10 Years of Handcrafted Jewelry
2026 marks 10 years since I caught the metalsmithing bug and began my Cara Carter Jewelry journey. Because all of my jewelry is handmade and most pieces are one-of-a-kind, I've added this gallery to tell you a little bit more about myself and my journey through some of the jewelry pieces I've made and sold over these last 10 years.
Hi, I'm Cara!
I’ve always had a creative side. From cross-stitching and crochet as a child, to trying my hand at painting, stained glass, beaded jewelry, and pottery as an adult, I’ve always enjoyed creating art in its many forms. But because there were bills to be paid, I worked for many years in real estate finance and asset management. After a layoff in 2008 and the subsequent birth of my child, I accepted that world was never a good fit for me and I didn’t want to return to it. Ever.
Intro to Metalsmithing
After reading an article in a local paper about metalsmithing classes at the Creative Side Jewelry Academy in south Austin, the idea of learning how to make real jewelry sounded fun so I signed up for their Intro to Metalsmithing course. Over four weeks in the summer of 2016, I learned how to use tools such as a torch, a jeweler’s saw, hammers and files to turn silver and gemstones into beautiful, wearable jewelry. I was hooked.
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Hummingbird Pendant
Hummingbird NecklaceThe Hummingbird was my first hand-pierced and hammered animal pendant, and I still offer it on my website today.
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Monarch Opal Cuff Links
These cuff links were a custom request. The stones were incredibly beautiful and it was hard to part with them but they made a perfect pair of cuff links!
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Turquoise, Lepiodolite, Fossil Coral
These three pendants were commissioned by my mom (thanks Mom!) as gifts. As a new metalsmith, I especially appreciated custom requests as it gave me a lot of helpful practice.
Practice, Practice, Practice
With a basic understanding of some metalsmithing skills under my belt, I purchased a jeweler’s bench and an array of tools so that I could start practicing stone setting at home. I borrowed library books and purchased reference books to learn as much as I could about new techniques. I also signed up for additional classes in lost-wax casting, enamel, gold/silver fusion, and stone carving to further my knowledge. I made a lot of pieces and they weren’t all pretty. But I read a lot and learned a lot with every piece I made. And I still do!
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Lab Created Alexandrite
As much as I wish I could have made this ring with real alexandrite (and gold), the costs of both were prohibitive. Nevertheless, I loved how this ring turned out.
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Monarch Opal
Another lab-created gemstone that I've used a lot (and still use today) is known as Monarch Opal. They come in an array of flashing colors and this stone was particularly captivating.
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Larimar in 14k Gold
Due to the cost, I don't work with gold often. But this was a custom request and I was happy to oblige. The 14k gold against the dreamy ocean blue Larimar is stunning!
Starting a Business
Because I was making so much jewelry (so much more than I could personally ever wear) and spending so much money on metal, pretty stones, and super cool tools (there are sooo many!), Cara Carter Jewelry came about as a necessity. If I wanted to be able to afford to keep making jewelry (and adding to my tool collection), I was going to have to start selling. Despite having a business degree, starting a small business and running every aspect of it has been at times a difficult and emotional experience. And yet somehow, it’s also been a rewarding and fulfilling journey.
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Infinity Ring
I made my first hammered infinity ring in 2019. It's springy and fun to wear and just a great everyday ring. It's my next bestseller, after my Cardinal and Hummingbird pendants.
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Mohave Turquoise and Amazonite
I loved the color combo of these two stones together. However, these earrings taught me to be aware of weight. While the buyer was fine with the weight, the stones plus the metal made these too heavy for my ears. As I don't want to sell anything I wouldn't wear, I really try to be cognizant of earring weight now.
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Monarch Opal Cuff
I haven't made many cuffs, mainly because I found them hard to sell. So I'll only do them as customs for now. This beauty did sell on Etsy, however. It's flashing colors were so pretty... yet another one-of-a-kind piece that was hard to part with.
Creating Joy
I continue to create for Cara Carter Jewelry because I enjoy combining my love of art, nature, and personal connection into something tangible; something people can wear every day and feel confident, beautiful, and themselves in. I wouldn’t keep doing this if not for every person who has crossed my path on this journey, whether it’s the friend with a custom spirit-animal jewelry request, the market customer who smiles while she admires her new one-of-a-kind opal ring, or the online purchaser who leaves me a heart-felt review for the necklace he purchased for his wife. It’s these connections that I’ve made over the last 10 years that fill my cup and I hope that I’m able to continue to create wearable art that brings people joy for many years to come.
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Citrine Infinity Bracelet
This may have been the first chain bracelet that I made from scratch. Based on the time it took to make all of the links as well as the stone setting, I didn't charge near enough to justify the work that went into this. But at the time, I looked at it as practice and was happy it made it's way out into the world.
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Garnet, Citrine, Peridot
I called these my Traffic Light Earrings. I thought they were so cool!
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Purple Sapphire
Sapphire is probably my favorite stone to work with. While other stones may be more striking, I love the rainbow of colors that sapphires provide, as well as their exceptional hardness. I particularly loved the color of this one, as well as the flower prong details I came up with for this design.
Handmade. Always.
I now focus primarily on nature-inspired precious metal and gemstone jewelry. I make all of my jewelry by hand and I design my pieces for women who seek to express their unique personal style through one-of-a-kind and nature-inspired designs that are both organic and elegant and made to last.