When Driftwood Becomes Jewelry 🌿❤️

The finished Driftwood Pendant — sculpted in wax, transformed into 14k Rose Gold, and finished with deep oxidation to reveal the organic texture and movement of the design.

When Driftwood Becomes Jewelry

There are times when I sit down with a piece of wax and I don't really know what I'm going to make.

I just start looking.

I look at the shape. I turn it over in my hands. I follow a line with my eyes and wonder where it wants to go. Sometimes the piece tells me what it wants to become long before I have a name for it.

That is how this pendant began.

I wanted to capture something I have always loved about driftwood—the way nature can take something as ordinary as a piece of wood and transform it into something extraordinary.

Driftwood isn't perfect.

It is weathered. It has been shaped by water, wind, time and movement. Its surface carries the evidence of everything it has been through.

That is what I wanted this pendant to feel like.

Not a picture of a piece of wood.

But the spirit of driftwood.

Before it became gold, it was simply a piece of blue wax in my hand — sculpted line by line until the form finally felt right.

♥

It Started in Wax...

Working in soft wax gives me the freedom to sculpt the way I see.

I don't begin with a perfectly symmetrical drawing and then try to make the jewelry match it. I follow the movement of the material.

One line becomes another. A branch curves. A space opens. A little bit of wax disappears and suddenly the whole piece breathes differently.

I love those openings.

They are just as important as the metal that remains.

The negative space allows light to travel through the pendant and creates the deep shadows that make the piece feel almost alive.

And, as often happens with my work, I changed it.

The first version wasn't quite where I wanted it to be. I went back into the wax and revised the form, allowing the lines to become more fluid and the lower portion of the pendant to have more movement.

Sometimes the smallest change is what finally makes a piece feel right.

From Wax to Metal

Once the wax is finished, the piece begins another life.

This version is envisioned in 14k Rose Gold, with oxidation worked into the deeper recesses.

That contrast is important to me.

I don't want every surface of my jewelry to shout, Look at me, I'm gold.

I want the light to find the raised areas while the darker oxidized recesses settle into the background.

Just like the cracks and shadows in a piece of weathered wood.

The result is warm, dimensional and organic.

It still looks like something that might have been found along the edge of a river or tucked beneath an old tree.

Only now, it has become jewelry.

The Beauty Is in the Imperfection

I think that is what keeps drawing me back to nature.

Nothing is perfectly symmetrical.

Nothing repeats itself exactly.

A branch doesn't stop and ask whether its next curve makes sense. It simply grows.

That is what I try to capture when I sculpt.

I want the finished piece to feel as though it grew rather than was constructed.

This Driftwood Pendant is one of those pieces where the metal almost disappears as metal.

You see the movement first.

You see the texture.

You see the spaces.

And then you realize that what you're looking at is gold.

A Little Piece of the Forest

I have spent much of my jewelry-making life looking at leaves, twigs, roots, vines, bark and the little details most people walk right past.

I don't see just a piece of wood.

I see a line.

A curve.

A place where light falls.

A shape that might become something completely different in my hands.

That is the magic of creating jewelry this way.

I don't have to reproduce nature.

I get to interpret it.

And sometimes, a little piece of driftwood becomes a pendant.

❤️

Designed and sculpted by Dawn Vertrees.

The Back Matters: Because Art Flips

THE FRONT

Cleaned up and carrying the texture, flow, and movement of the design.

THE BACK

Before cleanup — waiting for the same attention it takes to make the front beautiful.

The Back Matters: Because Art Flips

A picture says a thousand words.
Sometimes, though, a picture makes you stop and ask a question.
As I was working on this new wax pendant, I had already spent a great deal of time sculpting the front. The flowing lines, texture, movement, and organic shape were beginning to feel right.
Then I turned it over.
Holy moly, that's ugly. 😂
Not because the pendant was wrong. The back simply hadn't received the attention the front had yet.
And that's when I started thinking about something I've understood for a very long time:
Art flips.
For more than 20 years, I've finished the backs of my pendants.
Why?
Because jewelry moves.
It twists.
It turns.
It shifts when you wear it.
At some point, the back is going to become the front.
And when that happens, I don't want someone wearing one of my pieces to see a flat piece of metal with a logo simply because that's traditionally what we do.
I want them to see art.

