Meet the Creatress of Selene

Hey there, I’m Alyssa!

Ever since I can remember, I have been creating, but jewelry came into play when I began wire wrapping in 2014. I always loved to wrap crystals to adorn myself and friends for fun. When people began requesting to purchase my items, that sparked an idea that would go on to change my entire life.

I began selling on Etsy in 2015 and had a wonderful time doing it, but I knew that I needed more. I would constantly say “I want to create real jewelry,” I wanted to learn metalsmithing and stone settings. In 2017, my husband and I moved to Eugene, Oregon and decided I would major in jewelry at the University of Oregon. While taking prerequisite classes to get into the major, I discovered The Craft Center. The Craft Center offered basic fabrication, casting, and enamel courses and that opened a whole new world to me. I took every class I could, even multiple times, because I was determined that I would become a jeweler and create “real jewelry” one day.

After a year of taking classes, The Craft Center became my second home. I spent any spare time I had learning and practicing during the open studio hours. I also began taking private classes outside of school with a great friend, where I practiced more metal work and learned to do lapidary work, as well. As time went on, my skill level had advanced past the classes that were available at school and the craft center. It was then that I knew I needed to pursue a different route.

One day, I asked one of the heads of the craft center, who had graduated from the jewelry program, for some advice. He was well aware of my progress and recommended that I find an apprenticeship or trade school. SO, that’s just what I did.

I had the opportunity to work with an amazing mentor for two years, which changed the course of my career tremendously. The amount of knowledge I have gained from him, as well as the friendship, is priceless and it inspired me to grow even more. It gave me the confidence that what I wanted was tangible and within reach.

I have gone on to take intense workshops with incredible teachers at the GRS Training Center, where I have learned and continue to learn complex stone setting and engraving. I taught myself multiple different CAD programs to add to my skillset. I took the intense wax carving course with Kate Wolf, where I was able to perfect my skills, as well as learn new techniques to add to my work. I am also currently in the process of getting my Graduate Gemologist certification with the Gemological Institute of America.

I firmly believe that I will never stop learning; there will always be something else that I find interesting and need to learn. I take the time to learn every part of my trade from the ground up because it is so important for me to have a vertically integrated system and not outsource any work.

It’s safe to say that I am now creating “real jewelry” and I am so proud to present my fine jewelry brand, Selene.

“This is just the beginning!”