The beating heart of The Crafty Shrimp is the incredible community of artists who call our open studio home. This month, we sat down with Sarah Jenkins, a silversmith whose botanical-inspired jewelry has become a fast favorite in our retail nook.

Q&A with Sarah

Q: How did you get started in metalsmithing? Sarah: “I actually started with wire-wrapping polished stones I found on the beach. Eventually, I wanted to create more permanent, structured settings, so I took an introductory soldering class. The moment I melted silver for the first time, I was completely hooked. It is such an unforgiving but rewarding medium.”

Q: What inspires your current collection? Sarah: “I spend a lot of time hiking on the weekends. My current collection features a lot of cast ferns, stamped pine needle textures, and rough-cut turquoise that mimics the colors of the local lakes. I try to capture the ruggedness of nature in something wearable.”

Q: How has working out of The Crafty Shrimp impacted your business? Sarah: “Working at home was isolating, and my apartment definitely wasn’t properly ventilated for a jewelry torch! Having a dedicated, safe workbench here has doubled my productivity. Plus, being surrounded by painters and sculptors pushes me to think outside my own medium. The cross-pollination of ideas here is amazing.”

You can view and purchase Sarah’s latest collection in our front retail space, or follow her process on her personal Instagram.