Where Vines Hold Light — Forest Design Collection

It started with a feeling I couldn’t ignore.

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A deep blue sapphire lifted by flowing vine-like gold
—where nature’s movement meets quiet strength.

The first image captures that moment when everything begins to settle into place—soft movement, natural curves, and a stone that feels alive within the design. The rose gold carries warmth, while the sapphire draws you inward, like something discovered rather than set.

A closer look at the flow
—each vine wraps with intention,
lifting the sapphire as if grown into place.

As you move to the next, the perspective shifts. The structure reveals itself more clearly—the way each vine wraps, not to confine, but to support. There’s intention in every line, yet nothing feels forced. It grows the way nature does—quietly, organically.

The same form, reimagined in light
—where a diamond is lifted and offered within flowing gold.

Then the story changes slightly.

A diamond takes the place of color, and suddenly the design speaks in light instead of depth. The form remains the same, but the emotion shifts—cleaner, brighter, yet still grounded in that same flowing structure.

In white gold, the movement sharpens
—cool tones revealing every ridge, every shadow,
every line that carries the stone forward.

In white gold, the piece becomes something else again. Cooler, more refined, the textures stand out differently. The contrast between light and shadow deepens, and the organic lines feel almost sculptural.

The full expression—two rings grown from the same form,
flowing together as one continuous movement, lifting the stone in quiet harmony.

And finally, the full composition.

The wedding set brings everything together. The curves extend, the movement continues, and the design feels complete—not as a single piece, but as something that belongs together. Each ring flows into the next, like branches from the same root.

This collection was never about holding a stone in place.

It was about lifting it.

💙

Letting it exist within something that feels grown, not made—so that when it’s worn, it carries more than beauty.

It carries feeling.

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The Beginning of the Oakwood Twig Collection

Oakwood Twig Collection — where growth becomes form.

Oakwood Twig Collection

Inspired by Growth. Made with Meaning.

There are moments in the creative process where everything begins to align—where an idea stops being a thought and starts becoming something real.

This is one of those moments.

The oak leaf—strength,
structure, and naturally guided form.

At the center of this collection is the first ring.

This is where it begins.

I will be starting this piece in wax, shaping it by hand—allowing the form to develop the same way branches do: not forced, but guided. The stone is not simply set; it is lifted and offered, held by the structure like a gift formed by the earth itself.

This is the foundation piece. Everything else grows from here.

---

The acorn—small, grounded, and full of potential.
Where growth begins.

Nature doesn’t rush, and it doesn’t repeat itself perfectly—and that’s the point.

The oak leaf carries strength and identity. The acorn represents beginnings—small, grounded, and full of potential. Together, they tell a story of growth, endurance, and quiet power.

That story is what this collection is built on.

🤎

The first ring now begins in wax—
where each curve will be shaped by hand,
guided by the same natural movement that inspired it.

 

Forest Forms: Mushroom Earrings in Motion

Grown from quiet places—where the forest holds its breath and life begins again.

 

These earrings were not designed—they were grown.

Each curve follows the quiet logic of the forest, where vines twist without force and mushrooms emerge in their own time. The branches wrap and reach as if guided by something unseen, holding small mushroom forms that feel discovered rather than placed.

There is a softness in their movement, a natural rhythm that resists symmetry and embraces life. No two lines feel rigid—everything flows, like growth finding its way through light and shadow.

Rooted in nature, refined by hand—where wild growth meets quiet elegance.

When worn, they don’t just decorate—they carry a feeling. A memory of walking through woods after rain. The stillness. The quiet presence of something ancient and alive.

Every line, every texture—shaped to feel like it grew this way.

This is what I felt while creating them.

And now, they carry that feeling forward.

“Roots & Origins” Collection: When a Tree Helped Me Finish a Ring

The first vision of the design — branches lifting the diamond as if offering it to the light.

In my previous post I shared the beginning of this ring design and the early stages of the wax sculpture.

But like many handmade pieces, there comes a moment when the design pauses. The diamond and the branches that would lift it were already forming, but when I reached the base of the ring, I couldn’t clearly see how it wanted to grow.

So I stepped away from the bench and went outside.

In the yard is a small Japanese maple tree. As I looked closely at the trunk and the way the branches move and divide, the answer suddenly appeared.

The twisting trunk showed me the movement for the base of the ring.
The branches showed me how the structure could naturally rise and support the stone.

Nature had already solved the problem.

Years ago when I lived in Florida, banyan trees first inspired my Leaf & Twig designs. Their roots and branches showed me how nature supports life and weight without forcing it.

This time, a Japanese maple helped finish the idea.

Sometimes the best design teacher is simply looking at the world around us.

The ring begins to take shape in wax, where twisting limbs grow upward to cradle the stone.

 

The Japanese maple that revealed the movement and structure for the base of the ring.

Held by the Twig Weave

 

Twig Weave rough diamond ring and pendant in sterling silver — organically formed twigs cradling ethically sourced Canadian rough diamonds.

Twig Weave is a continuation of that story.

Each piece cradles a natural, ethically sourced rough diamond from the Canadian mines — untouched, unpolished, and radiant in its raw truth. The ring holds an approximate 1.8ct rough diamond, while the pendant carries approximately 1.6ct. No two stones are ever alike. Each one forms its own presence within the weave.

The twigs are not prongs.

They are protectors.

They wrap and rise as though they have grown around something precious, holding the diamond in place the way nature would — gently, intentionally, organically.

The necklace has become one of our most loved designs in Sterling Silver and Gold. The ring is a new addition to the Twig Weave story, available in Sterling Silver and 14k Gold, made to order and crafted in your exact size.

These are one-of-a-kind pieces.

Raw. Rooted. Alive.

If one speaks to you, let it find you.

Shop Twig Weave Ring

Shop Twig Pendant

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.