ARTS • Silver Salt & Stone

from The September/October issue of The Osider Magazine

by Montage Visual Communication

WHAT LIES BENEATH?

THE OSIDER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2022

SILVER SALT & STONE

WORDS: ALICIA STONE PHOTOS: LEAH LEE

These days, more and more individuals are seeking out alternatives to the nine-to-five and corporate working lifestyles. Motivated entrepreneurs of all ages are turning their backs on punching a clock and going “all in” by starting small businesses doing what they love. It’s reflective of the old adage, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Oceanside native Chelsea Johnston has finally found her calling and has turned her love of handmade, artisan jewelry into her own local silver-smithing business, Silver Salt and Stone. If you ask Chelsea how she feels about growing up in Oceanside the first word she uses is “lucky.” “Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I think how blessed I was to be born in such a beautiful place so close to the ocean.”

As a highly independent and driven child, Chelsea found inspiration everywhere. Her parents, locals Mark and Jeri Miller, provided a strong foundation for exploration and encouraged her freedom of expression. “When I was a kid and a painting or brand advertisement caught my eye, I’d immediately devise a plan to create. I shot photos, learned to play instruments, sewed my own clothes, and painted murals on my walls.” Chelsea grew up traveling, and on family trips, she was allowed one budgeted souvenir. She always chose a piece of jewelry. She was drawn to local culture and would seek out unique handmade treasures cultivating a silver collection that inspires her work to this day. Growing up surfing and born into the tight knit Buccaneer Beach family, Chelsea worked around town, while attending El Camino High, and then Palomar College pursuing a career in International Business and Fashion. It wouldn’t be until years later when she took silversmithing classes at Learn Lost Wax Casting run by artists Alicia and Brad Hanson that she’d find her true passion.

Silver Salt & Stone offers a distinctive custom jewelry making experience. Chelsea will guide you through the process, whether you have a design in mind or don’t know where to start. She

prides herself on making wearable art and creating heirloom pieces made to be passed down through generations or gifted to loved ones. It begins with a design consultation in person or remotely, where you choose your type of jewelry, stone, bezel, setting, band, custom stamping, and more.

Custom orders take anywhere from two to ten weeks and her website also showcases finished pieces available for purchase. Chelsea ethically sources the majority of her stones from small businesses and lapidaries all over the world. “My goal is to form an honest, genuine connection with my clients (who often become friends), and learn their personal stories, so the piece can represent their unique journey and intention.”

Jewelry making actually runs in Chelsea’s blood, and her work represents an even deeper meaning. Her grandparents, Frank and Louella Bartlett, owned and operated Bartlett Jewelers in Escondido for over 30 years. Frank designed custom jewelry primarily with gold and diamonds. That’s an aspect Chelsea, who recently married her husband Zach, would like to add to her skillset in the future. “I’m looking forward to offering a line of gold and fine jewelry, and I’m currently in the process of learning hand engraving. The best part of metalsmithing is the constant opportunity for growth. It’s entirely based on education, motivation, and infinite hours of necessary practice to fine tune skills both old and new. I look forward to continued growth personally and within the business as Silver Salt and Stone evolves throughout the years.”