The Front...

The front of this pendant has already been cleaned up and refined.
The texture flows through the piece, creating movement rather than a perfectly predictable pattern. The raised areas catch the light, while the deeper grooves create shadow and dimension.
It's meant to feel organic.
It's meant to look as though the material itself created the movement.
This is the part most people will see first.
But it isn't the only part I care about.

The Back...

This photograph shows the back before I gave it the attention it needed.
It's rough.
It's unfinished.
And compared to the front, well...

Holy moly. 😂

But underneath that unfinished surface is the beginning of another piece of art.
The back doesn't need to be an exact copy of the front.
In fact, I don't want it to be.
It needs to have its own art.
It needs its own texture, movement, and character while still feeling like it belongs to the same piece.
Because if the pendant flips around, I don't want the story to stop.
I want it to tell another story.

Nature Doesn't Have a "Front" and "Back"

That's one of the things I love about working from nature.
A piece of driftwood doesn't have a side that nature decided was the beautiful side.
Every surface has something to say.
There are ridges, cracks, grain, weathering, and places where the wood has changed over time.
The texture continues around the piece because nature doesn't stop creating simply because we've turned something over.
That's what I try to translate into my jewelry.
I'm not trying to make the front beautiful and simply make the back functional.
I'm trying to make the entire piece feel alive.

My Studio Buddy, Bogey — A Saturday Morning in the Studio

My studio buddy, Bogey. He may technically be my son's dog, but somewhere along the way, this 87-pound Old English Bulldog became part of my creative life. ❤️🐾

My Studio Buddy, Bogey

Saturday Morning in the Studio

Saturday mornings have a way of slowing things down.

The coffee is still hot, the studio is quiet, and before I get too far into the day, I sometimes find myself looking around at this little creative space I've built and thinking about how life gets us where we are.

And these days, I have a studio buddy.

His name is Bogey. ⛳🐾

Technically, he's my son's dog.

But when my son travels, I take care of his home and Bogey. Since my studio is here too, Bogey has become a pretty regular part of my creative life.

And somewhere along the way, I've kind of adopted him.

Bogey is an Old English Bulldog, weighs a very respectable 87 pounds, and according to Brad, his birthday is around September 10th, so Bogey is almost 1 year old.

I recently had to ask Brad exactly what kind of bulldog he was because, honestly, I couldn't remember.

The conversation went something like this:

“I'm pretty sure he's a Traditional English Bulldog.”

“Old English Bulldog.”

“Lol... Old.”

“Different.”

😂

Pieces of History, Inspiration for Today: The Driftwood Band

 

Pieces of History. Inspiration for Today.

The Driftwood Band is more than a piece of jewelry—it carries the character of the natural world that inspired it. After more than 20 years of working with organic forms, I still find that nature leaves the best fingerprints.

I've Been Making Men's Jewelry for 20 Years… Maybe It's Time to Pay Attention

I've been thinking.

That's usually when something interesting starts happening around here.

For more than 20 years, I've been carving jewelry inspired by the natural world. Leaves, branches, roots, vines, driftwood, coral—I've always been drawn to forms that look as though they grew instead of being designed.

And for just as long, I've been making pieces that men wear.

I've never really called it a men's collection.

I simply made what I wanted to make.

But lately, I'm beginning to wonder if I've been overlooking something that's been right in front of me all along.

The Driftwood Band

One of my long-time selling rings began with a real piece of driftwood.

Not a photograph.

Not a computer-generated texture.

Actual wood.

I studied the way it moved, the openings, the grain, the irregular shapes and the strength in something that had been weathered by nature.

Then I took that feeling into my wax.

The result became a ring that has continued to sell for years.

And it just sold again—in gold.

Interestingly, the most recent gold ring was purchased by a woman for her fiancé.

That made me smile.

Because maybe the customer isn't always looking for "men's jewelry."

Sometimes she's simply looking for something that feels like him.

And sometimes a man sees the organic ring his partner is wearing and says, "I like that. Do you have something that goes with hers?"

I love that idea.

Not matching rings.

Rings that belong together.

So I'm Paying Attention

I'm not interested in suddenly creating a huge men's jewelry department.

