About

Hi there!

Thank you for swinging by – My name is Madeleine Ford and I am the designer, creator and dreamer behind Riverbed Gems. I create each piece by hand in my tiny studio nested in the mountains of western Montana. My work is inspired by the west and the rivers that give shape, texture and vibrancy to our rugged alpine landscapes. 

A deep admiration for storytelling through jewelry + art began at an early age. While growing up, I loved to sift through the jewelry boxes of the women closest to me. Trying on big turquoise rings and hearing the stories of each piece that had been passed down, picked up on their travels or given as a gift for a special occasion. There is a unique love language that comes with passing around heirloom jewelry and it has carried with me throughout the years – ultimately fueling the fire of my silversmithing journey.

I have been creating jewelry since 2017, learning most of my techniques through hours of trial + error and feel like I have just scratched the surface of what’s yet to come!  There are many ways to craft a piece of jewelry and I have deeply enjoyed the process of finding the tools and techniques that fit my style and help to grow my unique voice in this medium.

When working with these precious resources, I do not like to rush my work and try to use reclaimed materials when possible. I take great pride in the quality and uniqueness of each piece, so the collections I release are often small and happen every couple of months. 

The best way to follow along and stay in the know of new collections, in person offerings and more is through Instagram @riverbedgems or by joining the newsletter back on the homepage.

 

Thank you for supporting my handmade work ❤️