Sandra Woodbury, Wolf in the Wildflowers silversmith, and her daughter on a late summer day at the Methow Valley Farmers Market.
At her workbench, silversmith Sandra Woodbury crafts elegant jewelry to sounds of Gold Creek flowing just outside the window. Inspired by nature, Woodbury creates pieces featuring colorful stones and clean lines. Formally known as Wolf and Flame, Woodbury is in the process of rebranding her jewelry line to reflect a personal growth towards joy and hope: Wolf in the Wildflowers.
Woodbury began silversmithing in 2017 under the expert tutelage of local artist Joanne Marracci. In the last four years, Woodbury has finessed her craft and offered her fine jewelry at farmers markets and online.
Jewelry making is Woodbury’s passion project, inspired by nature. “It is the stones that I get the most excited about — holding a really cool stone and envisioning what it could turn into,” she said praises the lapidarists who supply her artisan habit. “I have a meticulous approach. Sometimes I will spend hours on one detail to get it just right.”
Woodbury’s jewelry consists of clean lines and geometric shapes encompassing natural stones with bright colors and unique features. Jade, jasper, labradorite, and turquoise reflect the greens, blues, reds, and golds found in the hidden wilds of the Methow Valley. Woodbury’s Instagram, @thewolfinthewildflowers, is a meditative gallery featuring her artwork: rings perched on stones along the water’s edge, earrings hanging from feather shafts, flower stems and icicles, a pendant posed on the page of a botanical drawing, the chain looped around a sketch of roses.
Originally, Woodbury chose the name Wolf and Flame as an image of fiery strength and passion: as a woman, and also the imagery that emerges from a silversmith’s tools. “I wanted to be a strong role model for my daughter,” she said. “Life is an evolution of who you are,” Woodbury explained, as she considered a rebranding to reflect what truly brought her joy in life. “My garden, hiking among wildflowers — in spring I come out of my shell to connect with people at the farmers markets — that spring renewal of hope,” she said. Woodbury wanted to rebrand her jewelry to reflect her softer side and capture the hope and joy that went into the making of each piece. She has always felt a deep-rooted soul connection to wolves, and wildflowers reflect natural beauty. Wolf in the Wildflowers was a natural choice. “This is my soul project — creating a beautiful talisman that people choose to put on in the morning. I enjoy seeing people around town, wearing my pieces, having that connection.”
Woodbury’s pieces can be seen on Instagram and on Etsy. She can be found most Saturday mornings at the Methow Valley Farmers Market in Twisp.
