STAND is a handcrafted White Buffalo turquoise jewelry collection made in Durango, Colorado by metalsmith Kelly Nichols of Mend Metalworks.
Over time, I’ve learned that real clarity doesn’t come from force or intensity. It comes from stillness and from paying attention to what remains when the mind quiets and the noise falls away. This white buffalo turquoise collection, which I call "Stand," emerged from that place.
Over the past year, I’ve felt a growing internal pull to examine what it really means to stand; not in a performative or loud way, but in an honest, embodied way. I've been more compelled to stand for what matters, and to live in my values. To stand in my work and in my own becoming. It's yet another threshold on the journey, and I found the inspiration for the collection there...again, it reminds me exactly of what Rick Rubin talks about in THE CREATIVE ACT.
Standing here, I've found that it is a place where comfort ends and integrity begins.
What “STAND” Means
For me, standing doesn’t mean having all the answers, but staying present in the questions. It means continuing to choose integrity, even when it’s inconvenient. It means trusting my inner "homing device" and allowing my work to reflect what I care about most.
This collection is for anyone who feels that same quiet pull and the sense that something inside is asking to be honored. It could be a boundary, a truth, or a season of growth.
Sometimes standing looks like courage, or rest, or saying no, or...like finally saying yes!
White Buffalo Turquoise
White Buffalo turquoise is becoming more rare, and is powerful and full of character. It’s known for its clear white color with dark brown and black matrix lines, and it’s often associated with spiritual significance, protection, and profound transformation.
Across many indigenous cultures, the White Buffalo symbolizes hope, renewal, and a return to what is sacred. It’s considered a messenger of change, appearing in times when humanity is being asked to remember its values and its connection to something larger.
Working with this stone felt intentional. It wasn’t about trend or aesthetics, but more about resonance. The stones here really are the heart of this collection.
The Symbols
Each piece in STAND carries a symbolic animal or element, not as decoration, but as quiet archetypes.
Fox — adaptability, cleverness, navigating change.
Jackrabbit — instinct, speed, trusting your leap.
Cactus — resilience, survival, thriving in harsh conditions.
Serpent — transformation, shedding old skins.
Armadillo — boundaries, protection, self-trust.
These symbols aren’t meant to prescribe meaning, but to invite reflection and to offer each wearer a way to connect their own story to the piece they choose.
Giving Back
A portion of proceeds from the STAND collection is being donated to Immigrant Rapid Response MN, an organization supporting women and families navigating some of the most vulnerable and uncertain moments of their lives. This is about aligning my work with my values and allowing the act of standing to extend beyond personal symbolism and into tangible support.
The Invitation
"Stand" is a finite body of work. These pieces are what they are now, a reflection of where I am as a maker, a human, and a business in this moment. Each piece is handcrafted in my home studio in Durango, Colorado using sterling silver and high-grade White Buffalo turquoise.
There is no customization beyond sizing for two rings, which can be made to size.
If one of these pieces speaks to you, trust that.
Sometimes the thing we’re being asked to stand for is simply ourselves.