I’m Melissa Hart, a goldsmith and silversmith in Maryland, and I didn’t start out at a jeweler’s bench. I started in graphic design. I was good at it, but I wasn’t in love with it, and I knew I wanted to work with my hands.

Outside of work, I was already making jewelry. I wrapped gemstones in wire, and I researched them every day, learning their characters, their quality, and their secrets. I didn’t know that the wire-wrapping I’d taught myself was called “scroll work” in the jeweler’s world, or that it would matter so much to my next employer.

When I went looking for a new career, I found a local shop that needed a graphic designer and a jeweler. It was the perfect fit. Within two weeks I was at the bench, apprenticing under two master jewelers and learning repairs, custom work, and the restoration of vintage pieces. The shop’s owner, a gemologist, taught me even more about stones. I stayed for seven years.

Then I set out on my own. For two years I traveled across America, showing my work at art shows and meeting the people who wore it. Today I create from my private shop in Maryland, making one-of-a-kind pieces and custom designs that know no boundaries.

Making jewelry is my passion, and I’m grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey. If you have an idea, an old ring, or a stone that means something to you, I’d love to hear about it.