Lisa Berna and Jennifer Buchanan, of Colorado, create jewelry featuring driftwood and semi-precious stones.Some jewelry makers take more than inspiration from nature; they incorporate found objects from trails and beaches in their work.
The result? Personal, one-of-a-kind pieces that impart a natural beauty.
Lisa Bernal, of Arvada, Colo., and her business partner, Jennifer Buchanan, of Keystone, Colo., have been making jewelry together for three years. First, they used leather and small stones. Their work now incorporates driftwood, tumbled smooth by nature.
“We were looking for fresh, unique connector pieces for the leather and the stones,” recalls Bernal.
They build pieces around the driftwood, incorporating semi-precious stones such as aquamarine and amazonite, and sell them at their online store, Elle Jay/ Natural Jewelry Design House, and at select Colorado stores.