The Dogwood Serenade

Dogwood Wax Model

Dogwood Necklace
Cast in Sterling Silver

When words failed, the North Carolina Dogwood spoke for me. This intricate wax design from January 2008 is a perfect example of my visual language.

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 This photo captures the very essence of my passion: the raw wax carving for the North Carolina Dogwood flower, created back in January 2008. This delicate shaping process is my true language.

Unlike the clamor of the hammer, the quiet, meticulous work of lost wax sculpting allowed my hands to perfectly translate the gentle curve of each petal and the smooth texture of the berries. It is a piece born directly from the peace and quiet poetry of the foothills.

Over a thousand wax designs have flowed from my fingers over twenty years, but this Dogwood remains a cherished sentence in my visual diary—a constant reminder of the gift I was given in the woods.

Which natural beauty from your childhood holds the deepest memory?

 — Dawn, Sculpting Stories Since 2004.

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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.

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.

Gemstone Rings — From Hand-Carved Wax to Cast Metal

 🌿 The Art Behind My Gemstone Rings

Every gemstone ring I create begins in wax. I carve each detail by hand — the branches, the textures, the curves — building the design one small stroke at a time. This is where the ring’s personality is born.

Below are two versions of the same ring design, showing how a simple wax base can grow into a sculptural, nature-inspired piece of jewelry.

Wax Model & Finished Ring — Green Amethyst Leaf-Twig Ring

This design began as a hand-carved wax model, created to cradle a beautiful green amethyst in two organic leaf-shaped prongs. Every groove, vein, and curve was sculpted by hand to capture the natural movement of leaves wrapping gently around the stone.

The final ring is cast in solid sterling silver and finished with a rich oxidized patina, enhancing the depth of the twig texture and bringing out all the fine organic details.

A true nature-inspired sculptural piece — from raw wax to wearable art.

From Wax to Wonder: Carving the Foundation of a Tree-Inspired Ring

 

In this stage, nothing is polished, nothing is shiny, and nothing is “perfect.”

But the character of the piece is already alive.

This design features tree-trunk prongs that grow upward to cradle a natural gemstone. All of the bark texture you see is carved by hand. No molds. No templates. Just wax, tools, and time.

The stone sits in place during carving — something that surprises many people. It helps me shape the prongs around it exactly as the stone wants to be held. Every raw diamond or gemstone has its own personality, and my goal is to create a setting that supports it naturally, almost like growing a branch around it.

Once the carving is finished, this wax model will be cast in metal through the lost-wax process. The wax is melted away forever, leaving a perfect metal version of the sculpture you see here.

This is where the magic begins.

Thank you for following along with my process

Sharing these behind-the-scenes steps helps me stay connected to why I love creating — because every piece begins with an idea, a block of wax, and the desire to bring nature into wearable form.

If you’d like to see more of my work or upcoming designs, you can visit my shops:

🌿  Shopify

🌿  Etsy

Where a New Piece Begins

It's usually right here...

It could be just staring at my mandrel visualizing what's in my head or sitting in my living room with a cup of coffee and a sketchpad.

Update:
I’ve started a new Studio Story series about how this design grows from sketch to wax to final piece. You can read the first chapter here.

Dawn Vertrees Raw Uncut Rough Engagement Wedding Rings: "Moss Agate & Oxidized Silver: The Twig Pendant That Captures Spring’s First Breath"

When I start a new piece, it never feels like I’m making something.

It feels like something is growing in my hands.

I work in soft jeweler’s wax — that deep blue-purple wax that gives just enough resistance to feel alive. When my tools touch it, the curves don’t feel carved… they feel grown. Roots begin to twist. A branch finds its direction. A leaf decides where it wants to live.

And if I’m holding a stone, the wax grows differently.

I don’t usually design a setting.

I let the twigs and leaves grow toward the stone, around it, sometimes lifting it.

As if the stone is a gift the piece is offering — a tiny present for whoever will wear it.

That moment — when the wax stops being wax and starts being alive — that’s the part I love the most. It’s where everything begins.

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This blog isn’t going to be a tutorial.

