All silver used in my designs is sterling silver, Bali sterling silver or Thai Silver. I also use gold-filled for select designs and will be experimenting with fine silver, copper, brass, stainless steel and other nonferrous metals in future designs

Fine Silver - Is 99.9% silver. Soft, white, lustrous metal. Too soft to be made into beads ; available as wire.

Sterling Silver - This is my metal of choice for the majority of my designs. As fine silver is so soft and more difficult to work with, sterling silver is formed by combining 92.5% silver and 7.5% of some other metal, usually copper to harden it making it more malleable.  It is often recognized by it's actual silver content (.925) that is stamped on manufactured jewelry.  I often integrate findings that are stamped with this mark - such as clasps, pendants and charms, but for the most part, you will not find a stamp on the jewelry I make or that of other artists, unless we choose to hand stamp our own item or offer a metal charm type stamp.

Bali Silver - Is so named after the locality in Bali, Indonesia where highly skilled metal smiths are well known for their ornate and detailed  wirework and granulation. Genuine Bali Silver is made entirely by hand from the raw process of combining silver with copper to make the sterling silver - to hand forming each individual bead and each decoration on the bead.  DO NOT confuse this highly artistic form of metalwork to "Bali Style" Silver, which is not even made in Bali and often not sterling.  These mass manufactured counterparts are made in India and  often cast in cheap molds. Be assured that the vendors I utilize are trusted industry-wide to carry GENUINE Bali Sterling Silver.

Hill Tribe Thai Silver - Can contain anywhere from 97% silver to 99.9% (fine silver), depending on your source.  And like Bali sterling silver, it is so named after the area in Northern Thailand where these fine beads are crafted.  Thai Silver beads and other ornaments are crafted by about 20 or so ethnic groups that make up what we refer to as Hill Groups. For various reasons they migrated into this area from several localities of Tibet, China, Burma and Laos in the late 19th and 20th centuries. In recent years the government has taken a special interest in the Hill Tribes, opposing certain agricultural practices and specifically the growing of opium, so the tribes turned towards tourism and selling their crafts. The artisans that produce these beads are highly talented silversmiths and the designers that use their beads in their jewelry often do so in order to aid support of these craftsmen and their families. Each bead is crafted by hand using simple, often rustic tools and the result is the highest quality and unique silver decoration available.

Gold-Filled - Gold-filled tends to be the designer's affordable choice of metal to replace pure gold. To make this metal, a layer of gold is mechanically bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal, then rolled or drawn to a given thickness. With proper care, the gold (filled layer) has the potential to last a lifetime.

Vermeil - is another gold colored metal of choice often used to replace karated gold. To make this metal, 22k gold is plated over an inside core of sterling silver. The outcome is a durable piece of jewelry that looks and feels like pure gold, and will not wear off as gold-plated does.

Other Metals - Copper, Brass, Nickel. Pewter, Niobium, Surgical Steel, German Silver are other metals used in handcrafted jewelry. Many designer's choose metals to enhance specific ethnic or cultural designs depending on what is or - was (historically) available at any given time. 

Swarovski is the brand name of precision cut crystal glass products that was founded by Daniel Swarovski in 1895.  The factory, located in Wattens, Austria, makes a wide range of products including sculptures, home decor products and even their own line of jewelry. Most designers love the high quality precision cut crystals for their sparkling clarity and the way they reflect light in a wide spectrum of colors. It is unmatchable in quality of any crystal available mainly due to its' high lead content and secret manufacturing process which produces a "diamond like" brilliance. I use contemporary crystal beads in my designs in a wide range of colors and shapes. I am especially fond of those colors that are offered in various metallic coatings, i.e.; aurora borealis (ab), aurum and satin. I also utilize Swarovski vintage crystal beads that are offered by many collectors. Their vintage shapes, colors and the quality of the product give jewelry designers a tool that cannot be matched in contemporary design.

A recent addition to the Swarovski line are their  Crystal Pearls - These are the highest quality glass pearls available and are designed scientifically to specifically match the shine of the nacre on real natural pearls. Swarovski Crystal Pearls actually have a real crystal core.

I search for the best quality natural gemstones available at reasonable cost and obtain them from sources I trust to offer the genuine article.  Although, natural gemstones are sought for the best quality and use in one-of-a kind designs, I will invariably offer items of high quality that are dyed, stabilized or otherwise enhanced to offer products at a reasonable value.

I love freshwater pearls. You will see them in my designs in every color and shape possible! I look for quality pearls - with high luster and shine at reasonable prices. I especially love rough nugget pearls and unique shapes that mimic symbolism - like hearts or crosses. Spikes, sticks and coins - as well as top or center drilled pearls are wonderful additions to unique one-of-a-kind designs. I'm partial to any piece of nature in its rawest form that just comes out naturally beautiful! Other material used in my designs include high quality beads made of Czech glass (mostly pressed leaves and flowers), shell, ceramic, wood, bone, and invariably found items which I hope to integrate more in future designs. I also LOVE vintage beads, especially those made of Lucite, German and Japanese glass.