Holland Houdek

Rochester, New York

"[In]Fertility" Series 

Words fail in the face of miscarriage. Our thoughts, like our bodies, betray us. Grief, isolation, shame, blame, and other unnamable feelings cloud one’s ability to articulate the pain of this harrowing yet all-to-common natural event. Against the inadequacy of language and the silences that surround this taboo subject, I turned to the process of making to confront this unnamable loss and to help shift my and other people’s perceptions of miscarriage and pregnancy loss. The pieces in this series helped me to un-make and re-make that deep and embodied pain into something transformative. They call attention to the need to find personal ways to cope, persevere, and make sense of life in the face of loss, while reminding women and people with uteruses who have had similar experiences that they are not alone.

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Hand-fabricated copper,

crystals, patina. 2023

Gregory Simon

Austin, Texas

Golden Sunflower

This "Gold Sunflower Ring" design was inspired by Natural flowers that Artist saw in his dream after extensive design development journey.

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​14K Yellow and 14K White Gold, 12pcs of 1.6mm
Natural Diamonds and 10mm x 12mm Natural Oval Concave Cut Amethyst.

John and Corliss Rose 

Anaheim, California

Rite of Passage

Flora plays the role of totem in many rites of passage. A prom corsage, a wedding bouquet, and funeral flowers all represent the transition from one stage of life to another.
Throughout time, plants, blooms, seeds, berries, and bark have been combined with rituals to give significance to the ceremony of passage. This series explores the interweaving of flora, ritual, and passage.

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Hydraulically formed brass, Prismacolor Pencils, Acrylic, 23k gold leaf,

Baleigh Acebo

Denver, Colorado

Stone Eater Ring

The title of this ring was pulled from a sci-fi book I was reading at
the time, by NK Jemisin. Nature is beautiful and stuff but by far, the coolest thing about nature is that it's also terrifying. Nature can destroy, invade and take over. This ring, with its dark tendrils arcing towards and over the stone, showcases how nature's
beauty can adorn just before its sublimity starts to take over.

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Oxidized sterling silver, 14k rose gold, platinum, quartz and baby diamonds.

JungKi Min

Providence, Rhode Island

Symbiosis (Mutualism)

Sea Anemones and Clownfish As an example of a mature
relationship that positively influences each other, sea anemone provides refuge for clownfish, and clownfish provide prey to anemones by attracting other fish using their
noticeable colors. When the clownfish are hiding in or near sea anemones, their distinctive colors are highlighted with bright hues to match the harmonious atmosphere. This piece not only illustrates the physical interaction between the sea anemone and clownfish but also invites viewers to reflect on the broader theme of positive symbiosis in their own lives. It encourages an appreciation for how different elements of the natural world can coexist and support each other, which I believe is a fundamental aspect of our interaction in society.

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Silver, Clay, Resin, Copper, Wood

Marilyn O'Hara

Hamakua

The Hamakua coastline on the Big lsland, Hawaii is home to lush green pastures, a beautiful rain forest, waterfalls, high rocky cliffs, and ocean waves pounding the rocks below. This piece is a story of my exploration of the region, with each element representing my experiences.

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Argentium Silver, 18k with a rose cut green Tourmaline
and a 4mm Montana Sapphire.

Melissa Lovingood

Nature Unadorned

The observation and study of nature are important characteristics
in my work. Nature is very expressive and unique. Developing individual expression inspired by nature in my metalwork is a delicate balance that I try to achieve through embracing experimentation, research and incorporating found natural media.

Linda Wade

Emergence

I named this pendant "Emergence" and it represents the process of renewing life forces in nature. The twining leaves capture new growth, the translucent quality of the blue stone is reminiscent of water elements, and the hidden back of the pendant is an
array of earthy hues. When the pendant is worn, sunlight is the last element added to complete the set of major elements for the cycle of life to repeat.

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Sterling silver, Indonesian Blue opalwood

Suzanne Williams

Ivy Leaf Clasp Pendant

In many of my pieces, I am inspired by natural forms that I
incorporate into 3-dimensional layered constructions/compositions that reflect and celebrate those forms.

