Shelli Wood with S.A.W. Jewelry Design chose an unconventional path with the arts later in life after receiving her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Texas and working in corporate for many years. While working and attending school in the evenings she studied under a jeweler/metalsmith that is well known in Austin, TX and the Hill country. Shelli spent 8 years studying under Bob Weaver and learning the skill set of a metalsmith and how to set up her own studio. She was also involved in the Austin Gem & Mineral Society for a number of years because of her interest in lapidary work and a general love of all things rock. In time she jumped into the arts full time alongside her husband, set up her own studio after relocating to Arkansas and started a new career in 2009. Shelli uses a variety of metals such as sterling silver, 18K gold, shibuichi and some enamel. Her “pride and joy” in the studio is her workbench that her father made her in 2014. Her second love is her Durston rolling mill, where she hand textures her metals before sculpting into a finished piece of jewelry. The textures are made with things that have a unique or interesting pattern, such as old window screen, material/ribbon, a variety of medical gauze and/or anything she finds that catches her eye. Her designs and textures are always evolving. She enjoys showing the softer side of metal while exploiting its beauty.