunately, feather trade regulations and laws were enforced to protect birds at risk, making it illegal to sell or buy their feathers. It’s key as a collective, we learn from the past and do better. An Indigenous friend once told me feathers are considered to be gifts. I do my best to respectfully honor their true value as such by keeping in mind the life of the birds and the process it takes to use their feathers. By sourcing feathers responsibly, I may thoughtfully share their gifts with you in my jewelry designs.
What are some of the cultural significance of feathers?
Across various cultures and religions in all parts of the world, the symbolisms in birds and feathers can be traced throughout human history. Feathers are used in artwork, adornments, clothing, and sacred religious practices. Some examples are:
In Christianity, feathers are associated with angels, prayer, and faith. During ancient times of the religion, Three Feathers were often used to represent the three virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Japanese folklore depicts pheasants as messengers from Heavenly Sun Goddess Amaterasu.
In Chinese tradition, the Golden Pheasant is seen as the ancestor of the legendary Phoenix bird and represents good fortune. Feathers from Kingfisher birds were used to create Dian Cui- a jewelry technique to create turquoise-like feather inlay in imperial jewelry.
In ancient Egypt, the Ostrich feather was an emblem of Ma’at, the goddess of truth and order, and an important process to enter the Eternal Afterlife.
Eagle feathers are highly-regarded as sacred, and the holiest gift to Indigenous people. One must earn the rite of passage to receive and care for the feather as the honored Eagle helps carry the prayers of their people to be received and heard by the Creator.
