Recently, we had a chance to speak with Todd Reed, whose work has been featured on the cover of “500 Earrings“. Todd is based in { } and more of his work can be seen at ToddReed.com.

Todd, your jewelry is stunning – we can understand why it was chosen for the cover of ’500 Earrings’. Can you tell us how and when you began creating jewelry?

I started making jewelry as a teenager and started to teach myself goldsmithing when I was 18. I started by making Native American style pieces as inspired by my growing up in the southwest.

Do you have a favorite piece? Do you have a piece that started out as ‘trouble’ but ended up a favorite?

I have many favorites, but I really try and give the same love to each construction, the thing that may make a piece a favorite is typically the stone or grouping of stones. Pieces usually do not present too much of a problem… I really love the process of problem solving, and truly believe the process to be a part of the story that is told through the jewelry.

We noticed that your designs mostly feature gold, silver, and diamonds. Is there something significant to using those three elements?

There are many things that I like about the materials, and think that the idea of preciousness is important, the diamonds are the main point in the jewelry. I use gold and diamonds to express ideas of value and value perception, I use silver for contrast mainly.

What advice could you give to someone who would like to begin creating jewelry? How would they begin? Take a class, start with sketches, start working with the material and see what happens?

I will always recommend to people to go with passion first. Success in any field will come when you focus on the process and not the result. Results are important, but the process in more important and will culminate in results when the right energy is provided. Read, work, live and breath your passion, draw, make, watch and listen, make experiences happen. Do not be afraid to fail, this builds a chronology that I believe if you to become successful is vary important. Also remember that success is many things, not simply financial…

Be honest. Did you proudly display ’500 Earrings’ when you learned your piece was the cover, or frame the cover itself? (editor’s note: I would’ve!!)

When I saw this cover I flipped! I very proudly showed it off and continue to do so.

I did not cut the cover off though. I have the one copy and a great collection of books that it sits with. I am honored and proud to be a part of this wonderful series of books.