Nature has inspired many of my jewelry designs but more importantly, it has taught me patience. The simplest designs can often take hours, and with a little patience, beautiful and artful jewelry results. This was one frustrating pair of earrings to make because they wouldn't do what I had pictured, but instead of coming unglued, I took a break and set the earring down on the table. When I returned to the earrings I saw that they looked really beautiful just the way they are. So I left them as is and they've become one of my favorites.