After moving to America at the age of 12 from Armenia, art became a refuge. Art class was where I excelled, where I did not need to speak English to belong. At home, my love of art and craft extended to polymer clay. My debut as a jewelry artist was at age 14, when I gathered my collection of polymer clay jewelry and participated in Alexandria’s Armenian festival. I realized then that I loved not only the process of creating jewelry but the connections I made with each person who chose to purchase one of my creations.

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Over the years of exploring jewelry techniques, I sometimes felt torn between minimalist, modern styles and ornate, statement pieces, much like I felt torn between my American and Armenian cultures, and much like my desire to simultaneously fit in and stand out. Once I discovered enameling, I fell in love with the idea of reversible jewelry because it allowed me to express and share these dueling emotions with the world – I often strive to contrast the colors of each side in some way. After all, we all have more than one side – why not wear the colors that fit?