Nature’s Blueprint: Sculpting the Larimar Ring Through the Storm

Original hand-drawn blueprint for the custom
Larimar ring, featuring the signature "DV" initials and climbing vine motif.

The Journey of a Custom Design

Every piece I create begins long before I touch the wax. It starts with a conversation. I believe that jewelry should be as unique as the person wearing it, so we begin by discussing your vision—the flow, the textures, and the story you want the piece to tell.

Phase 1: The Design

Once we have the design figured out through our collaboration, the "blueprint" is set. Because I work as an artist rather than a traditional jeweler, I’m looking for a design that feels alive and organic, moving away from mass-produced looks and rigid prongs.

Phase 2: Selecting the Soul

With the design finalized, we move on to finding the right gemstone. This is one of my favorite parts to share with a client. For a recent custom Larimar ring, I presented these three options:

• Stone A, B, and C 

By seeing the stones side-by-side on a clean palette, you can see the different "landscapes" within the Larimar. Whether you prefer a soft, misty blue or a deep, tidal pattern, this choice ensures the heart of the ring is exactly what you  envisioned.

Establishing the "Riverbend" texture on the purple wax base using a constant-heat tool set at 450°.

The Foundation of the Bezel

The Vision Takes Shape

Every project begins with a conversation and a choice. For this particular adventure, my client chose "Option B": a stunning 6.2mm Larimar cabochon. 

With the stone selected, I moved into the most critical phase—creating the base ring and the bezel that will eventually secure this treasure.

A look at the scale of the first hand-carved signature leaf against the
6.2mm Larimar setting.

Sculpting with Heat

Using my constant-heat tool set to 450°, I began the meticulous process of shaping the purple wax on the mandrel. This isn't just a standard setting; it’s a hand-sculpted bezel to hold the Larimar gemstone. 

You can see in the latest studio shots how the heat tool allows for pinpoint accuracy as I build up the "Riverbend" texture around the stone's seat. This high-temperature stability is what allows me to create such delicate, bark-like ridges that remain structurally sound for the final casting.

The Blueprint of Nature 

As I work, I keep my original sketch close by. It serves as my map, reminding me where the signature leaves will sprout and how the vines will eventually climb to meet the bezel. Even at this early stage, the ring is no longer just wax—it's the beginning of a wearable forest.

Refining the winding vines as they climb from the textured band toward the Larimar bezel.

Final Phase: Prepping for the Caster

Now that the base, the bezel, and the intricate vine-work are nearing completion, the final step of the carving process is the official "DV" signature. Once that is carved into the wax, I will begin the prep work to send the model to my master jeweler for casting.

This preparation is vital to ensure that every organic detail—from the 450° heat-textured bark to the veins in the leaves—is captured perfectly when the purple wax is transformed into solid gold.

To be continued...

Nature's Embrace: The Twig Weave Collection

Additional pictures and prices

Hand-sculpted sterling silver Twig Weave Earrings inspired by organic forms,
natural textures, and flowing woodland design.

Introducing the Twig Weave Collection

Twig Weave Earrings – Hand Sculpted in Sterling Silver

These Twig Weave Earrings were born from the quiet rhythm of nature — the way branches cross, bend, and grow together without force or symmetry. Hand sculpted one line at a time, each curve follows an intuitive path, just as vines weave through the forest understory.

The design balances strength and delicacy: slender sterling silver twigs intertwine in an open, airy weave that feels light on the ear while still carrying presence. Subtle organic texture captures the raw beauty of bark and branch, allowing light to move gently across the surface as the earrings sway.

No two pairs are ever exactly the same. Each piece reflects the moment it was created, carrying the emotion, movement, and intention of the process. These earrings are meant to be felt — a quiet connection to growth, grounding, and the natural world.

Perfect for everyday wear or as a meaningful statement, the Twig Weave Earrings are for those who are drawn to nature-inspired jewelry that feels alive, personal, and deeply rooted in craftsmanship.

Hand sculpted • Cast in sterling silver • Nature-inspired, one-of-a-kind design.

​Height: 37mm, approx 1.46" inches

​Width: 11mm, approx 0.43" inches

​So, the dimensions are approximately 1.46" x 0.43" each.

New matching Twig Weave Pendant
available in 2 weeks.

Polished Sterling Silver with a light oxidation.

Hand-sculpted sterling silver Twig Weave Earrings inspired by organic forms, natural textures, and flowing woodland design.

Polished Sterling Silver.

Twig Weave Earrings — hand-sculpted in sterling silver, inspired by nature’s quiet rhythm and the beauty of organic growth.

 

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.

🍃

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.