Animal Jewelry Inspired by North American Wildlife: Possums, Armadillos, Alligators, Raccoons, and More

The Fauna Collection is artisan jewelry inspired by North American wildlife. All your favorite wild animals are in this collection of animal jewelry.

My Fauna Collection of wildlife jewelry is dedicated to the squirrels who nest inside the hollow of my oak tree, the snakes who hide under the oak's fallen leaves, and the snails who forage at its mossy roots. I designed this collection of animal jewelry after taking a few months off from creating, where I sat on my porch a lot and thought about what I really wanted to make. While I watched the squirrels fuss in the trees, discovered snakes under rocks, and helped turtles cross the road, I considered how much joy it brought me to be among nature’s living creatures. I started with the Armadillo Necklace because I’ve always loved Armadillos, and I had so much fun carving the little feet and hands that I decided I needed a squirrel. then a raccoon, then an opossum. I knew I had to have snakes in this collection. I have snakes in nearly all of my jewelry collections. I added a turtle, an alligator, and a frog to the menagerie for all the underrated crawly critters that live beside us. This collection of animal jewelry is my favorite collection I have ever designed. Each creature was designed, carved, and sculpted painstakingly in precious metal clay, and I made a mold of each one to be able to reproduce it. Bronze is my favorite material to work with. It feels luxurious, but it’s affordable. Each gold necklace is made with quality 14k gold-filled chain, and the pendants are solid bronze. Each silver necklace and pendant is solid sterling silver. And everything is nickel-free. I hope you have fun visiting my zoo!

Trash panda alert! This little Raccoon Necklace features a tiny raccoon poking its head out of a trashcan. I carved this tiny sculpture by hand before casting it. The gold-colored raccoon necklace features a solid bronze raccoon in a trashcan pendant on an 18-inch paper-clip-style chain. The silver raccoon necklace features a solid sterling silver raccoon charm on an 18-inch sterling silver paperclip-style chain.

This squirrel necklace is cast from an original tiny sculpture I made by hand in bronze. The little squirrel pendant is 3-demensional and depicts a squirrel holding a tiny acorn. The gold-colored version of this necklace features a solid bronze squirrel on a gorgeous 18-inch 14k gold-filled twisted rope chain. The silver version featues a solid sterling silver squirrel on an 18-inch long box-style chain.

here’s maybe nothing cuter than having a little frog hanging around your neck. My Frog Necklace is playful and fun, featuring a frog reaching up to grab onto the chain and accented with a little green glass leaf. Gold frog necklace features a solid bronze frog charm on an 18-inch 14k gold-filled twisted rope chain, and silver necklace features a solid sterling silver frog charm on 18-inch paper-clip style sterling silver chain.

Keep a little rattlesnake wrapped around your finger. This hand-carved rattlesnake ring wraps its body around your finger and is sizeable. The outside and inside of this snake ring are both detailed, with diamond-like patterns on the outside and belly lines on the inside. The rattle snake ring comes in solid bronze or solid sterling silver, both nickel-free. You can stretch and shape your rattlesnake ring up to about a size 10 or shape it down to about a size 2.

Welcome to Gator Country! I had to pay homage to my favorite animal, the living dinosaur, the alligator, with this Alligator in the Swamp Cuff bracelet. On the outside of the cuff, an alligator swims partially submerged in water. Alligator bracelets come in solid bronze or solid sterling silver and are nickel-free. Cuffs measure approximately 6 inches in length, with about an inch of an opening as they come, but they are sizeable and can be adjusted smaller or larger. These alligator hoop earrings are cast from a sculpted alligator pendant I carved by hand and are 3-dimensional, with scaly details on the belly and back. Gold-colored alligator earrings are made with solid bronze alligator charms on 14k gold-filled huggie-style hoop earrings. Silver alligator earrings feature a solid sterling silver alligator pendant on a sterling silver hoops. This alligator necklace is cast from a sculpted alligator pendant I carved by hand and is 3-dimensional, with scaly details on the belly and back

These adorable Snail Hoop Earrings look great with absolutely anything. They’re dainty, yet super cute and interesting. I can’t stand to make a boring piece of tiny jewelry, so even when I go small, I gotta make it fun! The gold-colored snail earrings feature a solid bronze snail charm cast from a tiny charm I sculpted by hand dangling from 14k gold-filled huggie-style hoop earrings. The silver snail earrings feature solid sterling silver snail charms on sterling silver hoops. Earrings are nickel-free and come on a cute card back that makes them great for gifting.

