About Trillium Designs

I made my first jewelry in high school & was captivated. Back then I was drawn to semi-precious stones bezel-set in sterling, today it’s funky freshwater pearls and fiery amber.

While cruising the Bahamas on our sailboat I was introduced to freshwater pearls. I had been looking for a material to go with sea glass & sterling silver. Little did I know that I would become a pearl snob in a matter of months or that I would never get around to making sea glass jewelry. Years later the pearls that I select every year are exceptional… breathtaking luster, superior quality, distinctive shapes. Most of my pearls are from China since the pearl farmers there produce the finest quality in the current market. I prefer the unusual shapes of keshi pearls, baroque pearls & coin pearls which lend to both casual & dressy attire.

My mother-in-law was born in Germany & collected amber (or Bernstein) her whole life.  I was drawn to the movement of light caught in each piece. Amber if you don’t know is petrified tree resin or sap which solidified over the ages. Most is 500,000 to a million or so years old. Most of the amber that I use is from the Baltic region of Europe, although some comes from the Caribbean.