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Sterling silver, green tourmalines, diamonds

Lisa Johnson

Out of the Hive

This necklace relates to the theme of Nature through the Eyes of
a Jeweler by recognizing one of the most significant insects in nature, the bee. By expressing the bee's importance as a form of adornment, I decided to re-contextualize carpenter bees into small, wearable bronze sculptures. Hopefully, the necklace is designed to start a conversation about the value of our bee friends or at least come up with a ton of bee puns. Disclaimer: No bees were harmed during the making of this piece. They were found at my brother-in-law's in Chicago.

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Bronze, kyanite, sterling silver, bumble bee jasper

Yaniel Rodriguez

Orchid

Orchids use a sophisticated method of deceptive pollination, mimicking nectar- producing flowers or female insects to attract pollinators, aided by the labellum, a modified petal.

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Silver, Tanzanite, and patina.

Carole Shelton

Modulation

This floral necklace was designed by layering and
riveting together pieces of discarded plastic, forming a bouquet of flowers. It speaks to the pervasiveness of plastic. Microplastics have been found in soil, water, plants, animals and humans.

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Discarded plastic ( old  yogurt containers, lids, and layers of fused plastic bags),  glass beads, brass

Rebecca Neely

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Dormancy

These earrings were inspired by the woody seed pods that remain of some flowering species after their petals have withered.  Dormancy’s title references the state in which a plant becomes inactive when conditions are not ideal. Seed pods, for instance, act as shelters for dormant seeds that patiently await their chance to
germinate. Their resilience offers me comfort and inspiration. I liken dormancy to the time we need for self care to reflect and recharge from our own environments; Only then can we heal and grow to our full potential.

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Sterling Silver, 23.5k Gold Foil 

Eighteen (Yihan) Yuan

Detroit, Michigan

Be-Longing #07

Rocks teach me in silence, lessons of stillness and eternity, symbols of stability and permanence. My fascination with rocks began quite ordinarily. Living far from home for years, for study and work, I often traveled to diverse places. Perhaps it's a human instinct, uncontrollable, to gather keepsakes, so collecting rocks became my way of preserving memories of the cities and landscapes I’ve touched. The textures of these rocks, marked with origins, are like fragments of my life’s various phases to me. I attempt to mimic the texture of stone with high-temperature enamel, The land I deeply cherish in my memories becomes the fractured patterns of my enameled stones Living abroad for 7 years, moving five times. I am a passerby in the land of my birth, and a traveler in the place I reside. It sounds melancholic, but it’s not. I reach for what I desire, always on my toes, Voluntarily, so it doesn’t feel burdensome. Yet, I long for a place to call home. Have you ever tried, over and over again, to etch the shape of a land in your heart? The longer you’re away, the harder you try to remember, the blurrier it becomes. A lack of belonging is a strange feeling. It's like an almost invisible splinter in your fingertip. Most of the time, it doesn’t hurt or itch, but at some unexpected touch, A sudden sting spreads through every nerve. Have you ever recognized a landscape from an airplane, And felt a sudden sting in your nose? That image you tried to etch in your heart but couldn’t see clearly, Suddenly sharpens and aligns with the view outside your window. That moment when your nose tingles, And every tensed muscle and nerve suddenly relaxes.

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Enamel, Copper, Mild Steel, Sterling Silver

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Audrey Jack

Edinburgh, Scotland

Symbiosis

It seemed natural to me that, in an Open Call about
nature and jewellery, that nature itself should be incorporated in to the design. Moss can be found in abundance around the globe, from cracks in walls, to the rotting stump of a tree. It grows and flourishes in symbiosis with its environment, and reminds me that, in life, resilience is the key to growth, regardless of the environment or circumstance within which you find yourself.

Alex Boyd

Denver, Colorado

Medusozoa

More than any other sea creature, jellyfish terrify me. People talk
about their ethereal beauty and elegance, the otherworldly way they dance through the currents, their importance in fragile coastal ecosystems. That's all neat and everything, but they can also wrap they're tentacles around you and sting you to
death. Even if the sting doesn't kill you there's a good chance someone is going to tell you to pee on it, which doesn't do anything but people keep believing it does anyway.
Gross. Usually when something terrifies me my reaction is to try to learn more about it. Knowledge is the fear killer. That's why I decided to study up on jellyfish and make a
piece of jewelry in their likeness. After studying their lifecycle, physiology and ecological importance, I can solidly say that I'm more frightened now than I was before. There's no way I'm stepping foot in the ocean ever again.