This little hand-carved Armadillo Necklace was one of my favorite things to make in this Fauna Collection of animal jewelry. Each necklace features an armadillo pendant on its back curved slightly as if it’s about to curl into a ball. The necklace is approximately 18 inches in length and is available with a solid bronze armadillo pendant on a 14k gold-filled chain or a sterling silver armadillo charm on a sterling silver chain. Necklaces are nickel-free and come on cute card backs perfect for gifting

Slither into a sumptuous snake necklace with my new Rattlesnake Necklace. This necklace is cast from a hand-carved snake charm I created with details on the inside and outside: the outside of the rattlesnake has a soft diamond-like pattern and the inside has a lined belly pattern. Gold-colored snake necklaces are made with a solid bronze snake charm on a 14k gold-filled paperclip-style chain, and silver rattlesnake necklaces are made with a solid sterling silver snake pendant on a sterling silver snake-style chain.

There’s just nothing cuter than a possum. That’s why I had to make our favorite neighborhood critter into jewelry! These Opossum Earrings were cast from a tiny opossum sculpture I carved by hand. Gold-colored opossum earrings feature a solid bronze opossum charm holding onto a 14k gold-filled huggie-style hoop earring with its tail. Silver possum earrings feature a solid sterling silver opossum charm on a sterling silver hoop. Earrings are nickel-free and come on a cute card back that’s fun to gift.

There’s just nothing cuter than a possum. That’s why I had to make our favorite neighborhood critter into jewelry! This Opossum necklace was cast from a tiny opossum sculpture I carved by hand. Gold-colored possum necklace features a solid bronze opossum charm holding onto a 14k gold-filled 18-inch twisted rope chain with its tail. Silver opossum necklace features a solid sterling silver opossum charm on a sterling silver 18-inch paperclip-style chain.

This adorable Snail Necklace looks great with absolutely anything. It’s dainty, yet super cute and interesting. I can’t stand to make a boring piece of tiny jewelry, so even when I go small, I gotta make it fun! The gold-colored snail necklace features a solid bronze snail charm cast from a tiny charm I sculpted by hand dangling from a 14k gold-filled 18-inch paperclip-style chain. The silver snail necklace features a solid sterling silver snail charm on sterling silver paperclip-style 18-inch chain.

Hop down the rabbit hole with my new Fauna Collection, featuring this whimsical rabbit necklace that comes in silver and gold. The Rabbit Necklace is cast from a hand-carved tiny sculpture I made of a rabbit holding a carrot. Gold-colored necklaces are made with a solid bronze bunny pendant on a 14k gold-filled twisted rope chain, and silver necklaces are made with a solid sterling silver rabbit charm on a sterling silver paperclip-style chain

I had to resurrect the snake cuff bracelet from my Creatures of Night Collection because it fits so perfectly with this new Fauna Collection of animal jewelry. This snake cuff is cast in solid bronze and sterling silver from a snake bracelet I sculpted by hand, featuring a rattle at the tail that was modeled after a real rattlesnake tail I made a mold of. The cuff bracelets are available in solid bronze or sterling silver and are adjustable.

There’s maybe nothing cuter than having a couple of frogs hanging from your ears. My Frog Hoop Earrings are playful and fun, featuring a pair of frogs reaching up to grab onto huggie hoop earrings. Gold earrings feature solid bronze frog charms on 14k gold-filled hoops, and silver earrings feature solid sterling silver frog charms on sterling silver hoops. Earrings are nickel-free and come on a cute card back with a picture of a frog.

