Michelle Day, descended from pioneers, cowboys, farmers & Indians, had to live in Europe to find her Western design sense.  A third generation citizen of Pendleton, Oregon, Michelle grew up in the corner of a wheat field on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.  Like many who grew up in rural America, right after high school she hightailed it out of town for an education.

Michelle graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and embarked on a career in the air cargo industry.  During those days she lived in Budapest, Hungary and traveled throughout Europe.  She began to make jewelry for the other foreign women while there and a new passion was discovered.  When it was time to leave Hungary, Michelle came home to Pendleton to regroup.  While she intended for home to be a stop off, she realized staying would allow her to pursue her love of jewelry design.

Initially Michelle focused on contemporary designs, but her Western roots kept coming through.  That Western side crystallized in 2007 when she decided to try leather tooling.
While Michelle didn’t turn into a leather worker, her vision for leather pendants sent her on a quest for just the right craftsperson.  That person turned out to be fellow CWD artist Clair Kehrberg.

In her Jewelry by Day pieces Michelle marries leather with stones such as turquoise, coral, bronzite, onyx as well as high quality Hill Tribe Silver.  Each piece is bold and sculptural with lots of texture and energy.  While her jewelry is inspired by the West, it can be worn in any setting.  Each piece is a microcosm of her life blending European élan with Western style.  Michelle says “The jewelry I make for women is meant to give them joy and confidence”.

Michelle welcomes custom orders and looks forward to making something fabulous just for you!