Today we’d like to introduce you to Savannah King.
Hi Savannah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in Southern California by artists that shared the magic of nature with me and believed the ocean could heal all wounds. I think I fell in love with goldsmithing because it offered me an opportunity to honor the gifts of the earth while adorning both the body and spirit.
It took me some time to find this craft however. I ran away to New York at eighteen and tried my hand at every creative medium I could! For years I played bass in an all-girl rock’n’roll band called Bad Girlfriend, as well as making neon light dreamcatchers and working for fashion companies doing naturally dyed tie dye. I was installing a neon piece at The Reformation store on the lower east side when the owner asked if I could make jewelry, I said, “sure!” thinking, how hard could it be? It was summer and the first class available was at The Jewelry Arts Institute on 49th street, where the focus is on ancient and classical goldsmithing. I remember going up the elevator for the first day of class and having goosebumps. I could feel that this was about to change my life. I spent the whole summer in the studio taking classes and it felt like a remembrance, maybe of past lifetimes working with metal in this ancient way but certainly of the sense that I’d finally found the medium to bridge my spiritual practice with my love of creating. Adornment has been a natural impulse of humanity since the beginning of time, a way for the external to mirror the internal, to honor ourselves and our beloveds. I was hooked.
I accepted a two years apprenticeship at the studio, learning the craft inside and out while sweeping floors and caring for equipment. I eventually became a teacher at Jewelry Arts and spent years in their wonderful community dedicated to keeping the knowledge of traditional craft alive.
A few years ago, the Brooklyn apartment I’d lived in for over 10 years was devoured by a fire that started in the pizza shop below my place. It was hard to leave the city I’d grown to love but I knew California was calling me back home. I spent a year getting back on my feet and figuring out which neighborhood might feel like home. I ended up in Topanga Canyon where I’m able to be in nature every day and hike with my husky puppy, Opal.
Since returning to California, my work has moved more deeply into sacred adornment. I work with stones as healers, honoring both the materials used and the client’s personal journey. I offer a line of jewelry on my website and have a waitlist for custom work in which specific intentions are woven in and personal stones or shells can be used to create a one-of-a-kind piece.
This year I joined the Vacation With An Artist collective to offer mini apprenticeship opportunities to travelers who want to experience Topanga’s magic and learn to make jewelry.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting over in California through a pandemic was challenging. It was a real practice in trust. I had no idea in those early days how it would all work out. I needed to invest in studio equipment, find my west coast clientele and have faith that despite gold prices going through the roof (the market price of gold has reached record highs through the pandemic and the war in Ukraine) that people were still going to be called towards sacred adornment. I’ve had days where I thought I might need to find another path but somehow, the business keeps growing and my relationship to the craft is inspired more and more by my life here. I’m learning that my business is one of my greatest spiritual teachers, offering opportunities to expand what I believe is possible through trusting the process and opening the doors to my inner world through creative expression.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an artist whose work is dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom and craftsmanship into modern life.
The jewelry I create is guided by spirit and charged with intention. These are pieces hand wrought as personal talismans of healing, magic, protection, and manifestation. They are created honoring the stones and metals as healers. I employ ancient goldsmithing techniques to hand-make each piece of jewelry, transforming raw gold nuggets and crystals into fine jewelry ready to be worn for a lifetime.
I am proud that all of my work is made here in Los Angeles with ethical sourcing and sustainability in mind.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
To make your passion your business, it takes trust, grit, and dedication I never knew could run so deep! It’s important to prioritize what inspires you so you don’t burn out and remember that the world needs what you uniquely have to offer. I’ve learned that the weirder I get, the more I’m magnetized to my dream clients and projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.savannahking.com
- Instagram: @savannahkingjewelry
- Other: https://vawaa.com/artists/savannah-sacred-adornment-topanga-california-united-states
Image Credits
Margot Ducharme
