“I work in a very organic, very natural style,” says Lisette Bez, who has been creating jewelry from her home studio in Falls Church since 2017 under the name Metal & Stone Creations. Intricate leaves, serpentine forms and celestial stars are recurring motifs in wearable pieces such as necklaces (starting at $80), earrings ($40-$65) and rings (starting at $65).
Bez’s journey as an artist began in the lush landscapes of the Andean highlands of Ecuador, her mother’s homeland. She was spending time with family in Quito in 2015, after the death of her partner, when her cousin suggested she find a way to channel her grief. She began taking jewelry classes and, over the course of a year, learned the traditional jewelry-making techniques of the region. “I could put all my emotions into making something really special,” she explains. “And I think that gave birth to everything that I’ve continued to do.”
Today, Bez continues to draw inspiration from the natural world, whether she’s hiking local parks with her Boston Terrier mix, Picasso, or exploring the South American rainforest. “When I’m walking in the woods, I love looking at little things—mushrooms growing or the way vines curve around the trees,” she says. “I really take in all the elements.”
To minimize her environmental impact, she crafts exclusively with sustainable stones, Rainforest Alliance-provided metals, and recycled gold and silver. For commissioned pieces, she often works with clients to upcycle family heirlooms or melt down and resurrect unloved jewelry into something new. To visualize a new piece, she may sculpt the design in wax before casting. She also offers jewelry making workshops and classes in Arlington and Falls Church.