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Opal, diamonds, sterling silver and 22k gold

Beija Mosqueda

Orlando, Florida

Living Lunette 

The natural world cannot be quantified in a few sentences. Neither can it be represented in a single element. This piece makes an artist's attempt to illustrate the mysterious and surprising qualities often felt when trying to observe the world around us. Inspired by a jeweler's loupe, Living Lunette shows there is always a new hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.

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 Sterling silver, 14 karat gold and sliced agate.

Bette Barnett

Genesis Pendant

Interconnection of Nature and Life: Genesis Pendant exemplifies the interconnected elements of nature and our immutable bond with the natural world. The symbolism of the pendant extends to many different levels, the most fundamental being the primary metal it’s made of—low carbon steel, which is essentially iron. Iron is the most common natural element in the earth’s core and the second most abundant metal in the earth’s crust. It is also abundant in the sun and stars. Ancient man referred to iron as the “metal of the gods” because its earliest discovery was as meteorites that fell from the sky. Iron is key to sustaining life on earth, from nourishing plants to carrying oxygen in your blood. On another level, the contrast against dark steel of 18k gold and other bright fused metals symbolizes the natural elements of the earth, sunlight, and moonlight. The pendant’s circle shape echoes the forms found in nature, such as the sun, moon, and planets, emphasizing the cycles of time and life. The contrasting textures of a rough etched background layered with smooth fused metals mirror the diverse landscapes of the natural world. The interplay of dark and light represents the dynamic cycles found in nature—night and day, birth and death. To the wearer, this pendant serves as a tangible link to nature, with materials sourced from the earth and a design that embodies the natural world. This connection serves as a reminder of our reliance on natural resources, the
earth's raw beauty and our obligation to protect our natural environment . The abstract design invites personal interpretation, encouraging contemplation of the natural world's wonders and the interconnection of life.

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Low carbon steel, powdered metals of 18k gold, brilliant bronze, white
bronze and fine silver

Brenda Gregory

Ephemeral Alchemy

Within the subtle alchemy of materials, a captivating fusion of metal, stone, and reclaimed objects emerge, urging the viewer to ponder the delicate equilibrium and occasional discord inherent in our world beneath our feet.  “Ephemeral Alchemy” refers to a transformative and often fleeting process that involves the manipulation or blending of elements, materials, or ideas to create something unique, elusive, or transient in nature.

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​Silver, Brass, Moss Agate, Ocean Jasper & Found Object

Audrey Steinbach

Soaring

This piece represents the essence of my heart horse. Full of life and unrestrained joy, I can so easily envision him taking flight. My mission was to interpret his joyfulness, expression and
energy while adding the wing to show him soaring.

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Fine Silver, 18kt gold, 24kt gold Keum-boo, Spessartite garnets

Melodie Owen

Joy of the Earth

I admire how Native pottery is created from elements of the earth.
After a beloved piece of my pottery was broken I felt great sadness and vowed to find some way to bring honor to the piece. After years of contemplation this design came to me. The braided silk necklace flows intact through the headdress shaped arch and then through the shadow box protecting the pottery. The lightning bolt breaks the
pottery, the braid flies apart into its many strands and announces the coming rain. The headdress evokes a rainbow of promise. There is a free feeling as this piece from the earth comes back to life to bring the refreshing rain and feeling of hope and gratitude.

Maureen Shankey

From Ashes Born captures the moment the first brave leaves emerge from the ashes
of carborundum grit in the crack between rough kyanite timbers. A ruby cabochon and
ruby beads are the dying fire.

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24 karat gold keum-bu, sterling silver, carborundum grit, ruby and glass beads Kumihimo strand,

Linda Bernasconi

Aloha Necklace

Like flowers that emerge in Spring to say hello and return to the earth with season changing with an aloha, goodbye.

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Fused Argentium silver, 22k gold, 18kt gold and sterling silver