Rising Stars: Meet Charity Wanechek of Elko, Nevada

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charity Wanechek.

Hi Charity, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m Charity, and I am the sole artist behind Ghost Town Metal Works – a mainly online hand-crafted fine jewelry business located in rural northeastern Nevada. I grew up in Yerington (not far from the California border), and from a young age, I was totally obsessed with ghost towns—places like Bodie, California or Virginia City, Nevada, which I visited a bunch as a kid and still go back to now. There’s something about those old, weathered places that really stuck with me, and that inspiration definitely shows up in my work—and even in my logo.

I started Ghost Town Metal Works because I wanted to make fine jewelry that felt connected to those places and stories. Everything I do is handmade, using old-school tools like saws, hammers, torches—you name it. Lately, I’ve been learning lost wax casting, which is this cool ancient technique where I carve my designs in wax and then cast them into metal. It’s been a fun way to push my skills and add new textures to my pieces.

I moved back to Elko County in 2022, and the desert out here really fuels my creativity. My family and I are very enamored with the outdoors, wilderness, and wildlife. We spend a lot of our time exploring, backpacking, and driving far into public lands to play.

I put out small collections a few times a year, and I also take on bespoke work (on a case-by-case basis). You can find me online on Instagram, YouTube, and my website. I’m also really excited to start showing my work in local shops—like Sierra Strange in Bridgeport, California, where I’ll have a display this winter just in time for holiday shopping. Sierra Strange is owned and operated by renowned California artist Candy “Wild” Weil. You can find Sierra Strange on Instagram at @sierrastrange_usa . And their physical “Stay Strange” Art Gallery + Coffee Shop located at: 157 Main Street, Bridgeport, CA 93517

All in all, I’d say my story is about staying curious, loving where I’m from, and always wanting to learn more and make meaningful work that evolves over the course of my lifetime.

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?
Has it been a smooth road? Honestly, no. Number one – learning to stand out. How do you create work that is different, but true to yourself? How do you find the people who can relate to your story and your passion behind what you do? Finding “your people” that appreciate what you create is the first largest hurdle. One way to stand out is getting experience under your belt. Learning new skills constantly (like lost wax casting on my own in my studio) has been challenging. There’s been plenty of trial and error, but it’s really cool to see that progress and add something new to my work. I have set a goal for completing some sort of continuing education in my craft one to two times a year. There is so much to learn in the path of goldsmithing, especially when I haven’t attended an extensive year-around goldsmithing program. I love to learn though, so the idea of having things to figure out still is exciting to me. I am majorly using online resources and books for expanding my skillset, with a rare in person week-long workshop I may travel for.

Living in a rural area means I don’t always have easy access to materials, services, or networking opportunities (thank God for social media!), but honestly, being surrounded by the desert and nature that inspire me makes it all worth it. All my materials, supplies, and things I need for my studio must be shipped in. If studio equipment needs maintenance or repair- it falls on my shoulders, and the YouTube search engine.

On top of that, running a micro-business (absolutely solo in every way!) means dealing with all the stuff that doesn’t always come natural to me—like marketing, shipping, taxes, and keeping track of inventory—while still carving out time to actually make the jewelry by hand. I had to learn a lot of business aspects. I am finishing up year 8 of business, and every year has brought new opportunities for learning, growing, and pivoting.

Being a stay-at-home parent with my studio right in my home means I’m always juggling family life and work, sometimes all at the same time. It’s definitely a balancing act, and it takes a lot of patience and flexibility to keep everything moving.

So yeah, it’s had its ups and downs, but the struggles have taught me to be patient and enjoy the process, even when things get messy or overwhelming. The reward of getting to create art for a living is far worth the requirements of owning and running a business.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create handmade jewelry deeply inspired by the landscapes and history of the American West, an area rich with fascinating gems and minerals. What makes my work truly unique is my commitment to using regional, traceable stones—many sourced through ethical mining practices right here in the western U.S. This means that when you buy a piece with a stone from me, you also support multiple small businesses along the way, whether that’s miners, rockhounds, or lapidary artists who ethically source their materials. One particular turquoise I spotlight is Stone Mountain Turquoise – mined right outside of my hometown. It’s natural, gem grade- which is hard to find these days. AND I was invited to dig it with the owners a few years back – it was a blast. I can see why miner’s are obsessed with spending time at their claims.

Every piece I sell that features a stone comes with a verification or pedigree card, so you know exactly where your stone came from and can connect with its story.

When you purchase from me, you’re buying from a single human—me. Every piece with my name on it originated directly from my home studio. It’s not from a drop-ship location or an overseas manufacturer. While there’s absolutely room for every type of jewelry business, that’s just not how I want to operate. I want to stay energetically connected to every piece of Ghost Town Metal Works. Holding something handmade with love and intention feels completely different than holding a piece produced by a machine or in a factory.

I hand-fabricate each item using traditional tools like jeweler’s saws, hammers, and torches, and I’ve recently added lost wax casting to bring even more detail and texture to my work. Many of my studio tools, metal stamps are antiques themselves.

Running my studio from home while balancing life as a stay-at-home parent keeps me grounded and intentional. For me, it’s all about creating authentic, meaningful jewelry that carries a connection to the wild places I love and the hands that made it.

How do you think about happiness?
So many things bring me joy on the daily basis. I’d say it’s a mix of simple, meaningful moments. I love the freedom of working for myself—being able to set my own schedule and create on my own terms. Watching my children grow and learn is one of the greatest joys in my life. I absolutely love taking trips. Travelling to see my sister and her little family in the Hollywood Hills is always something that makes my heart overflow. I love to plant seeds and watch the green aftermath unfold after weeks or months of patience, watering, and care.

I also find happiness in the little things that recharge my soul—like the look of pure joy in my husband’s eyes when we wander into a remote spot filled with towering evergreens, or discovering new places together. If it’s a dirt road, we are wanting to go down it. I like playing in dirt and looking for little treasures. I LOVE animals- pets and learning about wildlife all over the planet, as well as local.

I’m a big fan of good audiobooks and visiting art galleries, which always spark inspiration. Jen Sincero’s books always give me a simultaneous laugh and a swift kick in the butt (her “You Are a Badass” series is well worth looking into!). And then there’s that rush when a new design idea hits me so hard I have to grab my little notebook and sketch it out right away.

Connecting people with each other- especially other artists and small businesses. I love supporting other small businesses and will happily say their names in a room full of opportunity. When we work together, instead of against each other, great things can happen. Connecting with other jewelry makers and making new friends in the community means a lot to me.

On the work side, nothing beats the feeling of snapping a loose stone perfectly into a carefully crafted setting or celebrating when I finally dial in a new skill at my jeweler’s bench. I also love hearing from customers who share pictures or videos of their Ghost Town Metal Works pieces out living their own lives—it reminds me that the work I do really connects with people.

Pricing:

• Entry Level (ie Simple Silver Charms): $50.00 Starting & Up
• Turquoise Silver Pieces: $250 Starting & Up
• Silver Pieces Incorporating Gold Accents: $600+
• Bespoke Pieces: Currently Closed to New Clients, But $750 Starting & Up

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ghosttownmetalworks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghosttownmetalworks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghosttownmetalworks/#
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ghosttownmetalworks

Image Credits
I have permission to use all photos.
Photo credit:
Melissa Coleman (the main picture of me in the wild pea flower field)
Stacia Garmon (picture of the ring in the wooden box, in the snowy evergreen)

All other pictures were taken by me.