Story & Process
The Atelier
Behind every piece is a story of choice — the choice to leave the ordinary behind and make something that lasts.
portrait of the maker
The Beginning
From spreadsheets
to stone & silver.
I didn't leave my career. I found my calling.
For years, I sat in glass offices with calendars full of meetings and a drawer full of half-formed ideas. I had always worked with my hands in secret — small experiments with wire, stones collected on trips, sketches in notebook margins.
The shift happened slowly, then all at once. I signed up for a metalworking class on a quiet Tuesday. By Thursday I had burned three pieces of copper and fallen irreversibly in love with the process. Within a year, the side project became the main project.
Bonnie Design is not a brand — it is a daily practice. A commitment to making things that are worthy of the stones they hold, and the people who wear them.
The Workspace
Where it all happens
The Bench
The Tools
Raw Materials
The Craft
How a piece is born
Sourcing the Stone
Every journey begins with the stone itself. I travel to gem fairs and trusted suppliers, handling hundreds of stones until one feels right. The colour, the texture, the weight — it all matters.
Sketching the Form
Once I have the stone, I spend time simply sitting with it. I sketch several forms — listening to what the stone wants to become. Some stones ask for raw settings; others ask to be wrapped, suspended, held.
The Metalwork
Whether it's sterling silver or gold vermeil, every setting is made by hand. I use bezel settings, wire wrapping, and forged elements. No casting machines — just tools, fire, and patience.
Setting & Finishing
The stone is set with extreme care. I spend more time on finishing than on any other step — polishing each surface until it catches the light exactly as it should. Then I wear it for a day before it goes to you.