ABOUT ME
ERIN GRAVES
METALSMITH & JEWELRY DESIGN
BASED IN OHIO, USA
I have always had a passion for science and nature. I spent my time in my undergraduate in laboratories looking at samples under microscopes, in the field figuring out the forces that shape the world we live on, writing research papers and presenting posters, teaching hands-on classes, and educating my fellow students on sustainability on campus. There simply was no extra time to take the jewelry and metals classes I so desperately wanted to take. Fortunately, after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Geology with a Co-Major in Environmental Science from Miami University, I finally had some time on my hands.
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In 2019, I moved into my aunt and uncle’s house in Salt Lake City, Utah and began a six month jewelry program. I was excited to get my hands dirty and make my ideas a reality. Naturally, I was drawn to unique stone cabochons that spoke the language I had spent so long learning—geology! I wanted to learn how to make the coolest stones into wearable ornaments. This connected my scientific curiosity with my artistic desire and it allowed me to relay the stories of the earth to non-scientific people. So this is what I did for those six months—practiced cutting and polishing stones I had collected through the years and transformed them into pieces of jewelry using standard silversmithing techniques.
Only did I really start thinking out of the box about jewelry and ornamentation when I moved back to Bowling Green, Ohio and started taking classes with Tom Muir and Marissa Saneholtz at Bowling Green State University. Their project prompts made me think about jewelry and metals in ways I had not before. I learned new skills, such as cloisonné, champlevé, raising, and forming. I also learned new techniques in metalsmithing, electroforming, and etching and even wrestled with 3D modeling.
Since then, I have accumulated my very own studio! In my studio, I have the ability to do metalsmithing and casting, as well as enameling, raising and forming. I look forward to making unique pieces of jewelry for you to enjoy and treasure! If you are interested in a custom collaboration, please reach out to me!
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ABOUT THE NAME: SLIPPERY ELM DESIGNS
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Like many others, I really struggled to find the right name for my business. I eventually landed on Slippery Elm Designs after one of my favorite spots in my hometown, the Slippery Elm Trail. Since my childhood, my family has adventured on this trail—walking the dogs with mom, racing on the rollerblades with my brother, endless hours biking and chatting with my dad. It has always been a place for me to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy nature—snapping turtles in the water, snakes sunning themselves on the pavement, the mosquito haven that is the remaining black swamp, deer running alongside the trail through the prairie, smushed blackberries, getting lost in the cornfields of the Midwest. In essence, the Slippery Elm Trail reminds me of my roots and the people and memories that I cherish, hence Slippery Elm Designs!
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