I love spending time hunting for interesting treasures along beaches at the Jersey Shore and Florida's Gulf Coast.  I create handmade, one-of-a-kind artisan jewelry that is specially designed to enhance the natural beauty of these hand-picked beach treasures (which I try to alter as little as possible). I am a self-taught metalsmith. I love the challenge of learning jewelry design and technique through my hands.

 My education and background is in studying and advocating for the Marine Environment. My love for conservation and the natural environment blossomed into a full-time creative endeavor when I left the environmental advocacy world to open JO’s Oyster Garden. The intention behind my artwork is for people to reconnect with nature and themselves through the balance and beauty of my jewelry, and to foster appreciation for the natural world and environmental conservation. The highest priorities of my business are sustainability and responsibility. I strive to support local and have little impact on the environment in the making of my jewelry (No  ecosystems are hurt by my art).

With this motto at the heart of JO’s Oyster Garden, these practices are followed: Shells, stones, and sea glass are hand-picked; Materials are supplied from local, Mom & Pop shops or antique stores/Estates (as much as possible); Recycled metals and findings are used often. Specifically, I use antique/vintage stones, and scrap metals I scavenge from local boat yards and construction sites. I create and teach my unique style of artisan jewelry using mixed metals and hand picked finds from the beach. A piece of me is represented in each creation – love and curiosity for the natural beach environment, balance in all things, a marriage of feminine and masculine, and the richness of the past (as shown in the influence of my favorite style, art deco). I hope that each piece of jewelry I make is seen as a reminder that nature is perfect and beautiful.