Chaya Blog

As we approach spring and summer wedding season, this is the perfect time to start creating engagement rings and wedding bands. I LOVE making rings, especially ones that honor the love shared between two people, and I would be honored to work with you! Some people have a clear design in mind; others have an idea but don’t know how … Read More

  As you know from this blog, many gems come in a variety of colors. For example, garnets come in several shades of red and green and black; topaz can be found in several shades of yellow, pale green, blue, red, pink, and black; rubies can be yellow, orange, green, brown, violet or purple. Peridot is one of the few gemstones that forms only in … Read More

July’s birthstone is the ruby. I love the deep red richness of the stones, but often, for a bit less money, that beautiful red can also be found in tourmaline, red spinel and garnets. As you know, I work only with previously mined stones, but you might be interested to know that historically rubies have been mined all over the … Read More

In my most recent newsletter, I shared the story of a custom hairpiece I created for a client. When the project was complete, I realized the individual components were strong enough to stand on their own, and so they have evolved into a new collection I call Julie’s Garden. The new line honors a friend of mine who recently lost her … Read More

  As a gift to his wife, a client asked me to create a hairpiece using a garden theme. Inspired by her love of gardening, I spent several weeks looking at pictures, sketching flowers and plants, and working to create the most beautiful composition. I finally settled on a detailed piece with five different plants that we agreed were perfect for his … Read More

November’s birthstone is topaz, which is best known for its golden brown to yellow color (although it does come in other colors). I think it is a beautiful color for fall. The name topaz comes from the Sanskrit word for fire. The Egyptians believed that it was colored with the golden glow of the sun god Ra, and the ancient … Read More

Wanted to share these two wedding band projects. They are very different, but both were a lot of fun to work on. And, of course, it’s always fun to be involved in someone’s love story! These hand carved wedding rings are made from 14k yellow gold and sterling silver.   This is a 14K white gold wedding set. The gent’s ring is … Read More

I love adding stones to my pieces to add a splash of color. We’re lucky that in Maine, we have access to large stores of tourmaline. In fact, tourmaline is Maine’s official state gemstone. Mt. Mica in Paris is famous the world over for tourmaline, but there are several mines across the state, including Mount Apatite in Auburn. Emmons Quarry in Greenwood, Bennett Quarry in … Read More

As most of you know, I am committed to being environmentally friendly and using ethically sourced materials. For all of my work, I use recycled precious metals and Fair Trade gemstones. Another way I stay environmentally friendly is by working with clients bringing new life to old jewelry. Here’s how Bringing New Life to Old Jewelry works: Many people find … Read More

  According to the Farmer’s Almanac, The July birthstone, the ruby, was regarded by ancient Hindus as the “king of gems” and symbolizes love, passion, energy and success. Here are some more fun legends about rubies: If you own a ruby, you will live in harmony with all people and be protected from danger (how awesome is that!?). If you dream of a ruby, … Read More

Hope you can make it to COLLECT: MECA’s annual summer art sale and fundraiser. I’m happy to have five pieces in the show, and I’m thrilled to be featured in this month’s MECA newsletter! I hope you’ll make time in your busy summer  schedule to support aspiring artists at MECA.   The event, June 29 – July 1, is a three-day, salon-style show and … Read More

  Did you know that you can avoid tarnish by wearing your jewelry often? The oils in your skin “clean” the silver and keep it looking shiny. Of course, I’m a big fan of this option, but if your silver needs a little touch up, start with a non-abrasive silver cloth to polish your items (paper towels or facial tissues … Read More

As far back as 6,000 years ago when they were used for religious amulets in India, diamonds have been treasured as precious stones. As a result, approximately 4.5 billion carats of diamonds have been extracted from the ground since large scale mining efforts began in South Africa in the 1870s. This means many millions of diamonds are part of the … Read More

  Ever heard of palladium? It is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal that is a member of a group of metals called “Noble Metals.” It earned that distinction, because it can withstand corrosion and oxidation. It is also hypoallergenic, will not tarnish, and is extremely durable. Most important, it is crazy shiny and makes a piece of jewelry really stand … Read More

Happy Spring!! Anyone who follows my work knows that I am inspired by the natural world. Since spring is here, I want to share my recent homage to Mother Nature: the Birch Bark series. The texture is a direct translation of the bark of a birch tree, and this subtle design allows for a lot of variations. For example, changing … Read More

Need a fresh start? Find some cherry blossoms to see and smell. In much of Japan, flowering cherry trees come into full bloom around the beginning of April, so it is considered a time of new beginnings. For example, April is the month when the new school year starts, when companies start their new business years, and when many new graduates … Read More

Almost all my custom projects start with Custom Jewelry Sketches (yes, I still love to use pencil and paper). Using the information provided by each client, I create hand drawings of a minimum of 3 different concepts. Once the design is approved and finalized, I can outline project details and begin production! Below are some samples. Check them out and … Read More