Who I Am

Some things stay with us through every season of life. For me, making is one of them.

Hello, I’m Emma, the artist and metalsmith behind Emma Elizabeth Jewelry. I create one-of-a-kind art jewelry inspired by bold gemstones, sculptural forms, and the beauty of things that feel a little unexpected.

Jewelry making found me during a difficult season of life. After losing someone I loved in my college years, I turned to metalsmithing as a way to work through my grief. What began as a place to put all the things I didn’t know how to carry became something I never expected: a craft I fell deeply in love with.

I continued to study metalsmithing locally and went on to study abroad in Florence, Italy, earning my BFA from Grand Valley State University in 2017. In 2018, I was named a top-five finalist for the Halstead Grant, and in 2019, I was honored to win.

Looking back, I can see how much that early season shaped me. But my story with jewelry has never stood still. It has grown and changed right alongside me.

Where I Am Now

These days, life looks different. I’ve become a mom, my priorities have shifted, and my journey with back pain has asked me to slow down in ways I never would have chosen. After a long stretch away from the bench, I’m beginning to find my way back—gradually, gently, and in my own time.

I’m not rushing this return. For now, I’m giving myself space to reconnect with my creativity, pay attention to what feels possible, and let this next chapter take shape naturally.

Emma Elizabeth Jewelry is entering a new chapter with me, but it won’t happen all at once. I hope to return to creating small, curated collections of art jewelry as my time, energy, and body allow. When I’m ready, I’ll share new work as it comes together, at a pace that feels sustainable and true to this season of life.

For now, I’m allowing the process to be gradual. I’m learning what it means to make space for creativity within the life I have now, without forcing it to look the way it once did.

The Jewelry

My art jewelry is drawn to bold lines, angular organic forms, dimensional geometrics, and modern elegance. I love working with a range of stones and materials, from natural gemstones to striking, rare materials like Fordite, Leland Blue and rosarita. Each one has its own character, history, and visual language, and I’m drawn to the way it can inspire a design that feels entirely unexpected.

At the heart of it, I make art jewelry because I love making things. I love working through an idea, solving a design problem, and watching something take shape in my hands. I love that there is always more to learn and another direction to explore.

My reasons for creating have evolved over the years, but that love of the craft has stayed with me. It’s something I’m carrying into this next season gently, with patience and curiosity, and in a way that feels entirely my own.

Come Along

I’ll be sharing glimpses of this season as it unfolds—bits of studio life, creative ideas, materials that catch my eye, and little pieces of motherhood along the way: the messy, the sweet, and everything in between.

You can follow along on Instagram at @emmaelizabethjewelry or find me on Facebook at Emma Elizabeth Jewelry.

And if you’d like to read more about how Emma Elizabeth Jewelry began, you can find my original story in Ashley Wierenga’s letter at Sincerely, Ashley.

I’m so glad you’re here.

XOXO, Emma