2026 Event Schedule:
Michele Ross - Metalsmith & Lapidary Artist
Shiny Objects by Michele - Handmade jewelry with unusual stones, fossils & shells using traditional metalsmith & lapidary methods. My vision is to work with uncommon natural materials making jewelry that sparks curiosity in the earth’s exotic treasures. My goal is to elevate rare stones & fossils into one-of-a-kind accessory art, allowing the wearer to express themself through jewelry.
If I don’t create something with stone and metal every day - that day doesn’t seem complete. Collecting rocks and shells as a child turned into a fascination with transforming those objects into wearable art. I learned jewelry basics from local artists while living in Greece & Turkey in my 20’s. Over the years, I've studied with several talented jewelry instructors to expand my knowledge and elevate my work in metalsmithing and lapidary. I’ve traveled to Tucson, Pueblo and even Florence, Italy to expand my knowledge and skills.
I am endlessly intrigued and distracted by shiny objects… an intricate shell on the beach or the mystery of a fossil formed into pyrite by millions of years in the earth. I have become a collector of rare, unusual stones and have a studio full of rough rock from all over the world available to inspire me. With the ability to cut my own stones, my work is only limited by my imagination and Mother Nature’s supply of medium.
Creatively, my jewelry is inspired by the stone itself. I am driven to find ways of elevating natural objects into jewelry - enabling the wearer to enjoy the piece and at the same time, express their own singular personal style.
I grew up in WV, spent over 25 years in the hotel & meetings industry, traveling the world and living in Baltimore & Philadelphia. Home is now split between McLean, VA and Rehoboth Beach, DE where I live with my husband and my short-haired Persian tabby cat, Grigio.