That's not how I work.

I'm thinking about a small group of pieces.

A few rings.

A pendant.

And perhaps a cuff.

(And if you've followed my work for any length of time, you know I'm no stranger to cuffs.)

My Ocean World cuffs were carried in Wyland Galleries for years, so creating a substantial organic cuff isn't new territory for me.

What's different is where my eye is today.

After more than two decades of carving, casting, experimenting and watching people live with my jewelry, I have a much better understanding of what happens when you let nature lead the design.

I Don't Want to Make "Men's Jewelry."

I want to make Dawn Vertrees jewelry that happens to be worn by men.

That's an important distinction to me.

I don't want to take my work and make it harder, heavier or more masculine just because someone says it is for a man.

I want to keep the things that have always made my work mine:

Organic form.

Texture.

Movement.

Strength.

Imperfection.

Nature.

And then see where those ideas take me.

Maybe that becomes a small men's collection.

Maybe it becomes something couples can discover together.

Maybe a woman finds a ring for her fiancé.

Maybe a man finds something that reminds him of the outdoors, the water, the woods or a place that means something to him.

I don't know yet.

And that's actually the fun part.

I'm going to start carving.

One piece at a time.

And we'll see what grows.

After all, that's how most of my jewelry begins.

Mother & Child Whale Tail Pendant | Hand Sculpted Sterling Silver Necklace

Mother & Child Whale Tail Pendant

A Story Carried by the Sea

Some designs begin with a sketch.

Others begin with a memory.

This pendant began with the quiet moment when a mother whale gently guides her calf through the endless ocean. There is no rush, no fear—only trust, protection, and an unspoken bond that has existed for millions of years.

As I sculpted this piece in wax, I wanted it to feel alive. Not perfectly symmetrical. Not rigid. Just flowing... as though the ocean itself had shaped every curve.

Inspired by the enduring bond between a mother whale and her calf, this hand-sculpted sterling silver pendant captures the beauty, strength, and graceful movement of the ocean.

🐳

Designed for everyday wear, the Mother & Child Whale Tail Pendant rests beautifully at the neckline, making it a meaningful reminder of love, family, and the sea.

Celebrate the bond between mother and child with this hand-sculpted sterling silver whale tail pendant. Inspired by the ocean and created one curve at a time by Dawn Vertrees.

A closer look at the front of the pendant reveals the flowing lines of the mother and calf, hand sculpted to create the natural movement and organic beauty found in nature.

 

I'm a '70s Wild Child... That's Me. Hi! 🌿

A handcrafted sterling silver ring inspired by the tiny flowers that have come to symbolize remembrance, enduring love, and cherished memories.

There are two things that have shaped my life more than anything else—nature and creating with my hands.

I'm a '70s wild child. I grew up loving the outdoors, wandering through the woods, noticing the little things most people walked right past. Twisted branches. Tiny woodland flowers. New buds after a spring rain. Those moments stayed with me.

That's me. Hi!

Forget Me Not Ring in sterling silver with a soft oxidized finish. Hand sculpted to capture the delicate beauty of woodland flowers and new spring buds.

I've never wanted my jewelry to look manufactured. I want it to feel like it grew there.

The Forget Me Not Ring is one of those pieces.

Instead of drawing a flower on paper, I sculpted every flower, bud, and branch in wax by hand. Each tiny blossom was shaped individually until it looked like a small bouquet gathered from the garden.

When the master was finished, it was carefully molded so this design can live on for years to come. Creating that mold is a one-time investment, allowing each future casting to faithfully reproduce the original sculpture while every ring is still individually finished by hand.

This sterling silver version weighs 12.558 grams, giving it a substantial feel without sacrificing comfort. After casting, every ring is cleaned, detailed, oxidized (if selected), and polished to bring out the depth of the flowers and bark textures.

When I finally slipped it on my finger, I laughed and said,

"If this ring were in gold, I'd be wearing it right now because it's so freaking cool."

The Forget Me Not Ring comes to life when worn. Hand sculpted in sterling silver with a soft oxidized finish, this woodland-inspired design was created to be worn and loved every day.

🎕

That pretty much says it all.

