About Michelle

“My journey with jewelry started before I ever picked up my first set of tools. My parents met across a jewelry counter. My mom managed the jewelry department at a big box retalier, and my dad was a police officer working loss prevention during his off-duty hours.

At five years old I was making my own designs with pop beads and jelly bracelets. I was completely obsessed with Wonder Woman as played by actress Lynda Carter in the television series, especially her iconic power bracelets and tiara. I did not just want to wear something magical. I wanted to make it. As I got a little older, I saved babysitting money to buy beads and wire at the local craft store and taught myself the basics.

I took my first metalsmithing class in high school, earned a BFA in Jewelry and Metals from Kent State University and later an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Baldwin Wallace University. Those experiences gave me the tools to build a business around the kind of jewelry I truly wanted to create.

Since starting my jewelry company in 2001, the focus has always been the same. Creating pieces that last and hold a deeper meaning. Everything I create is done by hand using traditional metalsmithing techniques and ethically sourced materials. I work slowly and with intention, researching the gemstones, the metals, and the stories behind each design.

Over the years, my work has appeared in some very special places including the red carpets at the Emmy Awards, runways at New York Fashion Week, and exhibitions around the world, including aboard the United Nations Peace Boat. Those moments are exciting, but for me, the most important place my work can appear is part of your collection and treasured family heirlooms.” - Michelle Pajak-Reynolds