About
A fine jewelry studio tucked amongst the the pines and mine ruins of Michigan
This small atelier is the daydream of a fae-struck goldsmith hidden away in the great lakes region of the US. Woven of ephemeral lore, reclaimed golds, and consciously-sourced jewels, The North Way Studio crafts talismans that hearken back to another time and unfurl in a tapestry of magicks.
Every piece is carefully created through both modern and traditional techniques, beginning with day-dreams, sketches, and a hoard of gemstones.
Our Tale
After being trained as an apprentice under two master goldsmiths in Wisconsin, Maria enjoys using a wide-variety of skills to forge her pieces. Some creations begin with drawings in her sketchbook and are rendered in CAD with the help of the Casting House back in Chicago.
Others begin as tiny hand-carved leaves emerging from plain gold stock, or blank wax.
All waxes are then cast in refined metals through the lost-wax casting method. Bejeweled with the mastery setting of the Casting House, engraved, and polished, all with the help of Miss Maple Pecan, Lentil, our not-so little puppy, Chickpea, our feathered jewel inspectors, Lady Pickle and Empress Eviebean, and as of December 8th, 2021, our little Elaina.
Kind Words
testimonials from our clients
Leia
I inherited a turquoise ring from my grandfather when he passed away. It was a ring he wore for over 50 years while I wore it for 10. By now, the silver band that held it together was about to break. I contacted Maria after favoriting her shop a while ago to see if she's able to set the stone into the Lumiere ring. She was a dream to work with. She responds to messages within a day if not within minutes. She took great care with handling the stone as it's very delicate and explained and messaged and sent me pictures of every step of the process and offered suggestions. My grandmother passed away a few weeks ago and though the ring wasn't finished, Maria sent me images that I could show her to make her final days happy. I cried seeing my finished ring and so did my mom. Maria's work is magic and she's a sweetheart.
Brittney
I absolutely love it! Couldn't be happier! Price was right and when I asked for other pictures of the pendant she responded right away. Maria was super sweet and understanding when I wasn't sure if I wanted this necklace or another one. But I couldn't be happier with my decision! Maria, I hope you are still receiving all the birdy cuddles 😋. I'll definitely be buying more of her jewelry she's a fantastic artist and a true jeweler that will work with you to make you happy! Highly recommended Maria!
Shermaine
The 840 character limit is too little for the words of gratitude for Maria. I'm just going to keep it short here. (I've just posted another full review before this) Maria, you've made us the happiest couple yet; you've made the entire process and the rings, so perfect. Keep spreading your magic.And the to-be Groom/Bride, if you're reading this, and you're looking for a little magic - pick Maria, you won't regret it.
Molly
We received the ring on Saturday and I had to catch my breath when I opened the box. It surpassed all expectations and I am absolutely in love with the piece. It truly could not be more perfect. Thank you so much. All of your hard work is thoroughly appreciated. You made my engagement ring dreams come true.
Alice
Maria was a dream to work with from start to finish! She patiently answered all my endless questions in a timely manner, and was so understanding when I couldn't make up my mind which stone to pick. Not to mention, the craftsmanship of the ring is just stunning! My ring came out beautifully and I cannot be happier with the whole experience with Maria. Will probably go with her for wedding band too!
Rachel
From the bottom of my heart, thank you Maria for creating the engagement ring and wedding band of my dreams! Working with the North Way Studio was a joy from the beginning to the end; Maria was incredibly insightful, patient, and creative throughout the bespoke process. There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not complimented on the unique beauty of my jewelry. The North Way Studio's talent is unparalleled and I'm honored to pass my jewelry onto my family one day!
Without hesitation, we will be ordering our wedding bands from her, so if you are looking for a quality ring along with exceptional customer service, Maria is the person you want to work with.
Holden
If we can give Maria a 6 star rating instead of just 5 stars, we would do so in a heartbeat. Our experience in working with Maria to get a customized engagement ring could not have been any better. From the beginning, Maria has demonstrated strong passion for her craft and professionalism. A lot of other studio could say the same, but where Maria shines was when unforeseen problems/obstacles came up (which can be expected when you are choosing to customize/personalize), she resolved the issues beautifully and held herself to a very high standard; without going into the specifics (since it's a bit of a long story), Maria simply went above and beyond what we expected. And of course, the finished ring was top quality and we were very satisfied with it.
Without hesitation, we will be ordering our wedding bands from her, so if you are looking for a quality ring along with exceptional customer service, Maria is the person you want to work with.
Ariana
I cannot say enough kind words about working with Maria! She is quick to respond, professional, and very understanding! The shipment arrived incredibly quickly and was beautifully packaged as well. The gorgeous details of her work showcase her passion for the craft and lead to incredible designs. I could not be happier with my custom designed wedding band!! From now on I know where to go for my jewelry needs. Thank you, Maria!
Jenny
Maria is an awesome artisan! I was at first reluctant to purchase something as expensive and delicate as an engagement ring on Etsy, but this experience quelled my fears. Maria was nothing but communicative with me from start to finish and was patient with me during the ring design process. She allowed me to split payments over time, and was steadfast in her 7-10 weeks from last payment received deadline. She takes such pride in her work and is very professional! This ring is truly unique and an heirloom piece for sure! I would highly recommend The North Way Studio for all future bespoke jewelry purchases.
Amanda
I could not be more blown away by the craftsmanship and beauty of my wedding band! It perfectly matches my engagement ring and far exceeds any vision I could have dreamt of. I cannot wait to collect more of Maria’s jewelry over time!
Larry
This text box is limiting my enthusiasm for Maria. I've had to retype this a few times as it will only allow me to use so many characters, and I could probably write a multiple page essay on my experience with Maria. Simply put, she is the absolute best and will help you dream up and create something so unique and stunning, you won't believe your eyes. My fiancé can't stop looking at her engagement ring. She is obsessed. Maria spent countless hours communicating with me, working on every detail, and listening to my every request. She is a master of her trade and a delight to work with. I simply can't imagine a better experience or a more beautiful ring. Thank you for everything Maria. We can't wait to make our wedding bands with you. Etsy owes you an award of excellence.
Danielle
I absolutely would recommend this experience. The owner is an amazing artist which manages to bring my vision to fruition. She made a custom ring to for with my ruby ring. She is patient and kind and quick to ship once the custom piece is ready.
Noa
Maria is a true talent. She’s an artist who treats each creation with care and each client with patience and grace. I have received or purchased a few rings from her now, and she has always been clear and communicative with timelines for creation, shipment information, and design questions. She is always happy to give her clients insight into her creative process, and she is a collaborative partner when clients are interested in modifying any heirloom settings. I am so grateful for Maria’s generosity of spirit and whimsical approach to her craft. Highly recommend The North Way Studio for all your magical desires!
Katie H.
I am honestly not sure where to begin, simply because there are almost too many good things to list about my experience with Maria at The North Way Studio. I was recently engaged and did not have much of a clue about stones or settings but Maria hopped right on the phone and patiently went over the basics with me. She was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating, and was willing to send endless emails back-and-forth (her communication/response time is exceptional) to ensure we created my dream ring. Maria is not only professional, but also kind, warm and an absolute joy to work with. It is easy to tell that she takes great pride in delivering unique, high quality products and is truly excited for you to enjoy their magic! I cannot recommend her enough, and my fiancé and I even went on to order both of our wedding rings from The North Way Studio. Thank you Maria, for your beautiful personality and exquisite craftsmanship.