After graduating from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a degree from the Kenan-Flagler Business School, she moved into consulting, where work for an online fashion brand specializing in higher end brands brought her front and center to the design and buying process. It was this experience, combined with a professional stone setting and goldsmithing courses, that ignited the creative flame for Starr and, particularly, her passion for fine jewelry. From a workspace in her unfinished Atlanta basement to her studio in Westside Atlanta’s Strongbox West, with training in between from mentors and a few great textbooks, Starr took the time and thorough practice to bring her skills to a professional level. Courses from master stone setter Blaine Lewis at The New Approach for Jewelers, Master Wax Carver Kate Wolf, and Brooklyn jewelry designer Erin Considine all played part in this.

Designer and metalsmith Jamie J. creates sleek and wearable pieces that seem to straddle the line between masculine and feminine, but always convey a sense of strength and modernity. Born in Sweden and raised in Atlanta, she often draws inspiration from Scandinavian design, and uses both wax carving and traditional fabrication methods in creating. 

Sara Lehtman is both a Metalsmith and Illustrator handcrafting a line of jewelry and paper goods within her brand Creature. Designed for the untamed and inspired by the wild. Creature's jewelry acts as a wearable interpretation of her illustrations with a focus on symbology, mysticism and strong women. Each piece is created with a blend of fabrication and wax techniques.

Nicole was no stranger to creating with her body as she transitioned from a lifetime career as an aerial dancer to a metalsmith. Instead of forming her body around the metal to tell a story as she did on the trapeze, she learned to form the metal around her body capturing the story in her work. As such, Nicole’s pieces reflect strength, power and movement.  Nicole mixes precious metals and different finishing techniques to achieve both a sleek architectural and raw industrial look.  Each piece is unique, hand-crafted using traditional metal fabrication and wax carving techniques, for that fierce individual who wants to feel empowered.