Ann Jenkins

On Saturday I received a much anticipated package in the mail. I did a trade with fellow Etsy Metal member Ann Jenkins. Ann is a multi-talented jewelry maker. She has an etsy shop called Tuizui, selling colorful and whimsical enameled sterling silver jewelry. I studied enameling in college under Harlan Butt, so I have an affinity for the medium. I had also noticed Ann's work on flickr, namely her Fragments of Nature Series. It actually took me a little while to connect the dots and realize that Ann Jenkins was the lady behind Tuizui as well!

Needless to say I became enamored with Ann's work. We started talking about doing a trade, and it was so difficult to decide between all of her lovely pieces. However, when she offered to make a custom piece for me, with my own treasures, that made up my mind. Ann's Fragments of Nature work are little shadow boxes filled with tiny collections. They create a miniature, wearable world. I gathered my treasures to send to Ann, including a piece of opal rough from a jar that my grandfather gave me as a child and a piece of coral that I picked up in Belize on our honeymoon. So, you can see this pendant is more than just a collectors item or a piece of jewelry to me. It is a special reminder of stories from my life. I am so thankful to Ann for bringing this to life for me.

I had picked this brooch from Ann's website as inpiration for my pendant.
For my end of the trade I created for Ann one of my Multi Pebble Rings with her own pebbles. Ann has traveled around the world and collected these beautiful stones. The gemstones are Sapphire, Labradorite, and a Fine Silver "Pebble" cabochon. I hope Ann treasures her ring as much as I do my pendant. Thanks Ann!