Jen is a local artisan, who makes hand-crafted jewelry...only that is too mundane a description for what she really does. She's an enchantress--and she works her spells in clay and glass and semi-precious stones.

She can distill an era into a fragile looking stained glass necklace...pour the passion of Salome into a headpiece...capture the scent of a doomed queen in a reliquary...give you a pre-Raphaelite dream to wear on your wrist...or create a custom piece for you with a photography of a beloved pet. (The moment I saw her dainty little crosses, I found myself wanting one...and I positively drool over her crowns!)

Her website, which is easy to get around, makes finding and purchasing your personal fantasy quick and easy, but mere photographs cannot begin to capture the richness of the antiqued patinas, or the delicate tracery of lines etched into each hand-sculpted piece.

In fact, it is only in person that you get the full "flavor" of her art, and understand completely why her work is popular with brides all over the world, is collected by celebrities, and is increasingly coveted by the entertainment industry. (Her replica of one of Anne Boleyn's necklace is seen weekly on "Ugly Betty", and other pieces of hers may be seen in episodes of the short-lived "Joan of Arcadia"; a slew of other tv shows, and the movies "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", and "Becoming Jane").

Most recently, her work has shown up in the gift shop of the prestigious Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, but it also turns up regularly in various local, national and international magazines and newspapers.

Oh yes--and she also has a very loyal group of "just plain folks" followers, if there's anything "plain" about the eclectic group of people who jump at the chance to own an original, wearable work of art! These devotees claim that once you've bought one Parrish Relic, you become addicted. (And for those of you who "aren't from around here"--the current Euro to dollar conversion rate makes her work extra affordable for those "across the pond". )

If you are fortunate enough to be attending the Spoutwood Faerie Festival in May, or FaerieCon, in October, keep an eye open for the Parrish Relics booth, and check out her work in person.

Jen and I are currently working on a project together, and while I'm quite excited about it, the truth is, the very best part of it is just getting to meet her...because as if all that talent and skill wasn't enough, she's nice. Old-fashioned nice. The kind of person who remembers what you were saying, when you get interrupted, and will come back to it later, with an interested look and a, "But you were telling me about your Uncle Leo, and his arrowhead collection--?" The kind of person that you're really, really glad to see succeeding--because it reminds you that sometimes, nice guys (or gals) actually get what they deserve.

I think that's the real secret of her work: there's love and kindness and a little bit of a very beautiful soul tucked into each and every piece. It's why people keep coming back for more...and it's why I couldn't resist featuring her here today.

Check out her site. Take your time. Be sure to take her virtual studio tour, and check out her gallery of happy customers. Trust me--you'll be glad you did!