The Architect of the Wild collection began as a dance between the opposing forces Cristen felt in life. The need to create a safe container for her family with schedules and rhythm against her innate desire for spontaneity, adventure and exploration of the unpredictable. The disciplined and the wild, held in the same hand. This manifested as a new intersection of styles coming together in an juxtaposed and exhilarating fashion. The structured art deco lines combine with the organic flow of flora and fauna, the Twenty-five years of practice, together finally moving as one body of work.
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Every piece begins with an inspiration set to paper.
I draw the design in detail, then choose its path — some are carved in wax by hand, some are shaped in CAD. It depends on the detail, and the feeling I want the finished piece to hold.
Some reveal the organic signs of the artist's hand. Others lean into the precision and rhythm that mathematical lines bring to life.
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From there, the waxes travel with me to Los Angeles, hand-delivered to my beloved production team. They build the molds, set the masters, and begin the casting.
Each design is cast in multiple pure metals, so the same piece can live in different price points and aesthetics.
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Then come the hands. Many of them. Cleaning, polishing, detailing — every imprint matters.
When the pieces return to our Austin studio, we set the stones, assemble the chains and findings.
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Then the final textures and finishing details that make each one feel alive.
Before it leaves us, our team lovingly pairs each piece with its symbolism card and builds a custom package around it — so it arrives feeling exactly the way it deserves to.