"My inspiration comes from the natural world we live in, and my life experiences. I will share with you the story behind each design".

Michele Raney

The moment Michele touched metal in her jewelry-making class in high school, she knew it was her life's work. From there, she studied metal arts at San Jose State University, goldsmithing at Revere Academy in San Francisco, and finally went on to Sir John Cass Polytechnic in London where she learned the fine and nearly lost arts of engraving and enameling. Today she combines these two techniques to create her exquisite line of wearable art. Her designs are inspired by the beauty she finds in nature.

The Marriage of Metal and Glass

Michele specializes in hand-carving and the art of painting with glass on precious metals. Her technique is an innovative version of the centuries-old, French method of enameling called Basse-taille. She carves her original design in graphite using traditional engraving tools. A die is made from this carving and a blank is coined in fine silver or 18K gold. These pieces are then hand-tooled and polished forming the base for enameling. It is here Michele brings life to the work, adding depth and light with the application of enamel, which are fine grains of colored glass. Several layers are fused to the metal by firing in a kiln at 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, just below the melting temperature of the metal. A final polishing completes the piece, often accented with a gem or 24K vermeil.

New Collections

Enamel Relics and Patina Relics

The inspiration for these collections come from a fascination with ancient artifacts: old coins from the Mediterranean, remnants of architectural carvings from the walls of the Parthenon, objects found in Egyptian Pyramids, shards from Celtic stone ruins of long ago. Much like old Greek coins were produced, I was able to achieve the affect I was looking for by using my own dies and selecting specific details from my existing designs, creating a more natural freeform border. The collections include pendants, earrings, and bracelets in fine silver with enamel, and copper with patinas.

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The availability of these pieces are limited. The pieces are organized into eight categories: Ancient Treasures, Majestic Birds, Flora, Sea Life, Wild Life, Whimsical, Enamel Relics and Patina Relics. To learn more about delivery times and the features of this website such as login accounts, wish lists, gift certificates, etc., click here "Shopping at Enanimals".

Thanks for visiting.

Michele