My Story
The Whittey behind Whittey's Wonders; Whittey was a nickname that my great-grandmother started and it's just stuck ever since. It only felt right to incorporate it into this business and have a little piece of her in my journey.
I’m a self-taught silversmith that fell in love with the art after taking a one day course with a local artist. I remember being instantly enamored with the process of combining metal, fire and beautiful stones to create these lasting pieces of art. One of the first things I ever collected as a child was rocks, so it only made sense that I would choose a path that highlighted their natural beauty. And so, with a lot of courage and some hope, Whittey’s Wonders was born. First with a focus on wire-wrapping jewelry; partly because I needed funds to invest in Silversmithing tools, but mostly out of fear of truly taking a leap of faith. I made it about 6 months with only wrapping until I felt the pull in my intuition to just trust and take the leap. I’m forever grateful to myself for trusting that feeling and overcoming self doubt. This art has blossomed into a beautiful outlet for me to create and share some of my magic with everyone and I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like without it.
Each piece is handmade by me, starting from nothing but wire and sheets of sterling and fine silver. Some of my pieces also feature stones that myself and friends have found around Oregon. Swimming is one of my favorite summer activities, so the majority of my Oregon pieces were found in the Willamette and South Santiam river. I have hopes of one day learning lapidary myself, but for now, I’ve got a lovely local lady that takes care of me and my stones. Along with my smithed pieces, I still make some wire-wrapped jewelry when I feel called to it, as well as crystal adorned wands and plant propagation bottles.
I grew up in Oregon and love hunting all over our beautiful state for rocks, gems and wood pieces for my art. All of my wands and brooms are made from pieces of wood that I've lovingly foraged while camping & exploring our forests and beaches. I also make an effort to purchase my gemstones and cabochons from small businesses, both local and online. It’s important to me that I always show support on a local level as often as possible. Not only does this help to directly support our neighbors but it also fosters a true sense of community, and that’s important in this day and age.
I started this venture with the hope that my art will help people to accentuate their natural beauty and feel empowered, as well as bring good energy into their lives and homes. You can be sure that each piece is made with love and good intentions, all while listening to some good tunes.