When a Simple Berry Tells the Story...

The first glimpse of the Leaf & Berry Twig Ring. A little red berry inspired what would become the beginning of the Berry Collection.

Front view showing the intertwined branches rising to offer the center stone, a guiding principle behind my nature-inspired jewelry designs.

Side profile highlighting the bark texture, leaf detail, and substantial branch structure that form the foundation of the design.

🌿🍒

Every design has a beginning.

Sometimes it starts with a gemstone.
Sometimes it starts with a sketch.
And sometimes it starts with something so small that most people would overlook it.

For me, it started with a simple little red dot.

That tiny berry became the spark that inspired what is now growing into the Leaf & Berry Collection.

The ring shown here represents the earliest stage of that journey. At this point, the design is only about 30% complete. Like the vines and branches that inspire my work, it will continue to grow, change, and evolve as new ideas emerge and future versions are created.

The foundation begins with intertwined twig structures that naturally weave around the finger. Small leaves emerge from the branches while tiny berries appear throughout the design, creating the feeling of a living woodland vine rather than a traditional jewelry setting.

At the center, the branches rise upward and gently offer the stone. This reflects one of the guiding principles behind my work: gemstones should feel lifted and presented by nature, not simply held in place. The stone becomes a gift offered by the branches that grew around it.

The berries may be one of the smallest details in the design, yet they carry the greatest meaning. They serve as a reminder that inspiration can come from the simplest things. A single berry became the seed from which an entire collection began to grow.

This blog will follow the development of the Leaf & Berry Twig Ring as the design progresses from wax model to finished jewelry. Future updates will document design refinements, castings, gemstone variations, finished pieces, and new additions to the Berry Collection.

Today, it begins with a single berry.

Tomorrow, we'll see where it grows.

— Dawn Vertrees

Updated Wax Model & 14k Rose Gold Visualization

"Every design goes through a period of growth. After studying the original wax model, I refined the branch tips so they embrace the diamond more naturally, strengthening the feeling that the stone is being lifted and offered by the surrounding twigs. The updated wax model allowed me to fine-tune these small details before casting."

"Seeing the design visualized in 14k rose gold revealed details that are difficult to see in colored wax. The soft oxidation settles into the bark texture while the polished berries catch the light, creating contrast and bringing the organic elements to life. Comparing the wax model to the rose gold version helps me evaluate the flow, balance, and overall emotion of the piece."

"Sometimes a simple berry tells the story. What begins as a small accent becomes part of a larger journey, guiding the eye through the design and connecting every branch, leaf, and detail to the center stone. Each refinement brings the ring closer to my vision of nature gently presenting a precious gift."

From Story to Wax

Every custom piece begins with a conversation.

My client described her vision as delicate tree branches entwined together, with the season's first snowflakes settling on sparse leaves. Because her engagement ring needed to remain delicate to fit her size 4.5 finger, we chose to carry more of the story into the matching ring holder pendant.

The pendant became a place where nature, memory, and function could come together. Twisting branches form the structure, leaves represent life and growth, and a snowflake rests within the design. Surrounding it are tiny white gold spheres, capturing the feeling of snow flurries drifting through the winter air.

These photos show the journey from the original sketch to the developing wax model, where a client's vision slowly becomes a wearable piece of art.

Every piece begins with a story.

💘

Original concept sketch showing the client's vision for a nature-inspired ring holder pendant featuring entwined branches, leaves, and a snowflake motif.

Determining the size and proportions of the ring holder pendant before carving begins.

Keeping the soft wax aligned while building the framework of the ring holder pendant.

The ring holder pendant begins to take shape as the branches, leaves, and snowflake elements are refined in wax.

A digital visualization created from the wax model to help the client imagine the finished pendant.

❅

While wax models allow me to create and refine every detail of a design, they can sometimes be difficult for clients to visualize as finished jewelry.

Using AI-assisted imaging, I can create a digital representation of how a wax model may appear when cast and polished in precious metal. This helps bridge the gap between the wax stage and the finished piece, allowing clients to better understand the design before casting begins.

The design itself remains my original work. AI is simply being used as a visualization tool to help bring the concept to life.

The Final Touch — Preparing for Casting

The final carving before casting
—creating depth for shadow, contrast, and natural texture.

 The Final Touch — Preparing for Casting

Before this piece leaves my hands and becomes metal, there is one final step.

Each twig is carefully carved to create depth—not just for form, but for what comes next.

Once cast, oxidation will settle into these grooves, bringing out contrast, shadow, and texture… like bark shaped over time.

This is where the piece begins to take on its final character.

Not added later—but built in from the very beginning.

From here, it moves from wax to metal…

from idea to heirloom.

The final step

Forest Design Collection: The Offering — A Wedding Set Grown, Not Made.

Forest Design Collection

An Offering
Delicate twigs rise and gently cradle the diamond—lifting it like a quiet offering.

Held by Nature

Delicate twigs rise and gently cradle the diamond—lifting it like a quiet offering.

A symbol of love grown over time, gathered from the earth, and given as a gift to the bride-to-be.

