Chihiro Makio of Boston, MA, first considered a career as a painter. While in college, however, she discovered the fun and endless possibilities of three-dimensional materials. Wood, fiber, glass, and metals were some of her favorites.

Makio hand fabricates her jewelry pieces from both metal and glass, using oxidized sterling silver, 24K gold-plated silver, and gold-lined glass beads. She pierces the metals and then sews the elements together with thread and the delicate beads.