About Me

What is West Grove Design?

Welcome! My name is Jackie. I am the founder, designer, and jeweler of West Grove Design, a micro jewelry business based in Minnesota. My favorite things in life (other than my favorite people) are magical gems, nature and animals, fantasy novels, and travel. I'm so happy you're here!

West Grove Design has taken a meandering path along with me, on this adventure that is life. It began as an idea for topographic jewelry, which I loved deeply for many years. As I grew, new ideas took root and I pursued them as a means of moving forward in work that had grown stagnant for me. I set out to incorporate more color back into my work, more verve and magic. I'm happy to say that I look forward to what's next in my studio.

Background

I have been a jeweler for over a decade now and sometimes I'm surprised to find it so. In high school, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to dabble in jewelry making as part of a larger course. I learned to solder there, do lost wax-casting, and enameling. I found that sculptural works, three dimensional works, were an entirely new world for my artistic mind, and my art teacher was thrilled that I had finally found a medium that spoke to me, my lack of drawing and painting aptitude had stumped her for some time. With that newfound medium, I started to look about me in the creative landscape. That was when I discovered Mokume Gane, an ancient Japanese blacksmithing technique.

I pursued knowledge of this technique at an art school in Detroit, MI, The College for Creative Studies. There I learned myriad techniques and skills, and graduated with a BFA in metalsmithing and jewelry design. Following college, I spent a handful of years in the fine jewelry industry, working for small local businesses back home in Minnesota. Those early jobs were crucial to my growth as a jeweler, I learned complex gem and diamond setting, engraving, filigree, and even got to hone my mokume skills in a professional setting.

Soon enough, I was ready to branch out on my own, I wanted to design my own work again, and do things the way I thought they should be done. West Grove Design was founded in 2016 and now, on my tenth anniversary, I am launching a brand new website with new work and a new direction in mind.

Thank you so much for being here, I can't wait to share this new chapter with you!