Picture of Elizabeth Shaffer (Lizzy) (1977-1985)

A picture of my best friend in second grade  

1 7/8 H x 1 3/4 W x 1 D in.

Sterling silver, mixed media

Finger Pants by Daniel Johnson (1977-2008)

A button he gave me, and a doodled eraser with his "Finger Pants" character 

2 1/8 H x 1 3/4 W x 1 D in.

Sterling silver, mixed media

Colin's Newborn Hospital Ankle Tag

My son Colin was born October 31, 2013 at 3:54pm 

1 1/4 H x 1 7/8 W x 1 5/8 D in.

Sterling silver, mixed media

Graduation Tassels (years only)

From High School, Undergraduate, and Graduate School

1/2 H x 2 1/16 W x 1 5/16 D in.

Sterling silver, plastic

Gifts From Weaving Metal Students 

Thank you gifts from students I taught at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts

1 1/2 H x 2 3/8 W x 2 3/8 D in.

Sterling silver, fine silver, mixed media

Museum Admittance Tags

Collected from many of my favorite Museums while traveling

1 1/8 H x 2 W x 7/8 D in.

Sterling silver

Dads Ring

A custom ring my mother had made for my father when they were married 

1 1/4 H x 1 1/2 W x 1 1/8 D in.

Sterling silver, malachite

Guatemalan Worry Dolls

Given to me by my sister Kristen.  We used to love playing with them as kids.

1 7/8 H x 2 3/8 W x 1 1/2 D in.

Sterling silver, fabric, glue

Julia's Newborn Hospital Ankle Tag

My daughter Julia was born January 31, 2011 at 3:13am 

1  H x 1 7/8 W x 1 5/8 D in.

Sterling silver, mixed media

Travel Money

Gathered from foreign countries I visited 

9/16 H x 2 5/8 W x 2 5/8 D in.

Sterling silver, paper and coin money

Grandma Kilgores JFK Coins

My Grandmother loved JFK and collected the 50 cent coins with his image. When she passed away she distributed them evenly to her Grandchildren.

 7/8 H x 1 7/8 W x 1 7/8 D in.

Sterling silver, coins

Great Grandfather Bell's Fraternity Pin and Golf Charm

I never met my Great Grandfather, but these still feel very precious to me

 3/8 H x 1 1/16 W x 7/8 D in.

Sterling silver, brass

Grandmas Bracelet

My Grandfather Mathes bought this for my Grandmother on their Honeymoon 

3/4  H x 3 3/4 W x 1 3/4 D in.

Sterling silver, mixed media

Stones from Tuscany

Collected while walking down a gravel road with my husband Nathan  in Tuscany

 5/8 H x 1 3/8 W x 3/4 D in.

Sterling silver, rose quartz, moon stones, quartz

Grandpa Bells Cufflinks

Belonged to my Grandfather Richard Bell

 7/8 H x 1 5/8 W x 1 3/16 D in.

Sterling silver, steel

Beach Glass

Collected while walking along Lake Michigan with my Husband and Mother 

2 1/8 H x 2 1/4 W x 1 1/2 D in.

Sterling silver, glass

Notes From Nathan

Various notes from my husband, and his phone number from the night we met

3 3/4 H x 2 3/4 W x 1 3/8 D in.

Sterling silver, paper

JESSE MATHES

Metalwork

Credit Card Imprinter

From the time I owned a Contemporary Jewelry Gallery in Terre Haute, IN.. 

1/2 H x 2 3/8 W x 1 11/16 D in.

Sterling silver, steel

Memory Boxes

One day while searching through my jewelry box I realized it was primarily filled with objects that weren't jewelry.  Most of the items were keepsakes from various points in my life. Items with no monetary value, but that were worth more to me than any of the "precious" jewelry in the box.  I decided to make a box made of precious materials for each item to convey how important the objects are to me personally.  The shape of each box is inspired by the item inside.

Notes from Mom

They were included with mail she forwarded to me when I was in college

1/2 H x 3 11/16 W x 2 1/4 D in.

Sterling silver, paper