A New Woodland Treasure is Taking Root 🌿

Woodland Weave Collection – Inspired by the Forest | Dawn Vertrees Jewelry

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From Wax to Woodland Beauty: A New Ring is Taking Shape

Every creation begins with a visual in my mind. Once I can see it, I begin laying out the pieces. One by one, the vision becomes reality.

What you're seeing here is the beginning of my newest nature-inspired design.

These three wax views represent the foundation of the ring before it is transformed into precious metal. At this stage, every branch, every curve, and every bit of texture is carved by hand. This is where the personality of the piece is created.

Soon, this design will be cast in sterling silver, where those tiny details will come to life. An optional oxidized finish will gently darken the recessed areas, highlighting the bark-like texture and giving the branches added depth and character while allowing the raised surfaces to shine.

At the center of the design will be a 10 × 8 mm oval Moss Agate cabochon—a gemstone that reminds me of a quiet forest floor, with natural patterns that look like tiny landscapes captured within the stone. No two Moss Agates are ever exactly alike, making each ring truly one of a kind.

Creating depth, just as nature intended.
Every branch was hand sculpted in wax before becoming a sterling silver ring inspired by the forest.

Every cut creates another layer of depth. The hand-carving process gives each branch the natural character that will later be revealed in sterling silver with an optional oxidized finish.

From above, the flowing branches gently embrace the moss agate, allowing the natural beauty of the stone to remain the centerpiece of the design.

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I love sharing this part of the process because it allows you to watch a piece evolve from an idea into wearable art. Before the silver is poured, before the stone is set, and before the final polish, there is simply a vision... and a piece of wax waiting to become something beautiful.

The next time you see this ring, it will have completed its transformation into sterling silver, ready to cradle its Moss Agate centerpiece.

I can't wait to share the finished piece with you.

When a Twig Becomes a Ring | From Wax Model to Sterling Silver Part 2

Every jewelry design begins with a vision, but the real magic happens when wax is transformed into precious metal. This updated wax model reveals how the branches naturally divide, rise, and gently cradle the gemstone before becoming a sterling silver ring.

Creating nature-inspired jewelry isn't about forcing a design—it's about allowing nature to guide the process.

As I refined this wax model, the trunk became more defined before dividing into two graceful branches. That simple change gave the ring exactly what I wanted: the feeling that the gemstone had been discovered growing within a living tree rather than being held by traditional prongs.

The branches aren't identical because nature isn't symmetrical. Each one follows its own path, twisting and growing as though shaped by years of wind, rain, and sunlight. Together they gently lift the Moss Agate, allowing the stone to become the focal point while the branches quietly support it.

Once the design is complete in soft wax, it will be cast in sterling silver, preserving every carved groove and every organic texture. A medium oxidation will deepen the bark-like details, creating contrast that makes the ring appear as though it has grown naturally over time.

This stage of the journey is one of my favorites because it captures the transition between imagination and reality. The wax is temporary, but the design it holds will soon become a lasting piece of jewelry meant to be worn, treasured, and eventually passed on.

Nature has always been my greatest designer.

I simply listen.

Jewelry that feels like it grew, not made.

— Dawn Vertrees Jewelry

 

Nature Designs the Prongs

A New Sterling Silver Ring Coming Soon

Sometimes, before a piece is cast in precious metal, I like to take a glimpse into the future.

The image you're seeing isn't the finished ring—it's an AI rendering created directly from my original hand-carved wax model. It allows me, and all of you, to see what the design will look like once it's cast in sterling silver.

For me, this is one of the most exciting parts of the creative process.

As I sculpted the wax, I watched a simple twig transform into a living tree. The trunk rises naturally from the band before dividing into two graceful branches. Instead of using traditional prongs, those branches become the setting itself, gently lifting and presenting the Moss Agate as though it had grown there naturally.

This is exactly how I imagine nature would design a ring.

The sterling silver version shown here is my vision of the finished piece—a preview of what's to come while the original wax model begins its journey through the casting process.

In approximately 3 to 4 weeks, this design will become a real sterling silver ring, handcrafted from the original wax sculpture shown above.

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

 

The Twig Weave: Growth Held by Nature

 

Twig Weave Pendant featuring a Moss Agate gemstone,
handcrafted in the lost-wax method by DV Jewelry Designs.

In the quiet places of the forest, where branches curve toward one another and light filters through green canopy, there’s a kind of harmony that feels ancient and protective. That harmony is what inspired the Twig Weave pendant — a design shaped by the intertwining strength of living branches and the grounded calm of natural stone.

This piece isn’t just jewelry. It’s a symbol of growth, protection, and connection to the natural world.

🍃 The Meaning of the Twig Weave

Growth

Twigs are the newest parts of a tree — fresh, flexible, and full of potential. They represent new beginnings, creativity, and the courage to keep reaching upward.

Protection

The woven structure encircles the stone like a natural cradle, symbolizing support, safety, and the unseen forces that guide us.

Connection

Interwoven branches remind us that nothing flourishes alone. We grow because of the structures, relationships, and roots surrounding us.

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Together, these meanings make Twig Weave a talisman for anyone in a season of change, self-discovery, or renewal.

 

🌿 Stone Spotlight: Moss Agate

The centerpiece of this version of the pendant is Moss Agate, a gemstone known for:

grounding and stabilizing energy

emotional balance and calm

deepening one’s connection to nature

encouraging steady growth

Its green, moss-like inclusions feel like a forest preserved in stone — the perfect complement to the twig-like frame.

🌾 Handcrafted With Intent

Each Twig Weave pendant is shaped by hand, meaning no two are identical. The slight variations mimic nature itself — organic, imperfect, and deeply alive.

The metalwork carries a textured, bark-like feel, while the stone sits securely at the center, embraced by the woven form.

🌲 Designed for the Nature-Connected Soul

This piece is perfect for:

lovers of the forest

gardeners and nature wanderers

those seeking new beginnings

anyone who wants a symbolic piece of jewelry with real meaning

Whether worn as a daily grounding piece or a special talisman, the Twig Weave holds the energy of growth and the comfort of protection.

🍃 A Glimpse Into the Forest Collection

The Twig Weave is part of a growing series inspired by woodland forms, natural textures, and the quiet strength of living landscapes.

Each piece carries its own story, its own symbolism, and its own connection to the forest.

More designs will be coming soon — all woven from the same source of inspiration: nature itself.