Life & Work with Lily Raven

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lily Raven.

Hi Lily, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started my line in 2019. It started with designs that I dreamed up and had fellow artisan jewelers bring to life. I quickly started to feel like that was too distanced of an experience for me. I wanted to be more intimately involved in the creation of the pieces that I was imaging, so I took to hand-carving them myself. It wasn’t long before I had learned how to cast, set stones, and finish the pieces myself. My business has evolved and grown, and my Los Angeles studio is now a sanctuary to create and design, and continue to invent. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s had its ups and downs. I think the biggest challenge for me has been my limitations and skills with jewelry making vs. my immense amount of ideas and designs. When I previously worked with other jewelers and essentially commissioned them to create my pieces, frankly, that was easier. I had an idea; we went through some iterations of the pieces, and voila! It was magically done. The standard I’ve set for myself of being the one to make each original piece has felt confining at times, but each challenge makes me better, and I find myself less intimidated to forge ahead. When you’re so close to what you make you truly understand the gravity and profound accomplishment of the finished piece. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a designer and jeweler based in Los Angeles. I focus on fine jewelry made in 14k gold with precious and semi-precious gemstones. The defining characteristics of my line tend to be a contrast between modern elements and organic motifs. 

When I think about my proudest pieces, they’re always the ones that I worked the hardest to make. Those are the ones that I know mattered the most to me, and they still do. Whether it was because of an emotional motivation with the piece or just that I couldn’t get the design out of my head, I just knew I had to perfect it and see it to completion. The Dripping Gold Ring is the first piece that I made, start to finish, all by myself. It’s simple but bold and has become a trademark of the collection. 

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The pandemic hit not long after I launched my line, actually. It was difficult to feel optimistic at all at that time, but it felt grim to think about the future of my business. But with a shift in perspective, I found a way to spin it into gold. I think most of us found a way to do that in our lives. 

That’s really when I took up making pieces myself. It felt like the opportune time to start reading about ancient techniques and modern tools. I put together an extensive workshop in that period and learned how to do most of the jewelry-making process myself. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://corvojewelry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corvojewelry/