I made this Box Turtle Necklace as an homage to all the turtles that used to wander into my backyard when I was a child and that I rarely see anymore. This turtle statement necklace features a tortoise pendant I hand-carved then cast and a green glass bead to add a pop of green like the grass these box turtles call home. Gold-colored turtle necklace is made with a solid bronze tortoise charm on a 20-inch 14k gold-filled chain. Silver necklaces are made with a solid sterling silver turtle on a 20-inch sterling silver chain. This turtle pendant is detailed at every angle and hangs in a way that shows off that aspect. It’s meant to spin around a little bit, almost like a tortoise on its back, and not to sit with the bottom against your chest. This necklace is also available without the green glass and strung with the chain through the charm to lay more flat I’d you prefer.

I hope you enjoy my Fauna Collection of animal jewelry! To peruse the whole collection and see detailed images of each ring, necklace, bracelet and earring, click here to visit the Fauna Collection jewelry page on my website, where you can order your new favorite piece of artisan jewelry made in Arkansas.

The Aviary Collection: Handmade Artisan Jewelry Inspired by Birds

Birds have a secret language. Many of them, like parrots and cockatoos, famously can be taught human words, and highly intelligent birds, like crows and ravens, have their own language of calls and cries within their species. But birds have a special language to humans— a tongue of significance, symbolism and omen. In my Aviary Collection of jewelry inspired by our feathered friends, I’ve pulled from the legends and histories of some of my favorite birds to create cast bronze and sterling silver tributes to them and the role they’ve played in human lives and storytelling. Find our bird-inspired necklaces and earrings at our North Little Rock, Arkansas, jewelry and gift store or online through the links below.

The tiny Hummingbird feeds almost exclusively on nectar, flitting from bloom to bloom on its wings that beat around 50 times per second (for North American species), making it a fantastic pollinator. In Mexican folklore, the hummingbird is revered for its connection to love and romance. Our Hummingbird Earrings feature tiny, dainty hummingbirds feeding from blossoms. Above each flower is a faceted, iridescent hematite bead. Find our hummingbird earrings here.

The tiny Hummingbird feeds almost exclusively on nectar, flitting from bloom to bloom on its wings that beat around 50 times per second (for North American species), making it a fantastic pollinator. In Mexican folklore, the hummingbird is revered for its connection to love and romance. Our Hummingbird Necklace features a hummingbird feeding from a sunflower. Above the pendant is a line of eight faceted, iridescent hematite beads. Find our hummingbird necklace here.

Unlike many flighted birds with angular feathers, Ostrich feathers are balanced on each side, symbolizing equality, truth and justice. In ancient Egypt, the goddess Ma’at weighed the hearts of the dead against an ostrich feather, and if a heart was as light as the feather, that meant the owner led a virtuous life and could enter paradise. Our Ostrich Feather Earrings are simple yet elegant, featuring an ostrich feather with a quill that extends into the ear wire of the earrings. These feather earrings are available in solid cast bronze or sterling silver. Find our ostrich feather earrings here.

Unlike many flighted birds with angular feathers, Ostrich feathers are balanced on each side, symbolizing equality, truth and justice. In ancient Egypt, the goddess Ma’at weighed the hearts of the dead against an ostrich feather, and if a heart was as light as the feather, that meant the owner led a virtuous life and could enter paradise. Our Ostrich Feather Necklace features a simple yet gorgeous feather on an 18-inch paperclip style chain elegant enough for one of the world’s most elegant feathers. This necklace is available as a cast bronze ostrich feather charm on a 14k gold-filled chain or as a sterling silver charm on a sterling silver chain. Both styles are free of nickel and come on a decorative card back displaying the significance of the ostrich feather. Find our ostrich feather necklace here.

The mythical Phoenix is reborn again and again, combusting and rising from its own ashes. Across cultures, it’s a symbol of strength and perseverance. It’s also a symbol of gentleness, as according to some legends it lives on smoke and dew, never harming another living thing. Our Phoenix necklace features a fierce Phoenix rising from flames, wings fearlessly spread. This necklace is available in bronze with a cast bronze phoenix pendant on a 20-inch 14k gold-filled chain or in silver with a sterling silver phoenix pendant and 20-inch sterling silver chain. The clasp can be fastened to any link in the chain, so you can wear the necklace shorter if you prefer. Find our phoenix necklace here.

