The earrings and necklaces in my Paddles Collection are created by hammering round wire until it flattens and forms a shape like that of a boat paddle. As I create each paddle, I turn the wire so you see the paddle shape when you look at the piece from the front and from the side. I drill a hole in each paddle, so it can hang from an ear wire or form part of a necklace.

For my Bubbles Collection, I form a loop in a piece of round wire leaving a long stem like a bubble wand. Sometimes I fill the bubble with colored resin. People say those bubbles look like balloons or lollipops. Other times I leave the bubble empty and hammer its edges so they catch the light. I create a small loop at the end of the "wand" so it can hang from an ear wire or be made into a necklace.

For my Scribbles Collection I scribble or doodle with wire creating fanciful patterns of loops and swirls. Sometimes the scribbles are formed in to centerpieces for necklaces using 10 to 30 feet of wire. Other times, I form them in to bracelets using over 40 feet of wire to do so. Scribbles Roses earrings and pendants are created by crimping round wire, spiraling it and then hammering it to create patterns that catch the light.

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I like the cool, crisp days. I enjoy building fires in my wood stove and watching the flickering flames in a darkened room. I love the rich fall colors of rust, ocher, orange, red and brown.

​The change of season influences the materials I use to create my jewelry - darker colored stones and metals that have been oxidized to give them a deeper tone. This year, I'm fashioning a new collections of pieces made of hand-forged copper, brass, bronze and sterling in the shape of leaves.

​Hand-forging the metals forms patterns and textures which reflect light. then by oxidizing (darkening) the metals and gently buffing them with very fine steel wool, I can produce leaves with an amazing variation in color. Placing sterling leaves among the copper, brass and bronze ones is like adding a touch of frost to a pile of fallen leaves.

I start a collection by first deciding on a shape in this case a leaf. Next, I cut wire into different lengths and bend it into a stylized leaf shape. Once all the leaves are formed, I forge the wire to add pattern and texture and to harden it so it retains its shape. Then each leaf is polished either by hand or by tumbling in a rotary tumbler. Finally, the leaves are ready to turn into jewelry.

​I lay the leaves out on my work bench and shift them around until a design emerges. Often I have a vision of a piece, but just as frequently the components dictate the final design. Once the design is determined, I link the components together to create the piece - necklace, bracelet or earrings. The final steps are to oxidize the metal, burnish it with steel wool to bring out highlights and seal it with Renaissance wax to provide a barrier between metal and skin.

Add a touch of autumn to your wardrobe with a piece from my Leaves collection.