Custom Orders
A significant part of my business is custom work. Over the years I’ve discovered that “custom order” can mean a lot of different things, but most requests tend to fall into a few general categories.
Sometimes a client sees a piece in my case and falls in love with most of it but wants a slightly different version. Maybe the colors aren’t quite right, the scale needs to shift a little, or they’d like a different gemstone. These are often small adjustments to an existing idea, and they can be a great way to create something that feels personal while still staying very much within the language of my work.
Other times someone is drawn to the overall aesthetic of what I make but can’t quite find the exact piece they’re looking for among my current inventory. In those cases, we can work together to develop something new that captures the spirit of my work while responding to what they have in mind.
Another common situation involves heirloom stones. Clients occasionally come to me with gemstones that already carry history—family diamonds, stones from inherited jewelry, or gems they’ve held onto for years without knowing what to do with them. Designing a new piece around an existing stone can be especially meaningful, giving that material a fresh life while honoring its story.
And occasionally someone commissions something a bit outside the core of my usual work. These pieces are often tied to a particular moment or personal meaning—anniversaries, milestones, or symbolic references that matter deeply to the person wearing them. When those projects feel like a good fit, they can be some of the most rewarding pieces to make.
A note about what I don’t do
There is one clear boundary when it comes to custom work: I won’t recreate another artist’s work in any form. That includes reinterpretations or “something similar to” a piece made by someone else.
Original design and artistic voice matter deeply to me, both in my own practice and in the broader community of makers. If you’re drawn to another artist’s work, the best path is always to support that artist directly.
How the Custom Process Works
The process usually starts with a conversation. Sometimes it happens in person at a show, sometimes through my website or email. We’ll talk a little about what you’re hoping for, what materials you’re drawn to, and any practical details like size, scale, or budget.
I’m a very visual worker, so once I have a general idea of the direction, I usually start sketching or building simple mock-ups to explore the design. My goal at this stage is to make sure we’re all picturing the same thing before I begin making the piece.
I’ll often start what I call a “tray,” where I gather possible materials—stones, glass elements, metal components, and anything else that might work for the design. Seeing the actual pieces together helps both of us understand how the final composition might come together.
Because this part of the process often involves a lot of quick decisions and small adjustments, I generally prefer to communicate by phone or text once we get going. It allows us to have a real back-and-forth conversation in real time instead of waiting around for emails. Sometimes I’ll send quick photos of the tray or sketches as things evolve so you can see how the piece is taking shape.
Below are some examples of custom pieces:
In another example, my client liked one element of the original piece, and wanted a simpler necklace with that element:
A client wanted a pair of rain cloud earrings similar to a pendant she had previously purchased from me…we started the process on a zoom call to discuss the logistics of the design. I then did some sketches, and we discussed it further. I did a final series of designs, and one was chosen:
This client saw a pendant on my website and wanted it to be customized as a gift to his wife for their anniversary.
I was commissioned by a client to make a set of pieces for his wife and son who were to be Bar/Bat Mitzva’d together. The wave artwork was very symbolic for them as a family, and he asked me if I could incorporate some wood elements to the design of the pendant. I started with some rough sketches, which he agreed to, and then I carved a sample batch of waves for my client to choose from (I always carve more pieces than I need for commissions for 2 reasons…I like to give my clients a choice, but also if I somehow break the glass piece, I have a ready backup.
I went back and forth with my client many times to come up with a design he was happy with. In the end, he decided he wanted to add a sprinkling of diamonds to mimic the sea spray in the original inspiration image. I created 18k gold settings for the diamonds and incorporated them into the piece.
