About the Artist

Artisana Designs is the independent jewelry studio of artist and metalsmith Alissa. Each piece is designed and made by hand, inspired by the landscapes of the American West and a lifelong connection to wild places.

Long before returning to jewelry, Alissa spent years living, working, and exploring the backcountry of the American West—from the Grand Canyon, Sonoran Desert, and Yellowstone to the Tetons, Montana, Colorado, and Alaska. With a background in environmental studies, ecology, and natural history, much of her education and experience took place in the field, where she developed a deep connection to wild and vast landscapes—and an appreciation for the intricate details, textures, and patterns found within them.

As an environmental educator, interpretive naturalist, and field researcher, Alissa spent years immersed in these landscapes—studying plants and wildlife, exploring desert canyons and mountain ecosystems, and helping others understand, appreciate, and connect with the natural world. That path eventually led to a career devoted to conserving wild places, work she continues today.

Those experiences left an enduring imprint on the way she sees and creates. The colors of stone and earth, weathered surfaces, mountain ridgelines, flowing water, and the imperfect geometry found in nature all find their way into Artisana Designs. Her experience with mosaic also shapes the way she brings together stone, metal, texture, and form.

Many pieces begin simply—with a stone that is too beautiful or unusual to pass by. Turquoise, weathered stone, quartz, and other natural materials are chosen for their individual character rather than their uniformity. From there, each design evolves around the material itself. Hand-forged metals, visible settings, natural edges, deerskin, leather, and subtle irregularities become part of the story rather than something to conceal.

In many ways, Artisana Designs is a continuation of the work Alissa has always been drawn to: finding ways to share a sense of connection to the natural world. The result is jewelry that feels both ancient and modern—sculptural, grounded, and a little untamed. Pieces meant not simply to accessorize, but to be worn and lived with as personal artifacts.

Every Artisana piece is made slowly and by hand. Many are one of a kind; others are created in very small quantities. Variations are part of their character, and no two are exactly alike.

Elemental Artifacts

Inspired by the land. Refined by hand.