Ravens are members of the most intelligent group of birds: the corvids. They speak their own language of calls and cries and can be taught human words. Perhaps this is why they’re historically considered to be oracles, symbols of wisdom, omniscient, predictors of coming danger, and able to traverse the realms of both the living and dead. Our Raven Necklace features a raven carved into a circular pendant with an all-seeing eye. Above the pendant is a faceted bead of black onyx. The Raven Necklace is available as a bronze pendant on an 18-inch 14k gold-filled paperclip-style chain or as a sterling silver pendant on an 18-inch sterling silver paperclip-style chain. Find our raven necklace here.

Doves are symbols of love and peace, often depicted carrying olive branches or tenderly nuzzling each other. They’re expert messengers, domesticated more than 5,000 years ago for correspondence and companionship. Across cultures, doves have symbolized femininity, motherhood and the moon. They’re sacred in Islam and Christianity; legend says that Muhammad trained doves, and the devil in Christianity can shapeshift into many forms except the dove. Our Dove Hoop Earrings feature a pair of doves, one with wings spread and the other at rest. Each earring measures approximately 1.5 inches across. Dove Earrings are available in solid cast bronze or solid sterling silver. Both styles are free of nickel. Each pair of dove earrings comes on a decorate card back with the story of doves. Find our dove hoop earrings here.

Geese may be the oldest birds domesticated by humans nearly 7,000 years ago. Their close relationship with people has made them sacred in many cultures. The “goose laying the golden egg” dates to ancient Egypt, with the golden egg representing the sun. Ancient Celts considered geese so sacred they weren’t to be eaten. In India, Brahma is shown riding a goose. Geese are migratory, forming a strong V shape together in flight, and geese mate for life. Geese are protectors, fiercely guarding their young and the humans they’re close to. Our Goose Necklace features a goose in flight with fellow geese in V-formation in the background of the round pendant. The Goose Necklace is available as a cast bronze pendant on an 18-inch 14k gold-filled chain or as a sterling silver pendant on an 18-inch sterling silver chain. Find our goose necklace here.

The Peacock is the national bird of India, where it is exalted for its habit of eating snakes—even venomous ones. Its taste for poisonous serpents led to the belief that peacocks can neutralize toxins, making the bird a symbol of purity as well. The Peacock means good luck in many cultures, and the “eye” of its iridescent tail feathers is symbolic of the evil eye in some. Our Peacock Necklace features a peacock set against the imprint of the eye of a peacock feather and encircled by a subtle snake biting its tail. The Peacock Necklace is available as a cast bronze pendant on a 14k gold-filled chain or as a sterling silver pendant on a sterling silver chain. Chains measure approximately 19.5 inches and may be fastened at any link on the chain in case you’d prefer to wear the necklace shorter. Find our peacock necklace here.

The Flamingo, perched precariously on one leg in the shallow water, reminds us to find balance in our own lives. Its whimsical pink coloring makes it stand out among other birds, reminding us to be ourselves, however different we may appear. And its curved neck shapes one half of a heart, forming a whole when it pairs with a mate, which it attracts with its flamboyant dance moves. Our Flamingo Necklace features a pair of flamingos touching beaks to form a heart shape and is topped with two beads of pink rhodochrosite to add a pop of flamingo pink. This necklace is available as a solid bronze pendant on a 14k gold-filled chain or a sterling silver pendant on a sterling silver chain. Necklaces measure approximately 18 inches and can be fastened on any link of the chain, so they may be worn slightly shorter if you prefer. Find our flamingo necklace here.

The Wren is believed to be the bird of witches, and a wren feather can protect you against magical spells. On the Isle of Man in the United Kingdom, wren feathers are thought to protect sailors from shipwrecks because sorcerous wrens can transform into Sirens. On the other side of the Atlantic, Pawnee Native Americans considered the wren a joyous, happy bird because it sings so loudly at sunrise. Our Wren Necklace features a little wren perched on the crescent moon, rich with witchy vibes. This necklace is available as a cast bronze pendant on an 18-inch 14k gold-filled paperclip-style chain or a sterling silver pendant on an 18-inch sterling silver paperclip-style chain. Find our wren necklace here.