As artists, we spend countless hours wondering if others will love a piece. Sometimes, though, you create something that makes you smile every time you look at it.

This is one of those rings.

I hope that when someone wears it, they don't just see flowers.

I hope they remember a walk through the woods...

A favorite garden...

Someone they love...

Or simply that nature has a way of reminding us to slow down and notice the beauty that's been there all along.

Nature Designs the Prongs

"Only one hour into carving, and the branches are already finding their way around the Moss Agate. Nature has a beautiful way of designing the prongs. 🌿✨"

Nature Designs the Prongs...

Sometimes the best jewelry designs don't begin with a drawing—they begin with listening to nature.

Today, only one hour into carving this new ring in blue wax, the design is already beginning to tell its own story. Rather than forcing traditional prongs around the gemstone, I allowed the branches to grow naturally, wrapping around a 10 x 8 mm oval Moss Agate cabochon as though the stone had always belonged there.

The beauty of working in wax is that every curve can evolve organically. One branch becomes two. A gentle twist becomes the beginning of a tree. Before long, the prongs disappear, replaced by something that feels alive.

There are still many hours of carving ahead before the bark texture, flowing lines, and final details emerge, but this early stage is often my favorite. It's the moment when an idea first takes root.

Sometimes, nature designs the prongs better than we ever could.

Materials

• Sterling Silver
• Oxidized Finish
• 10 × 8 mm Oval Moss Agate Cabochon
• Hand carved in wax using the lost wax casting process

 

Nature Designs the Prongs... I Simply Follow

 

Tree branches growing vertically, naturally forming twig-like prongs that inspired Dawn Vertrees' floating gemstone jewelry designs and handcrafted lost wax jewelry.

Horizontal tree branch resembling an organic gemstone setting with natural twig prongs, inspiring Dawn Vertrees' nature-inspired engagement ring designs.

Nature Designs the Prongs... I Simply Follow

When a Tree Teaches a Jeweler

There are moments when inspiration doesn't come from a jewelry store, a design book, or a sketch on paper.

Sometimes it comes from standing beneath a tree.

Recently, I found myself looking up into a canopy of branches. Most people would have seen beautiful leaves, twisting limbs, and filtered sunlight. I saw something different.

I saw prongs.

Not the manufactured, perfectly symmetrical prongs found in traditional jewelry, but something far more elegant. Nature doesn't force balance—it creates harmony. Every branch grows with purpose, supporting the next until something beautiful is lifted toward the light.

That is exactly how I have designed jewelry for years.

Nature Never Uses Four Identical Prongs

When I sculpt in soft wax, I don't begin by asking, "Where do the prongs go?"

Instead, I ask,

"How would nature hold this gemstone?"

A tree doesn't grow identical branches around a leaf. A vine doesn't wrap perfectly around a flower. Every curve has movement, every twig has a purpose, and every branch supports the life growing from it.

That philosophy has become the foundation of my jewelry.

A gemstone shouldn't look trapped.

It should look as though it has grown there.

The Floating Gemstone

One of the signatures of my designs is what I call my Floating Diamond Collection.

Rather than forcing a diamond into a traditional setting, I allow graceful twigs and branches to rise naturally beneath the stone, gently lifting it as if presenting a gift from the forest itself.

The result is light.

Air.

Movement.

The gemstone appears to float while remaining securely held by nature-inspired forms.

Nature Solves the Engineering

As I studied these branches, I realized something that made me smile.

Nature had already solved the hardest part.

Every twist and intersection creates incredible strength without looking heavy. The branches divide naturally, creating support points that are both beautiful and functional.

As a jeweler, my job isn't to improve upon nature.

My job is simply to listen.

More Than Jewelry

Every ring, pendant, and pair of earrings I create begins with observation.

A walk beneath the trees.

A winding root.

A tiny twig reaching toward the sunlight.

These quiet moments become precious metals, gemstones, and heirlooms that carry the spirit of the forest into everyday life.

When someone wears one of my designs, I hope they feel more than beauty.

I hope they feel connected to something timeless.

To growth.

To strength.

To nature itself.

Because sometimes the greatest designer has always been standing silently in the forest.

And I'm simply grateful to translate its work into jewelry.

