Stillwater

I’ve been thinking a lot about stillness lately — not as absence, but as presence. The kind of calm that lives beneath the surface, steady and resilient, even when everything above it feels in motion. That idea became the starting point for my newest body of work: the Stillwater Collection.

At the heart of this collection is one of my favorite stones: spinel.

Spinel carries a quiet confidence. It doesn’t shout or demand attention, yet the longer you sit with it, the more depth it reveals — luminous, grounded, and quietly powerful. For centuries, spinel lived in the shadow of other gemstones, often mistaken for ruby or sapphire. Only later was it recognized for what it truly is: a gem worthy in its own right.

What draws me to spinel most is its beautiful ambiguity.

It exists across a wide spectrum of color — especially within the purple family — shades that are hard to define, constantly shifting, somewhere in between. Not quite one thing or another. That in-between quality feels endlessly expressive, full of nuance and possibility. No two stones are ever exactly alike, and each carries its own quiet mood.

This collection also marks a personal first for me. It’s the first time I’m officially challenging myself to work with faceted stones — and to step into using gemstones within the purple family. It feels unfamiliar in the best way, a gentle stretch outside my comfort zone, guided by curiosity rather than certainty.

Spinel is remarkably resilient, making it well suited for everyday wear. But beyond its strength, there’s a calmness to the stone — a steady, reassuring presence that feels grounding rather than overpowering. A reminder that power doesn’t always have to be loud.

The Stillwater Collection is an invitation to slow down — to find clarity beneath the surface and to honor the kind of strength that lives quietly within. Each piece is designed to feel intentional and enduring, something to return to again and again, like a personal ritual.

A reminder that even in constant motion, there is stillness to be found — and within that stillness, endless possibilities.