“I have to tell you how very spectacular the jewelry my friend bought for his wife was, it looked even more beautiful being worn. So elegant and simply stated, the perfect combination of The Universe’s handwork combined with human creativity.”
The Artist
My name is Jen Nielsen. I’m a metal smith by training, a Mainer by choice, and undeniably the luckiest person on Earth.
I’ve transformed my love of rocks and minerals into a profession that elevates uncommon beach pebbles in a way that showcases their natural allure.
I’ve been creating jewelry from beach pebbles since 1996. Walking the beaches, coves and craggy coastline around Portland, Maine, I search for my raw materials. Discovering and selecting the right stones is a deeply meditative process that keeps me grounded in the natural world. On the best days, these precious stones, sometimes ice cold and caked in red-brown, iron-heavy sand, transform before my eyes, conjuring into the art they will become.
Style, Ethics & Quality
As a trained metal smith who has studied under some of the most talented craftspeople in the medium, I strive to create the finest, solidly crafted and simply beautiful jewelry that I am able.
Each enchanting, heirloom-quality piece of jewelry is handmade and crafted using only the most sustainably sourced materials. My studio’s deeply rooted social and environmental ethics mean customers are not only investing in the works of a talented craftsperson, they are supporting an artist who shares their core beliefs.
As my own inspiration, or custom made for you, the pieces in many ways are objects without time. Stones created and shaped so long ago, they move from my hands to yours. To your loved one and onward for generations to come. I love what I do and I’m so grateful to be able to share it with you.
100% Handmade
Jennifer Nielsen Hand-Crafted Jewelry’s award-winning designs showcase the quiet beauty of stones that have been tumbled and polished by the steady rhythm of waves along the shores of Maine.
In my studio, I pair these pebbles with recycled precious metals -- 18-karat gold, sterling silver, and platinum, as well as ethically sourced gems and diamonds. It’s there that I “listen” to the stones and they inspire my jewelry designs. Clients bring stones that they have found at a special beach, river, or mountain top, and I often incorporate their heirloom diamonds and gems into new, updated designs.
Because nature has a will of its own when creating beach pebbles, no two of my pieces are exactly alike.