Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Kroeger.
Hi Angela, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started designing jewelry in my early twenties after my grandmother, who was a silversmith, introduced me to the craft. I was studying art at the time, but fell in love with working with metal and gemstones. I then changed direction, attending a jewelry college and then apprenticing under master jewelers in Vancouver.
In the early years, my husband Michael and I built a small business called Michelangela Design, creating engagement rings and other custom pieces. I was the jeweler and carver, while he developed an interest in stones and began studying gemology through the GIA Institute, all while pursuing his music career. When Mike’s music career took off, everything changed. We spent years touring the world and eventually moved to Maui, where we focused on raising our two kids while I stayed active with my artistic passions—painting and sculpture.
Jewelry was always in the background, and I knew I’d return to it when the time was right. After settling in Los Angeles, I finally had the time and space to get back to it—House of RAVN is the result. It’s the evolution of everything I’ve learned—through design, through motherhood, through life. Every piece is hand-carved and made with intention.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
That’s a loaded question, haha. Definitely not smooth, but I think that’s true for all creative paths. In the early days, I was learning as I went, both the craft and the business side of things. Jewelry design is such a detail-oriented, technical field, and it took years of trial, error, and mentorship to really find my footing.
Later, when we paused the business to support Mike’s career and raise our kids, there was always a part of me wondering when, or if, I’d return to it. That was hard, because I never lost the passion, but life had other plans for a while.
Coming back to jewelry after such a long break also had its challenges. The industry had changed a lot—CAD design, mass production, social media. I had to re-learn how to navigate it all, while also staying true to the slow, hands-on process that I love.
But every twist in the road has shaped how I work today. I think the depth and perspective I bring to House of RAVN comes directly from those years of stepping away, learning other lessons, and returning with a new sense of clarity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in hand-carving jewelry from wax, an older, more traditional method that’s becoming less common. There’s something incredibly rewarding about starting with a block of wax and watching a vision come to life using only your hands and a few tools. There’s an intimacy and romance to that process that I think gets lost in digital production.
Over the past two years, I’ve been carving a set of sculptural chess pieces. It’s been one of the most challenging and rewarding projects I’ve ever taken on, and I can’t wait to see them all set up together. I’m also really proud of my hand-carved animal pieces. I’ve been an animal lover my whole life and have rescued all kinds—from dogs and cats to birds and horses—so those pieces carry a lot of personal meaning for me.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Not compromising my vision for sales, trends, or the masses. I only work with the finest gems and metals, and I prioritize working in the traditional methods that I studied.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://houseofravn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofravn/