Nature, centered.

Forest Wedding Set — Where Love Grows Naturally

There is something deeply personal about a ring that feels as if it grew, rather than was made.

This Forest Wedding Set was designed to follow the natural movement of vines—organic, flowing, and alive. Each curve wraps gently around the stone, holding it not with force, but with intention… as if nature itself reached up and cradled it.

At the center sits an 8mm x 6mm oval stone, available in:

Natural Diamond
Moissanite
Lab-Grown Diamond
Calibrated Gemstones

The setting allows light to move freely through the stone while the sculpted branches embrace it from all sides, creating both strength and softness in balance.

The Wedding Band — A Living Extension

The matching band is not an afterthought—it is part of the same story.

Designed to nest naturally beneath the engagement ring, it mirrors the organic lines while adding subtle detail. This band can be customized with:

One or two small diamonds or gemstones of your choice

Each addition is intentionally placed—never perfectly symmetrical—because nature doesn’t repeat itself, and neither should love.

Made to Order

Each piece is individually cast and finished in your choice of:

14k Gold (Yellow, White, or Rose)18k Gold (Yellow, White, or Rose)

Available as:

Solitaire Ring

Wedding Band

Full Wedding Set

Pieces may be purchased together or separately.

Designed to grow together.

A Philosophy in Metal

This design follows my core belief: jewelry should carry emotion.

Every vine, every curve, every placement is guided by natural growth—so that when someone wears it, they don’t just see a ring… they feel it.

Because love, like nature, is not perfect—it’s alive.

The Wedding Band

This piece is currently in its wax stage, preparing for casting—the moment where idea becomes heirloom.

“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.

An Ole to Flow: Sculpting the Riverbend Creek Ring

I am thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new design series that is deeply personal and incredibly detailed, starting right here on the drawing board. This design has been brewing for a while, and it's time to translate the beauty of an idea into the precision of a wearable sculpture.

Part One

🍃

Introducing: The Riverbend Creek Collection

Every piece I create needs a name that captures its essence, its origins, and its movement. This collection is called The Riverbend Creek Collection.

The name is a nod to the flowing, sinuous lines of the leaves and vines that weave around the center stone, mimicking the curves of a creek winding through the landscape. More personally, it honors my roots in the foothills of the North Carolina mountains—a place of rich, natural, and enduring beauty. The "creek" represents the steady, organic movement I strive to capture in the metal.

From Idea to Pencil

Right now, my workspace is set up to capture the design's intricate "flow." This is where the magic begins—where the design is first translated from a mental image to paper. I am using my sketching tools to map out the exact dimensions and the graceful movement of the metalwork.

My Studio

The sketch I just completed establishes the foundation for the entire ring, ensuring that the final wax model will have that perfect, hand-sculpted quality. This initial drawing dictates the precise path of every stem and the placement of every tiny diamond accent, all flowing naturally toward the star of the show.

The Riverbend Creek Collection
Sketch

The Heart of the Creek: Alexandrite

Anchoring this flowing design will be a magnificent 6 x 8mm Oval Lab-Created Alexandrite. I keep the stone right here on my desk as I sketch because its unique personality dictates the dimensions of the entire setting. In the next few posts, I'll share why this specific USA-made gemstone—with its incredible color-change magic—is the perfect choice for the warmth of our chosen metal.

Stay tuned! The sketch is done. Next, we will dive into the materials—the beautiful 14k Rose Gold sourced from our Upstate New York refinery—and the Light Antique finish that will bring the Riverbend Creek design to life.

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

Bringing a Wax Model to Life: A Nature-Inspired Ring in Rose Gold, Moissanite, and Sapphire

Designing jewelry is always a journey—one that begins with an idea, transforms through careful craftsmanship, and finally blossoms into a finished piece that reflects both imagination and artistry. Today, I’m excited to share the evolution of one of my newest creations: a wax model featuring a 6 × 8 mm pear-shaped moissanite, which has now been beautifully rendered in 14k rose gold, complete with two different gemstone options.

From Wax to Wonder

The first stage of every one of my designs begins in wax. This is where the organic shapes, branches, and leaves take form. In this particular piece, the center stone sits nestled inside hand-shaped leaves that curl upward as if nature itself is holding the gemstone in place. A small 2 mm round moissanite on the second band adds a soft touch of sparkle—almost like a dew drop resting on a petal.

These wax models capture the rawness and honesty of the design. They allow me to shape, carve, and adjust the details until everything feels true to the vision.

AI Rendering: A Helpful Preview, Not a Replacement

I often use AI tools to generate clean, metallic previews of what the final ring could look like once cast. This is especially helpful for showing customers different gemstone choices, metal colors, and setting variations before the physical piece is completed.

AI didn’t create the design—you’ll see that it simply transformed my original wax model into polished 14k rose gold renderings. This helps me visualize how the leaves will catch the light, how the prongs will cradle the pear-shaped stone, and how alternate gemstones might appear in the same design.

