Q&A With Erica

When I was younger, I was very quickly a painter at heart, and most of the work I submitted to RISD were paintings. I was accepted into design school, and after a year of Foundation Studies ( Color Theory, Sculpture, and Drawing ) I chose to go into Jewelry because it was always something I was fascinated by, but not something I knew how to do, properly. I really liked that Jewelry was a trade, and something that I couldn’t learn on my own.

When I graduated from RISD, I fell pretty quickly into design in NY, which I feel very fortunate for, looking back on that time. I had the skillset now to make jewelry, but technical design, and rendering wasn't a huge part of the curriculum in school, and those early design experiences taught me a lot about communicating my ideas through illustration, creative problem solving, and collaboration.

Both of those experiences have really shaped STVDIO, and what it is now.

If you’ve followed my work for a long time I think it would come as no surprise that I’m inspired by flowers, and soft natural forms like handwoven braids. A lot of those early concepts were inspired by trips to the MET looking at the details in ancient Roman, Greek and Etruscan jewelry. I love looking through different museum archives, vintage cartier and bvlgari books, and antiquing. There are a lot of details in jewelry from the past, in the handmade settings and constructions that you can learn a lot from, and I like to nod to those details in my own work, while exploring more contemporary silhouettes, with a STVDIO touch.

Sapphires, forever. I just love the variation in this material. I like how classic and conventional they can be, thinking of a true deep blue Sapphire. I also whole heartedly love and embrace the weirds. The bi-colors, and parti-colors really speak to me. I love how painterly they are and how they remind me of small watercolors, like your very own little piece of art for your hand. Recently, there’s been a lot of fluorescent milky Sapphires coming out, and I just love these really electric, yet somehow subdued neon-y pinks, turquoises, and lavenders. It’s just such a versatile material, and it’s also a really strong material. It’s a good daily wear stone. 

Naturally when I started to offer our first One of a Kind Engagement Rings in the line, I chose Sapphire, not only because of the qualities above, but also because of their historical significance. Sapphires were one of the first stones to ever be used in engagement rings, going as far back as the Romans. Early on they were recognized as a symbol of romance, honesty, and commitment, and I just really loved the sentimentality of that, the stone’s history. So I think Sapphire’s really speak to my aesthetic where I’m looking at and honoring the past, while putting a more contemporary spin on it.

For me, fine jewelry is really all about emotion. If you think about the times you’ve purchased or received a piece, it’s usually something significant. It could be an engagement, an anniversary, a gift from a loved one, a milestone purchase to signify a specific accomplishment or moment in time,  or possibly something you received when a loved one past, that reminds you of them when you wear it. So for me, it’s not just one piece, but anything that has emotional weight to me. 

My Engagement Ring is one of them, as my husband picked out the stone and did an exceptional job, which is not an easy task when you are marrying a Jewelry Designer. My Anni Ring which was the first piece of Fine Jewelry I made for myself that signified a personal milestone for me, the launch of my business and the celebration of entering a new decade. That’s hasn’t left my hand for 10 years.  I also have some pieces that were given to me by my Grandparents or Parents, that I cherish and wear frequently. Some of those pieces are absolutely perfect as is, and some I’ve re-designed into things I would wear more frequently, just because I valued the sentimentality of them so much, and didn’t want them to sit in the back of my jewelry box.

It’s impossible to pick just one.  I love every single piece in our Channel Set Baguette Assortment, and I always will. It’s just such a classic versatile silhouette for me, and I’m always wearing one of them. I have a few new versions of these coming out that are sprinkled with Sapphires and Tourmalines, and I’m really excited about introducing color into these silhouettes. I’m also really having fun designing what I’m calling alternative engagement rings, like the Sapphire and Diamond Graduated Band. I love the way a large Eternity or Half Eternity looks right now. I think it's really fun and playful silhouette and it looks really cool paired with a simple shaped gold band. It’s a vibe, at least in my world.

Staring at beautiful gems all day is definitely a perk. But I think it’s really working with clients to create something meaningful, and emotional. Jewelry or Fashion can sometimes be thought of as frivolous, but I get to view it through a different lense, and sort of watch the moments and emotions that surround these pieces unfold, and that just feels really fulfilling.

I’ve spent the last few years, especially since we moved to Alabama learning how to slow down, and how to relax. As a New Yorker, it’s not something that I’m particularly good at, and prior to moving I had a terrible work / life balance. I think relaxing is almost an art itself, and it's taken dedicated practice on my end. I slow down at night usually by cooking, and have curated an absolutely epic cookbook collection. I spend most of my weekends now painting, and also gardening with my husband and both of those things definitely have become something I look forward to every week. This is our fifth year attempting to grow tomatoes, so wish us luck.

I think it’s that I get to do something I truly love and enjoy every day. I know that’s not always the case for everyone, and I feel very fortunate in that way. I’ve been making jewelry for a long time, almost 20 years and I’m happy I’ve been able to sort of navigate my way through this field to find what really inspires me. Jewelry is a field where there is always something new to learn. Sometimes it might be in relation to physical pieces and perfecting a certain item, and other times it might be little things I notice along the way that can improve the client experience. I enjoy being challenged, and refining different parts of my business along the way.