My name is Kaia, which means "The Sea"
in Hawaiian. I am a jewelry artist who lives and works by the
sea in Santa Cruz, California.
I have been creating art in some fashion or another since I
was a child, but fabricating jewelry had always been my ultimate
desire. The ability to transform solid matter such as metal is
incredibly seductive to me, a predilection I think distinguishes
metalsmiths from artists in other medium.
My work ranges from handmade lampworked
glass set in Silver to snippets extracted from a private poem
etched softly onto metal, like a whisper only the wearer can hear.
Asian themes continually influence my work,
with Bamboo representing the perfect symbol to reflect the quest
for serenity and balance, the place where we all wish to return.
Each item in this collection attempts to represent that perfect
point of balance and serenity.
Every piece is handmade with thought and
care, from scratch: no casting or outside production is used.
For me, the act of creation, like the journey, is the goal.
My journey into jewelry making started many years ago by stringing
simple beaded necklaces together. Much to my surprise, my designs
invariably aroused attention wherever they were seen. Then,
on a fluke, I decided to take a hot glass workshop at a local
college, and was immediately enticed by the flame and the melting
of the glass.
I pursued lampworking for a few years, taking classes with some of the legends in the field.
And while lampworking is an undeniable joy, there always seemed to be something missing for me
when creating my jewelry.
I decided to follow my lifelong desire
of working with metal, and suddenly all the pieces of my art fell
into place. Fabricating metal, along with lampworking glass, allows
me the level of creative control that I always dreamed of.
Handcrafted jewelry is a unique art form in that it starts with the artist's vision,
yet ends only when the customer makes it their own. I feel privileged to be part of that process.
I invite you to look at my gallery of work and explore.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