Two Beautiful Interpretations

Once the model was translated into a metal preview, two stunning options emerged:

✨ Option 1: Rose Gold & Moissanite

The warm glow of 14k rose gold enhances the organic details of the leaves. The moissanite center stone glitters with fire and brilliance, making the entire design feel romantic and timeless.

💙 Option 2: Rose Gold & Blue Sapphire

The same ring transforms dramatically when set with a pear-shaped blue sapphire. The deep, velvety blues contrast beautifully with rose gold—almost like a midnight garden wrapped around the finger.

Customizable for Every Customer

One of the things I love most about designing jewelry is flexibility. This ring can be customized to suit any preference:

• Metal Options: white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, or platinum

• Center Stones: moissanite, sapphire, morganite, lab diamond, or natural gemstone

• Accent Gems: moissanite, diamonds, sapphires, or any color that complements the main stone

Each version becomes personal—unique to the wearer, yet connected to the same artistic roots.

A Piece That Grows With You

Even in its wax stage, this design already held movement, emotion, and presence. Seeing it reimagined in rose gold with both moissanite and sapphire brings it to life in a way that celebrates the beauty of nature and the uniqueness of each client’s vision.

I can’t wait to cast the final piece and share the fully finished version with you soon!

 

The Floating Gemstone Collection: Crafting Nature-Inspired Jewelry With Heart

In the world of jewelry design, every new piece begins long before metal meets flame. It starts with an idea—a spark that grows, branches, and evolves into something tangible. Over the past few months, my creative journey has been shaped by a design that has quickly become one of my most requested and personally meaningful pieces: my floating gemstone branch ring.

This blog is a behind-the-scenes look at how these pieces are created, why they resonate with so many people, and how I use modern tools like AI ethically and transparently to help me refine ideas that originate from my own designs.

---

Where the Design First Took Root

The foundation of this ring comes from one of my original pieces—an organic, branch-like design that wraps naturally around a gemstone. This style developed from my fascination with nature: twisting roots, growing limbs, and the way light gets caught between them. The first iteration was raw, wild, and textural, almost as if the ring had grown on its own.

Soon after sharing it, people were drawn to its shape and story. Customers began asking for variations—different stones, sizes, and moods—while still keeping the essence of that original, organic design.

---

How AI Fits Into My Creative Process

I want to address this directly, because transparency matters: the designs you see here are mine—conceptually, structurally, creatively, and physically. Every ring I make begins with my own sketches, my own original finished pieces, and my own design language.

I sometimes use AI as a sketching assistant, not as a designer. By feeding the AI images of my own work, I can explore alternate angles, stone proportions, or textural variations. AI helps generate rough visual prompts so I can better imagine how a stone of a different size or shape might look in my existing design.

Another important way I use AI is to help customers visualize options. Once I complete the wax carving and later the finished cast, I upload a photo of the real piece into my AI preview tool. From that single real ring, I can show clients how the design would look in silver, white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold—without recasting it. I can also swap gemstones, such as previewing the ring with a white moissanite or a vivid green peridot.

This feature has become one of my customers’ favorites because it lets them confidently choose both metal and stone based on an accurate visual reference of their exact ring design. It saves time, reduces guesswork, and empowers them to personalize their piece.

But the hands that carve the wax, sculpt the branches, and set the gemstone—those are mine.

AI is a tool. The artistry is the craft.

---

The Wax Carving: Where the New Piece Begins

With customer requests building around a white moissanite version of this design, I moved from concept to creation. Using jewelers’ wax, I began carving the branches—letting them rise, curve, and divide in a way that feels natural and alive.

The wax is where the gemstone first begins to "float." I carve negative spaces intentionally—allowing light to pass through, ensuring the stone is supported but not enclosed, creating the illusion that it hovers between branches.

This is the heart of my floating gemstone style. It’s not about making the stone sit higher—it’s about making it appear naturally suspended, like a drop of light balanced within the structure of the ring.

---

From Wax to Metal: The Final Transformation

This design will soon be cast in Sterling Silver and set with a 1.5ct (6×8mm) white moissanite, a gemstone whose brilliance enhances the floating effect beautifully. The process takes about 3 to 4 weeks from carving to completion.

Once cast, the branches will gain strength and detail, the prongs will be refined, and the stone will be secured in its airy, living setting. The finished piece will retain the same organic motion as the wax—just crystallized into its final, lasting form.

---

Why This Design Matters to Me

This branch ring is more than a commission or a popular request—it’s a milestone in my journey as an artist. It blends:

• my original design language
• my love for nature
• my carving work
• modern tools used ethically
• my customers’ trust

And most importantly, it represents the moment where an idea becomes a form—a place where a new piece begins.

---

Thank You For Being Part of the Journey

To everyone who has asked for this design, who has followed its variations, or who has simply appreciated its style—thank you. Your support allows me to keep pushing my craft in new directions while staying rooted in the work I love.

More updates will come soon, including the finished cast and final stone setting. I can’t wait to share the completed piece with you.

---

If you’d like to follow more of my creative process or commission your own variation of this design, feel free to reach out. Every ring has a story, and I’m honored to help create yours.

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.