About The Artist
Hello! I’m Ashley, the artist behind Gather & Flow. I’ve always been an artist and maker—starting with drawing and painting before discovering metalsmithing in 2007 at Virginia Commonwealth University. Working with metals felt like the perfect blend of hands-on craftsmanship and the drawing I had always loved. I fell in love with the fact that I could turn my illustrations into these solid, wearable accessories. Since then, I’ve developed a style inspired by the landscapes I love most, with layered textures and intricate mountain details.
A Few Things About Me
I’M A BIG OUTDOOR LOVER
You’ll often catch me hiking, gardening, or spending summer days at the James River here in Richmond, VA with my family and our dog, Stella. We live on a small, steep property with a creek and towering old-growth trees, which I’ve been restoring with native plants. Watching wildlife pass through and feeling connected to nature constantly inspires my work.
My husband Will is an environmental scientist and river raft guide, so between his influence and my love of the outdoors, living mindfully is always front of mind for me. In my work, I use as much recycled metal and materials as I can and have cut all plastic out of my packaging.
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I AM A NURTURER BY NATURE
I grew up with a dog as my best friend and have always felt connected to animals. These days, I’m surrounded by houseplants, a dog I love like family, and my daughter, Luna. I dream of filling the front yard with tall wildflowers—so far it’s a collection of charmingly awkward patches! Fun fact: my last job before going full-time with G&F was taking care of plants.
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I LOVE MAKING AND CONNECTING
I’ve always loved making and giving handmade gifts, and seeing how meaningful they can be. One of the coolest parts of this job is getting to feel like a little part of that in other people’s stories. That connection and hearing how others relate to my jewelry is everything to me. If you ever feel like reaching out, I’d love to hear from you too!
About Gather & Flow
Gather & Flow began in 2013 as a way to share my love of nature and hands-on craft with the world. Each piece is inspired by the landscapes, textures, and moments that make life feel alive, turning them into jewelry that carries both beauty and meaning. The brand is rooted in thoughtful design, ethical materials, and careful craftsmanship, creating pieces that are meant to be cherished and worn every day. At its heart, Gather & Flow is about connection—connecting with nature, with memories, and with the people who bring these pieces into their own lives
About The Jewelry
I draw inspiration from the natural world, zooming in on textures, patterns, and landscapes that catch my eye. My designs often blend multiple elements or layer cut-out silver to create tiny scenes, capturing both the beauty of nature and meaningful moments that make us feel alive.
Every piece begins as a sketch in my notebook—usually a place, a memory, or a collection of natural elements I want to highlight. When a stone is involved, it often guides the design, inspiring the landscape, patterns, and composition. From sketch to bench, I cut the main components from ethically sourced silver, repositioning and adjusting until the proportions feel just right.
All of my jewelry starts with simple materials: round wire or flat sheets of silver. Using traditional metalsmithing techniques—saws, files, hammers, and a torch—I hand-cut, texture, and layer the pieces. For my everyday collections, I send my handmade designs to a small New York workshop that creates rubber molds and casts recycled silver. This allows me to reduce scrap waste, maximize recycled material and make certain designs available to more people, while ensuring that each piece still carries my personal craftsmanship.
When the castings return, they arrive as rough silver forms. I then finish each piece by hand—soldering, retexturing, polishing, and oxidizing—adding every detail myself. Every jump ring, clasp, and connecting element is made and adjusted by hand, so each piece is intentionally crafted, functional, and unique. I love pairing crisp, realistic outlines with rugged, organic textures that show evidence of the hands that made them. A soft satin finish, contrasted with a dark patina, gives the pieces depth and character.
Each piece arrives thoughtfully packaged using recycled and sustainably sourced materials, ready to gift or enjoy yourself.
Let’s Connect
If you ever feel like reaching out to share a thought, a story, or just to say hi — I’d love to hear from you! Those connections are a big part of why I do what I do.