Meet the Maker

Hi!  Welcome to Shadow & Light Artisan Jewelry.  I am Suzanne, the woman behind the business.  I am a self-taught metalsmith and an amateur gemologist (hope to become certified one day).

I have always been creative and began making simple beaded jewelry in 2017 under the name Tabby Cat Creative Company, Then I started working with gemstones and found that I have a passion for stones.  After doing a lot of research on gemstones, I started watching videos about metalsmithing and decided that I wanted to give it a try.  By watching videos on YouTube and reading books, I taught myself the basics, but I wanted to make sure I was doing things correctly before I was willing to put my creations into someone else's hands.  That is when I discovered the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen (PGC) and their wonderful workshops on Lancaster, PA.  I decided to take a gemstone ring making class in January 2020.  I walked out of that class with a Tanzanite ring that I still wear almost every day and the confidence in my skills that I needed to be able to move forward with my business.  

Over the next couple of years, I concentrated on honing my basic metalsmithing skills and learning more about gemstones.  I also started a shop on ETSY and participated in local Makers Markets and craft shows.  During this time, I noticed that there was a disconnect between the name of my business and what I actually make.  In 2024, I changed the name of my business to Shadow & Light Artisan Jewelry.  The new name is meant to invoke on the way a ray of light moves through a gemstone creating areas of shadow and light which make them sparkle.  

My love of metalsmithing and gemstones has continued to grow over the years.  I continue to learn new techniques from metalsmiths that I follow on Instagram and YouTube.  I have taken some online classes from well-known metalsmiths as well as some more local classes with the PGC.  Recently I began to lean more stone setting techniques and how to work with precious metal clay. These will be working their way into my collections in the future.  I have continued to attend local Makers Markets as well as regional art shows. I will keep my upcoming show information on this site for anyone interested in seeing my work in person. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my little shop and to get to know a bit about me and how Shadow & Light Artisan Jewelry came to be. I hope to see you again soon!