sustainable actions and goals
MY COMMITMENTS
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How I Create
MY STUDIO IS BUILT ON THE BELIEF THAT JEWELRY CAN CARRY STORIES. SOME PIECES BEGIN WITH GUITAR STRINGS PLAYED ON STAGES AROUND THE WORLD. OTHERS BEGIN WITH STONES CHOSEN ON THE ROAD FROM SMALL SHOPS IN THE PLACES OUR MUSIC BRINGS ME.
I CREATE IN SMALL BATCHES, USING METALS AND GEMSTONES FROM SUPPLIERS I TRUST FOR THEIR ETHICS, TRANSPARENCY, AND COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE SOURCING. MY PACKAGING IS INTENTIONALLY MINIMAL, MADE FROM RECYCLED OR SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS, AND OFTEN UPCYCLED FROM SHIPMENTS I RECEIVE. EVERY ELEMENT IS CHOSEN WITH CARE SO THE FINAL PIECE FEELS GROUNDED, MEANINGFUL, AND CONNECTED TO THE WORLD IT COMES FROM.
THESE COMMITMENTS SHAPE NOT ONLY HOW I WORK, BUT WHAT I HOPE MY JEWELRY BRINGS TO THE PEOPLE WHO WEAR IT.
Every guitar string has a story.
After years of touring and recording with my husband in our duo, Flagship Romance, our spent strings naturally began to pile up. Rather than letting them go to waste, I started giving them a second life as jewelry.
Upcycled guitar strings are strings that have been played, loved, and retired from our instruments. I carefully clean, condition, and transform them into new pieces: hooks, bangles, mixed metal accents, and textural elements within my Handplayed Handmade collection. They carry the warmth of human hands, countless miles of touring, and the energy of live music.
Each upcycled string piece is one of one. It is a keepsake of something lived, not just something made.
I choose every material with intention. Each decision is guided by four pillars:
• Strength and durability
• Environmental impact
• The feel and finish
• Accessibility and fairness
Materials
I choose metals that can handle everyday life without compromising beauty. My choices allow me to keep pieces high quality while keeping prices grounded and fair.
Metals
Most of my metals come from companies that share my values, including Rio Grande. Their commitment to stewardship includes responsible sourcing, recycled metals, traceability whenever possible, and ethical partnerships throughout the supply chain. Their emphasis on environmental responsibility aligns with the way I want my studio to operate.
Gemstones
I work with stones that speak to me, prioritizing quality, character, and as much origin transparency as possible. I love gemstones with visible inclusions or organic features. They feel like small worlds instead of perfect objects.
Local and On the Road Sourcing
Because my husband and I tour constantly, I often buy stones and materials from small shops across the United States and Europe. When a piece is made with a stone from Paris, Lisbon, Santa Fe, or Copenhagen, I will share that story with you. Each stone becomes a tiny travel diary.
Trusted Online Suppliers
When I buy online, I support two small businesses I trust. One is a BEADS supplier in Michigan and one is a family owned JEWELRY business in Athens, Greece. Supporting people I believe in matters just as much as the materials themselves.
“I do not believe in perfection. I believe in handmade.”
Tool marks, slight variations, and textured surfaces are part of the story of MY work. They reflect the human hands behind each piece.I believe packaging can be both beautiful and responsible. The role of packaging is protection but I am very intentional about reducing waste wherever I can.
Paper and Tags
I use paper goods from French Paper, a sixth generation family owned mill in Niles, Michigan. They have run entirely on hydroelectric power since 1922 and produce papers using renewable energy and recycled fibers. Your earring cards and paper elements come from a mill that has been doing sustainable production for more than one hundred years.
Boxes and Mailers
I use boxes made from recycled materials, sustainably managed forests, and fully recyclable papers. Whenever possible, I choose lighter and more compact mailers to reduce shipping weight and carbon footprint.
I am also searching for polybags and protective wraps made from one hundred percent post consumer recycled polyester and recycled cardboard.
Upcycled Packaging
I save, sanitize, and reuse packaging from my own shipments. If your order arrives in a gently upcycled box or wrapped with repurposed materials, that is intentional. Beautiful things do not need fresh packaging to be meaningful.My studio operates with a slow jewelry philosophy.
I create in small batches, completely by hand, and often one piece at a time. This helps me avoid overproduction, unnecessary waste, and the pressure to create based on trends. Every piece has intention and every collection is allowed to evolve naturally.
Instead of following seasonal schedules, I follow curiosity, travel, texture, and the stories of the materials themselves.
I believe creativity should ripple outward.
A portion of each collection will be donated to causes that matter deeply to me. These may include access to clean drinking water, addressing food insecurity, or supporting local grassroots organizations in places my music has brought me.
As my studio grows, I plan to partner with one primary organization each year so I can make a deeper and more consistent impact.