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From Lake Erie–inspired pendants to labor-intensive hoops, the Toledo metalsmith continues to refine a quietly distinctive voice
When Jaci Riley started making jewelry in 2007, her work was assembled rather than fabricated. Her pieces were built around the components she could find. That changed in 2015, when she took her first metalsmithing class at the Toledo Museum of Art and learned how to solder. The class marked a shift toward a more hands-on practice, one that would gradually reshape her entire line.
“I slowly started to incorporate new products into my line,” Riley said. “Now that all of my work is fabricated by me, I’m able to create what I want.” Nearly a decade later, that independence has become central to her work and to the ongoing learning process she still embraces.
Nature has always played a role in Riley’s designs, especially water. Growing up near Lake Erie left a lasting impression, one which continues to surface in subtle ways. A recent sterling silver pendant, cast from a pebble she found along the lakeshore, distills that influence into something small and tactile.
Simple, not boring
Riley describes her style as “simple but not boring,” an approach guided largely by her own habits. She makes jewelry that she would wear herself. While she enjoys statement pieces, practicality usually wins out. “I find myself up to my eyeballs making all different kinds of tiny stud earrings,” she said.
Those studs have become a cornerstone of her line: silver and gold, varied in shape, size, and texture, designed to be mixed and matched. Timeless and wearable, they reflect her belief that everyday jewelry can still feel intentional.
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Craft shows play a major role in Riley’s creative life, offering more than just a place to sell her work. She values the chance to see people’s reactions up close and to talk through her process in person. “We live in this digital age where human interaction can be fleeting,” she said. “I think that it’s so special to have these connections with people.”
Over time, those interactions have grown into lasting relationships with repeat customers. Feedback gathered at shows often helps shape new designs, some of which become permanent additions to her lineup.
One piece that best captures Riley’s current style is her Aspen bark hoop earrings, inspired by a fall visit to Utah. The hoops begin as flat metal, acid-etched with a bark-like pattern, then cut, annealed, formed, drilled, soldered, patinated and polished. “They’re probably one of the most labor-intensive pieces that I have in my line,” she said.
Looking ahead
Sustainability is woven into Riley’s practice as well. Riley saves every bit of scrap metal, refining it or recycling it into new pieces. Stud earrings made from scrap have resonated with customers, who appreciate the recycled aspect of the work.
Looking to 2026, Riley plans to apply to many of the same craft shows she did in 2025, while expanding Pretty Cool Craft Fair, a series of intimate pop-ups she co-hosts with her friend Lindsay at spots like Flying Rhino Coffee and local galleries. She’s also hoping to explore more intricate designs and finally use a long-hoarded stash of stones to make rings.
And then there are the cat-tooth earrings — studs cast from her cat’s tooth, originally made as a personal experiment. They’ve become unexpected crowd-pleasers, especially when displayed alongside a photo of the cat in question.
“It’s kind of wild and a little weird, but I love it,” Riley said.
Purchase Jaci’s handmade jewelry at https://www.jacirileyjewelry.com/.
