About the maker
From Rhys:
I have been making art about nature for as long as I can remember. I had painting stations set up for me on the dining room table as a kid, and constantly dipped my paint brushes into my juice cup while creating colorful worlds that had three suns in the sky and flowers taller than people.
In later years I attended the University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School of Art, beginning my journey thinking I would study Drawing and Painting, and along the way becoming fascinated with the processes and power involved in Jewelry and Metalsmithing: I pretty much saw women holding torches and changed my major then and there.
I started my first jewelry business while I was still in school in 2011, learned a lot and created in studios in a bike shop, an old mill building, a tiny house, and a van. I made the call to close my doors when I returned to school to study Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine in 2021.
Libra Metal is the re-birth of my collection of wearable goods. Each piece is made by my hands in the beautiful studios of Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, Wa.
Libra Metal…
is staying small.
Expect re-stocks of new pieces every month or so.
This work is priced according to the time it takes to make it by hand, and for the cost of high quality materials.
You’ll notice that there are no wholesale portals, and only small quantities of limited edition and one-of-a-kind works released monthly. This allows for more unique metal work and a smaller environmental impact. This project is not about selling mass quantities, and these pieces are made the slow way with recycled materials whenever possible.
Enjoy these creations that are made to last, and please get in touch with any repair needs (I fully support your desire to wear jewelry while adventuring, or adventure-gardening, or making ceramics or playing music… really whatever you’re into.)
Your jewelry (or spoon, or other exciting object) will arrive in a bubble mailer or recycled box, with a small box inside containing your goods safely cushioned. I’ll include a re-usable muslin bag for storage and travel.
Care: the best way to care for jewelry is to wear it constantly. Our bodies (and movement of our clothing) gently polish jewelry as we wear it, even if it goes in water. For things that sit a bit longer, sometimes a polish with a slice of lemon and salt can brighten it up. If you want super-shiny, try a polishing cloth like this one: Sunshine Cloth .
Check out the FAQ page and get in touch if you have any more questions.
Thank you for shopping small and supporting artists.
