Space Craft

Visit my Etsy store
to browse and buy my
space-themed sculpture and jewelry!

I work in semiprecious stone beads and wire, combining science and art. I use naturally colored stones to represent the stars, planets, and smaller worlds in space. Here’s a small sampler:

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram Necklaces

From a large blue sponge quartz bead in the center, through amazonite and white moonstone and yellow jade and orange carnelian to small red and black agate, spherical beads set off by 14 Karat gold-filled or sterling silver beads evoke the main sequence of stars.

Sun and Planets Earrings

Five planetary dangles are suspended from a sterling silver focal ring that encircles the Sun.

Enceladus Earrings

Twisted strand of silver-plated chain evoke the fountains of Enceladus’ south pole. Enceladus is represented by a beautiful top-quality chatoyant rainbow moonstone bead.

World Trees

Small, medium, and large size trees sprout with many beads representing the large, round worlds of the solar system. The giant planets with their rings are the most prominent on the tree. The smaller terrestrial planets crowd the base. But nearly everything else is a Kuiper belt object, of which there are more than a hundred that are likely large enough to be round. I make these trees in part to educate people about how much of the solar system lies beyond Neptune.

I string beads on coated copper wire and twist the wire to form the trees. Then I “plant” the trees in pots — either handmade for me by a potter in Arizona, or vintage Japanese teacups or sake cups. For the very largest trees I purchase pots from my local bonsai nursery. The trees are planted in polymer clay, usually with a bit of sparkle in it, and baked to give them a solid base.

Visit my shop to see more of my work!