Tammi Reinhardt

What are you currently into making?
Lately I’ve been having fun mixing metals. I really love high karat gold mixed with oxidized silver.

What was the first project or craft you remember making by hand?
One of my first projects was a pendant made out of clay. I drew a flower and painted it with purple glaze on a pale yellow background. I strung it on a black silk ribbon which I felt gave it a classy touch. My mom was attending a concert in San Francisco and I insisted she wear it for the evening. It was the size of a saucer and pretty heavy, but she wore it all night. Now that’s love.

If you could spend a day with any artist/designer/maker… who would it be and what would you do?
I really love the jewelry by Ron Anderson and David Rees the partners behind Ten Thousands Things. They use natural stones and create the most beautiful delicate pieces. One works in metal the other in wax. I would love to watch them work and learn their process.

Do you listen to music when you’re making? If so, what are some favorite albums?
I do listen to music when I’m making jewellery, but I listen to audiobooks as well. I begin my making sessions with music (usually an album from Cattywampus- Khruangbin is my current favorite ) to get the juices flowing. Once I’ve laid out what I’m going to make, I switch to an audiobook. Diving deep into a project while listening to a good book is my favourite way to work.

What’s your favorite material to work with?
Tiny precious or semi-precious stones in all colors! I love to find common stones in unusual colors; blue Emeralds, green Garnets, yellow Sapphires.

Where do you go to connect with nature?
I adore the beach but for a quick fix I only need to open my back door. I have a beautiful Chinese Elm tree in my back yard that is home to a large flock of Goldfinches. I like to sit very quietly under the tree and listen to my birds.

Tell us about an object in your home that brings you joy.
My collection of tiny things; a tiny porcelain woman holding a parasol, a forlorn dog figurine, a miniature car, a Shrinky Dink rainbow made by my niece, a small Roseville vase etc. And my pup, Lilou. She’s not an object but she brings me more joy than any of my things.