bronze happy bean succulent earrings 2

Silver & bronze: Wipe with dry abrasive sponge to remove excess oxidization.

Gold vermeil: Wipe gently with a dry polishing cloth.

Avoid wearing in water or with sunscreen, lotion, or perfume. DO NOT use commercial jewelry cleaning solutions. Store in a cool, dry place.

No, the actual plant or twig is not inside the piece.  I cast pieces in solid bronze or sterling silver - they are not dipped, painted, or plated.  The lost wax casting process allows for the forms to live on after the specimens burn out in the kiln.

Found natural ephemera becomes treasured jewelry in silver, bronze, or gold. All pieces by Tree Trunk Arts are created with a lost wax casting process that ensures each piece is entirely unique. Chosen plant parts are encased in wet plaster to create a mold. Plaster molds enter a kiln for 8+ hours, burning out all plant material. Metal is centrifugally thrown into the remaining mold creating a solid metal model ready to become heirloom-quality jewelry

True-to-nature is more than a mantra, it’s the why and how behind every piece I make. Each piece of jewelry is created from once living elements - an ash seed, a succulent rosette, a chestnut twig. An exact replica is made by lost wax casting. Molten metal is poured into a one-time use mold of the plant.

I'm Collyn, the one woman show that is tree trunk arts. It all started in 2009 while pursuing a degree in Jewelry and Metalsmithing. I discovered that found object casting combined my love of collecting bits of nature with fire and metal.

Plant specimens are collected on my travels across the US and from my own garden. The magic happens in my basement metalsmithing studio located in my historic Detroit home.