Etsy Crush: Round House Jewelry

Photograph courtesy of Round House Jewelry

A photographer by trade and training, Lisa Sachs now spends her time making jewelry at her home studio in Newton. The Massachusetts native makes rugged yet feminine leather wrap bracelets and hammered metal necklaces in silver and bronze — and in straightforward designs that make us swoon. Sachs answered a few of our questions about her handiwork.

How did you get into jewelry making?
I trained as a photographer and spent years making and showing my work around the world. But I came to find working in three dimensions more satisfying, somehow, than the flat, two-dimensional world of photos. So after much debate, I put my life as an artistic photographer on hold and threw myself into the craft of designing jewelry. I love working in three dimensions. And honestly, I love knowing that people are wearing my art. That’s something no photographer can say — it matters to me that people take my creations and make them part of their everyday lives.

What inspires your designs?
I spend much of my time in a small, round house on an island off the coast of Maine. That’s why I named my company Round House Jewelry, and I think my designs reflect that place. They’re rugged, natural, honest, and simple.

What are your three favorite accessories?
1. I have a handwoven and hand-dyed shawl that I bought from a vendor at the Sheep and Wool Festival in Maryland. It’s soft and thick, a bit like a blanket, but small enough to wear over the shoulders. It’s amazing.
2. I have a wallet and cell-phone holder from Eight Seasons. Incredible design. Just brilliant.
3. My hairband. It’s from Lululemon, it’s white, simple, and it works. I’m a runner, and this thing is simply perfect.

Describe the metal work process you use to create some of your designs.
Metal clay is a soft and malleable clay that combines pure silver or bronze and an organic binder. Each piece is hand formed by me, and then left to dry for 24 hours. From there, the dry clay is sanded and the shape is refined. It is placed in my kiln and fired in high temperatures. The extreme heat burns away the binding material, leaving only the fine silver or solid bronze in my intended shape. The final results are unique and the design possibilities are endless.

Are your designs sold anywhere locally or just online?
I sell at The Niblic (Chebeague Island, ME), Kennebec River Artisans (Kennebec, ME), Mar Mar Jewelers (Block Island, RI), L.A. Sports Club (Ritz Hotel, Boston), and Sarida (Roslindale, MA). This year, I’ll also be at a number of local fairs: Shecky’s Boston (October 26th), Temple Emanuel Sisterhood Boutique Newton (November 6), Hingham Shipyard Holiday Fair (November 26 and 27), Church of the Redeemer, Newton (December 2 and 3), Boston Bazaar Bizarre (December 4), and SoWa Holiday Fair (December 10).