Here's a bird's eye view of my process making my batch of Handmedals. These will be textured with a hammer and then they go into the tumbler!

Here in the Southwest we are all familiar with this hand Milagro. It is a symbol of healing, compassion and protection in so many cultures - from the Middle East to Spain and eventually to the Americas. I keep this close above my workbench.

After having heard so much about Germany’s “Golden City”, I decided during a recent trip to Europe to visit the much acclaimed Pforzheim Jewelry Museum (Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim im Reuchlinhaus.) My visit did not disappoint! The displays reveal the immense diversity of jewelry design and metal-smithing over five thousand years! This well-curated collection is a definite must see for all jewelry–lovers, be they historians, designers, manufacturers, collectors, or just plain consumers. . .

I recently gave a two hour lecture on "ANCIENT JEWELRY - A VISUAL JOURNEY of ADORNMENT" sponsored by RENESAN - Institute for Lifelong Learning in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  I have several other powerpoint presentations available for groups on "The Lure and Lore of Gemstones" as well as "Gemstone ID: What you should know when buying jewelry".  Contact:  info@bhwydesigns.com   

A NEW YEAR + NEW NMJA BOARD! I have been elected to the 2015 New Mexico Jewelers Association Board of Directors and looking forward to a great New Year working together with such wonderful colleagues. 

The Association also has a wonderful new website! Check out all the fabulous jewelers and designers in the area! In 2014, my company bhwydesigns llc was featured as one of the new up-and-coming jewelry designers in New Mexico.