It’s simply a look inside my studio: the sketches, the wax shavings, the experiments, the little frustrations, the surprises, the tools I return to again and again.

I’m dyslexic, so I speak best through my hands, my sketches, and my photos.

Think of this space as my visual journal — a trail of moments from the bench.

Welcome to my studio.

Let’s grow something together.

Oval Moissanite Twig Engagement Ring – Nature-Inspired Branch & Leaf Design

 

Moissanite Engagement Ring

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Highlights

Ships from North Carolina! Shorter shipping distances are kinder to the planet

Materials: Gold, Rose gold, Sterling silver, White gold, Yellow gold.

Sterling Silver Engagement Ring

Sustainable features: recycled metal. Items may include additional materials or use methods that aren't considered sustainable features on our site. Learn more

Style: Gothic

Recycled

Made to Order

Embrace the beauty of the wild with this enchanting oval moissanite twig engagement ring, where delicate branches and intricately carved leaves cradle a sparkling 6x8mm oval-cut moissanite diamond (shown). Handcrafted with organic texture and flowing vines, this nature-inspired piece evokes the timeless romance of a forest fairy tale—perfect for the bride who dreams in whispers of woodland magic.

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Key Features:

Center Stone: 6x8mm oval moissanite (colorless, VVS clarity, ethically sourced and twice the fire of a diamond)

Band Design: Twig branch shank with detailed leaf accents and subtle bark texture

Metal Options:

Sterling Silver - with light oxidation

14k or 18k Rose Gold

14k or 18k White Gold

14k or 18k Yellow Gold

Customization: Other gemstones available (sapphire, morganite, aquamarine, etc.)—message us for options!

Additional Pictures & Prices

Each ring is made to order in your exact size, ensuring a flawless fit. Moissanite’s superior brilliance and durability (9.25 on the Mohs scale) make it an eco-conscious, conflict-free alternative to mined diamonds. Whether in warm rose gold that glows like sunset on bark or crisp white gold that mirrors moonlight on leaves, this ring is a wearable love letter to the earth.

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

Hand-Sculpted Rose Ring with Pink Sapphire by Dawn Vertrees

Additional Pictures and Prices

Every petal on this ring was born in fire. Using the centuries-old lost-wax method, I sculpt a real rosebud in wax, layer by delicate layer, until the bloom feels alive on your finger. Then the wax vanishes in the kiln, replaced by molten metal that captures every curl, every vein, every whisper of nature.

Choose Your Metal, Choose Your Mood

• Sterling Silver – crisp, cool, everyday poetry

• 14K White Gold – sleek modern romance

• 14K Yellow Gold – warm sunshine on petals

• 14K Rose Gold – the original “Rosegold bloom” glow

• 18K White, Yellow & Rose Gold – ultimate luxury upgrade

Rosegold Bloom Edition – because love should blush.

The Heart of the Rose: Pink Sapphire

A single natural pink sapphire (approx. 4 mm, ~0.35 ct) nestles in the center like morning dew. Its delicate blush mirrors the rose itself—symbol of passion, tenderness, and promises that last.

Details at a Glance

Ring Width (band): 3.5 mm

Rose Head Diameter: ~12.5 mm

Rose and Stone Height: 7.72

Stone: Natural pink Sapphire

Finish: High-polish with oxidized petal shadows

made for you.

Links to purchase are coming soon.

 

Nature-Inspired Diamond Pendant Necklace by Dawn Vertrees

This stunning pendant features a teardrop-shaped rough diamond, cradled delicately in a rose gold twig-inspired setting that mimics the natural elegance of a tree branch. The organic design, with its intricate twists and curves, highlights the diamond's raw beauty, allowing light to dance through its facets. 

Additional Pictures

14k Gold (White, Yellow & Gold)

Rough Diamond: 3.20ct

Pendant Overall Hight: Approx. 20mm

Pendant Overall Width: 7.8mm

My hand Sculpted models from wax are cast in solid gold and created to compliment my One-of-a-kind Creations.

14k Rose Gold, one of a kind king hand created by Dawn

Additional Pictures and prices.