---

❤️ Dawn Vertrees
Master Lost Wax Artist | Nature-Inspired Jewelry Designer

"Nature designs the prongs... I simply follow." 🌿💎

The Floating Diamond Bridal Set Grows: Sculpting the Companion Ring in Wax

Every bridal set begins with a vision. Today, that vision grows as the companion wedding band is sculpted by hand in wax. Designed to flow naturally around the floating diamond engagement ring, each twig is carefully shaped to look as though it grew together in nature—creating a bridal set that celebrates love, craftsmanship, and the beauty of the forest.

💚

Every collection has its quiet moments of growth. Today, I’m sharing the next chapter in the Floating Diamond Collection—the companion ring that completes the story.

Nature’s Continuing Embrace

The original Floating Diamond ring asks the eye to linger on the stone gently lifted by two sculpted leaves. This matching band (or second engagement option in the set) weaves the narrative further. Twigs flow organically around the finger while additional leaves rise to support and frame the design, creating a harmonious set that feels like it grew together.

In the wax stage shown here, you can see the hand-sculpted details: the flowing band with bark-like texture, the varied leaves that echo the engagement ring, and the way the structure cradles the diamond with lightness rather than heavy prongs.

From Wax to 14k Rose Gold

In about two weeks, this wax model will be cast in 14k rose gold. I envision a light oxidation to highlight the organic textures—the bark will catch subtle depth, while the polished leaves and diamond will shine in contrast. The warm rose tones will beautifully complement the green-to-purple hues often seen in the wax, bringing the piece fully to life.

The Full Set Vision

Worn together, the engagement ring and companion create a cohesive woodland-inspired bridal set. Each element supports the other, much like branches and leaves in nature. This design is ideal for those seeking something unique, meaningful, and free from traditional prong-heavy settings.

I’ll share casting updates, the finished metal version, and more process photos as this piece moves forward. Custom options are available—reach out if you’d like your own variation with different stones or details.

— Dawn

Introducing the Floating Diamond Collection: Where Nature Lifts Light

Introducing the Floating Diamond Collection: Where Nature Lifts Light

 

Introducing the Floating Diamond Collection

Where Nature Lifts Light

For years, I have created nature-inspired jewelry featuring twigs, leaves, vines, and gemstones sculpted entirely by hand in wax.

Many of my designs begin the same way—with a simple question.

This collection began with one:

How can a diamond appear to float between two leaves?

As the jewelry world evolves, more people are discovering the beauty of lab-grown diamonds and gemstones. I wanted to create a design that embraced this new chapter while remaining true to the artistic style that has defined my work for years.

The result is the Floating Diamond Collection.

This ring features a diamond gently lifted and supported by two sculpted leaves emerging from a natural twig band. Rather than relying on traditional prongs as the visual focus, the leaves become part of the story—offering and protecting the gemstone while creating the illusion that it is suspended between them.

Every detail began as a hand-carved wax model. The bark texture, the shape of the leaves, and the flowing lines of the band were sculpted one cut at a time, allowing the design to grow naturally rather than forcing it into perfect symmetry.

Nature rarely grows in straight lines.

A branch twists.
A leaf bends.
A vine follows its own path.

I believe jewelry should do the same.

The Floating Diamond Collection combines the beauty of nature-inspired design with the brilliance of modern gemstones, creating pieces that feel as though they have grown around the stone rather than simply holding it in place.

This photograph shows the ring resting on a jeweler's mandrel—a fitting reminder that every finished piece begins at the workbench, where an idea slowly takes shape in wax before becoming jewelry.

This is the beginning of a new collection.

And like every collection before it, it begins with a sketch, a carving tool, and a love of nature.

Welcome to the Floating Diamond Collection.  — Dawn

Floating Leaf Collection Sketch – Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring by Dawn Vertrees

 

Floating Leaf Collection
Sketch – Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring by Dawn Vertrees

For years I have created nature-inspired jewelry featuring natural diamonds, rough gemstones, twigs, leaves, and organic forms sculpted by hand in wax.

As the jewelry world evolves, I wanted to create a design specifically for those who love the beauty of lab-grown diamonds and gemstones while still appreciating artistic craftsmanship and meaningful design.

This sketch marks the beginning of a new collection.

