The moment Michele Raney 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 on to Sir John Cass Polytechnic in London where she learned the fine and nearly lost art 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.

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 and fine grains of colored glass.  Several layers are fused to the metal by firing in a kiln at 1475 ºF, just below the melting temperature of the metal.  A final polishing completes the piece, often accented with a gem or 24k vermeil.