Designer Katie Montgomery has always been creating things. “I was the kid with popsicle sticks, glue, and glitter,” she recalls. She has also been long fascinated with gemstones. “I’ve even had a birthday party at a placewhere you can pick out your own bagful of semiprecious stones from garden full of heaps of stones.”

Long past the fascination with glitter, Katie is still creating. She loves experimenting with a variety of mediums and styles. “I love clean, elegant lines, though alternately I also love over-the-top dramatic extravagance. My passion for jewellery started with beading and has now grown to include metalsmithing and working in alternate materials.”

Probably her favourite part about making jewellery is the reaction from people when they receive their piece. “Jewellery evokes emotion. When have you ever bought a piece of jewellery and felt completely indifferent? It is so thrilling to see someone equally excited as me over something I’ve invested so much time and care. Especially when you’ve created a custom-made piece or have repaired a sentimental piece of jewellery, you see the excitement and appreciation!”

She pursues her craft in her native Vancouver, BC. She attended LaSalle College for jewellery design after working in the aviation industry and studying business. Katie loves coffee-flavoured yogurt (sounds weird, but it’s delicious!), mint oil, and pyjama pants.