I choose my ostrich shells carefully looking for shells with an evenly pebbled surface. When designing the jewelry, I work in small single pieces of the ostrich shell. The design is done on each piece individually, using the same batik (wax and dye) process as my egg art.

After the design is finished, I fill the backs with a clear hard bartop epoxy, which cures for two days. Next the piece is shaped and smoothed with a rotary sander. The front is then coated with the same epoxy - a thin coat, so the texture of the shell surface is not filled.

The little pieces of art are now ready to be fashioned into jewelry. Oval pieces are secured into Sterling Silver settings. Earring wires are attached to an eyepin embedded into the shell, locking pinbacks are secured to the back of brooches with epoxy. Beaded necklaces are chosen for larger focus-pieces. I am usually working on 100 - 200 pieces at a time, so the whole process takes many weeks to complete.

Care and feeding: Ostrich Eggshell Jewelry is fairly sturdy, and would be difficult to break or damage with normal wear. The shell surface can be cleaned by rubbing with a soft dry cloth, or a slightly damp cloth. I do not recommend letting it soak in water or cleaning solution. The sterling silver findings can be rubbed with a jewler's cloth, or swabbed with a silver cleaner like Tarn-X, and then wiped dry.

Design inspiration comes from many sources. Quilt patterns, Ukrainian pysanky designs, ethnic motifs, favorite subjects and, of course, Mother Nature.

A mixture of semi-finished goose and ostrich shell pieces. The design has been dyed into a section of shell, and the backs are ready to be filled with epoxy.

The finished jewelry! Settings, chains, and all other findings are either Sterling Silver or Gold Filled.