Michelle Sorensen
Instagram: @mesheljewelry
I have been designing jewelry in a variety of mediums for over 20 years. I love the idea of making ‘wearable art’. I try every day to create pieces that are unique and special, pieces that speak to me in some way and that I hope will speak to others. My process is often very organic, particularly in the early stages of design: I often don’t know where the process is going to take me when I begin. When I don’t have a plan, I just grab some metal and see what happens. To me, this is the most fun way to come up with new ideas.
My passion is in my work with metals, and I particular enjoy silver smithing. Making pieces with multiple dimensions and materials in a way that others haven’t done before is thrilling to me. I love layering metals, and incorporating different metals in a single piece. I am currently playing with kinetic designs, because I love wearing jewelry that moves with me.
Acid etching copper and brass is another of my current obsessions. Acid etching is a method of using chemicals to permanently cut a design or pattern into a metal surface. I use images from nature most often: bees, birds, butterflies, flowers, trees, etc. Many start out as photographs that I manipulate into high contrast images that will transfer to metal well. Acid etching is an incredibly messy and labor-intensive process, but it is incredibly satisfying to see that results. All images on the metal result from acid eating away the unprotected areas of the metal. From these etched pieces, I create earrings, bracelets and necklaces that are unlike any I have seen before. I add sterling silver to all my brass and copper pieces, as I love the look of mixed metal.
I make every piece on at a time, completely by hand. There are almost no commercial components used in my pieces. I design from the basic components of sheet metal and wire, and I work to make pieces that will last their wearers a lifetime.
I have been designing jewelry in a variety of mediums for over 20 years. I love the idea of making ‘wearable art’. I try every day to create pieces that are unique and special, pieces that speak to me in some way and that I hope will speak to others. My process is often very organic, particularly in the early stages of design: I often don’t know where the process is going to take me when I begin. When I don’t have a plan, I just grab some metal and see what happens. To me, this is the most fun way to come up with new ideas.
My passion is in my work with metals, and I particular enjoy silver smithing. Making pieces with multiple dimensions and materials in a way that others haven’t done before is thrilling to me. I love layering metals, and incorporating different metals in a single piece. I am currently playing with kinetic designs, because I love wearing jewelry that moves with me.
Acid etching copper and brass is another of my current obsessions. Acid etching is a method of using chemicals to permanently cut a design or pattern into a metal surface. I use images from nature most often: bees, birds, butterflies, flowers, trees, etc. Many start out as photographs that I manipulate into high contrast images that will transfer to metal well. Acid etching is an incredibly messy and labor-intensive process, but it is incredibly satisfying to see that results. All images on the metal result from acid eating away the unprotected areas of the metal. From these etched pieces, I create earrings, bracelets and necklaces that are unlike any I have seen before. I add sterling silver to all my brass and copper pieces, as I love the look of mixed metal.
I make every piece on at a time, completely by hand. There are almost no commercial components used in my pieces. I design from the basic components of sheet metal and wire, and I work to make pieces that will last their wearers a lifetime.