Artist Tory Herford gives customers a word of warning on her Etsy site, "I consider myself a sculptor- not a jeweler. If you like dainty jewelry, you won't find it here!" I like her definitiveness, and that her work really speaks for itself. Bold, heavy pieces that meld whimsy with elegance are her specialty, along with inspiration from Asia and nature.
Her exquisite dog-themed jewelry is created from hand-casting old buttons with wax and heavy sterling silver, giving them a modern feel with a nod to traditional 19th century dog art. Tory says she grew up obsessed with the Natural History Museum. As a child, she would refuse to leave. Today, although she still is fascinated with antiquities and treasures of ancient cultures, as an artist, she has figured out how to make her own natural wonders, wonders you can own.
Visit Tory's Etsy store to see more of her exquisite jewelry.
P.S. Tory is also a talented photographer who offers her work on note cards here. Highly recommend.