The Floating Leaf Engagement Ring was inspired by a simple question:

How can a gemstone appear to float between two leaves?

The design features a one-carat round faceted lab-grown diamond nestled between two sculpted leaves that rise gracefully from a textured twig band. Rather than relying on traditional jewelry styling, the leaves appear to lift and present the gemstone as if it had grown there naturally.

The result is a ring that feels organic, elegant, and timeless.

While this first design showcases a round lab-grown diamond, the setting is being developed to accommodate a variety of lab-grown gemstones, including:

• Lab-Grown Diamond
• Lab-Grown Emerald
• Lab-Grown Sapphire
• Lab-Grown Ruby

Each gemstone brings its own personality to the design while maintaining the same floating leaf concept.

This ring will eventually become part of a complete wedding set. The matching wedding band will feature a simple twig design that complements the engagement ring without competing with it. Together they create a harmonious woodland-inspired bridal set rooted in nature.

As with all Dawn Vertrees Jewelry designs, every detail begins as an idea, a sketch, and a hand-sculpted wax model before becoming a finished piece of jewelry.

The Floating Leaf Collection was inspired by a simple idea: a gemstone lifted and offered by nature.

Two sculpted leaves rise from an organic twig band, cradling a faceted gemstone so it appears to float between them. The design creates a sense of lightness and wonder, inviting the question, "How is the gemstone staying there?"

Available with lab-grown diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies, each piece celebrates beauty, craftsmanship, and the organic forms found in nature.

This is the first sketch.

The collection is still growing.

💗

Maple Leaf Necklace by Dawn Vertrees

Handcrafted Leaf Pendant

Hand Crafted Long Maple Leaf Pendant

Long Maple Leaf Pendant on a long chain Hand sculpted Maple Leaf using the lost wax method. Once sculpted we cast the model in solid Sterling Silver. Materials: 92.5 Sterling Silver Chain: SS Cable Chain (Adjustable) Finish: High Polished with optional Oxidation or Polished (shiny) Overall Height including the Bail: 2.25" wide x 1.75" Wall Leaf Only Height: 2" Chain: Sterling Silver Oval Pattern 3.6mm Oxidized with lobster clasp • Varying lengths in the drop-down menu.

Dawn Vertrees Shop

Nice weight for a long chain.

Textured on front
and back of pendant.

Realistic 3-Demensional Leaf

1.5ct Radiant Cut Moissanite Diamond Twig Style Wedding or Engagement Ring by Dawn Vertrees

 

Twig Engagement Ring

Additional Information

White Gold Twig Engagement Ring

About the stone:

Moissanite: 5mm x 7mm (1ct diamond equivalent)

•VVS1 D Color

•Clarity Excellent Cut

•9.5 Mohs Hardness Rating For Guaranteed Longevity

•GRA Certificate with serial number and all information about the stone.

•GRA Warranty Card Included.

•Every stone has a Laser inscribed serial number on the girdles with the number to match the GRA certificate.

Twig Solitaire:

Recycled Conflict Free Gold available in 14k white, rose, or yellow gold; or 18k yellow or white.

Top Solitaire Width: 11.5mm

Bottom Band Width: 2.6mm

Finish: Polished and Twig Texture accents.

Sizing: US whole, half, and quarter sizes.

● Your ring will come with a ring box and small ring tote.

Yellow Gold Twig Wedding Ring

Handmade Coral Sea Fan Silver Pendant with Tiny Sea Bubbles

Sea Fan Coral Pendant with Sea Bubbles

Sea Fan Coral Pendant

Approximately 2.3" Tall

Material: Sterling Silver

Finish: Polished Silver with Oxidation.

Elevate your beach fashion with this stunning hand-carved Sea Fan Coral Pendant with Tiny Sea Bubbles

Material: Sterling Silver

Finished: Polished or Oxidized (Oxidized shown)

Pendant Height: (approx.) 2 3/8 inches or 56mm

Pendant Width: (approx.) 1 1/2 inches or 36mm

One-of-a-kind Twig Pendant

The pendant in the listing is available.

Creative Process: Each Pendant created is a hand-sculpted wax model using the lost wax process and cast in Sterling Silver.

Hand Created
Wax Model by Dawn