Highlights from 2025
Is it too late to do a roundup?
I spent the first few weeks of the year traveling around Mexico, decompressing from the holiday season and giving myself some much-needed space to reflect and recuperate — hence my lack of any kind of year-end review. I know we just entered into February, but I figured maybe we can pretend Feb 1 was the start of the new year? (Humor me, please)
I have a tendency to move forward without pausing to acknowledge what I’ve already done (choosing instead to fixate on everything that still feels unfinished), so it felt important — even if just for myself — to sit myself down and do a light recap of a few things I accomplished in 2025. So, without any further ado (because there’s already been enough ado), here we go:
1. Raffle for LA
In the first month of 2025, it was hard to concentrate on anything other than the wildfires overwhelming Los Angeles. I decided to raffle off a Tilt Signet Ring to raise funds for those who lost their homes, and the response surpassed my expectations. In the end I was able to raise over $6,000, every penny of which was donated directly to people affected by the fires, either individually or via their GoFundMe pages.
Using Abel as a platform to give back has always been part of my larger vision, and this experience felt like a proof of concept. It left me feeling energized and inspired to continue finding ways to use this platform to support causes I care deeply about — something I hope to more of in the future.
A bonus: I had the privilege of meeting Salomón and Ana, two of the people we donated to, in person when they were in NYC later in the year! A very special full circle moment.
2. Launches
Much of 2025 was spent balancing a full-time freelance contract (more on that here) to cover personal expenses and build savings I could reinvest back into Abel. Nights and weekends were dedicated to developing new work, and once my contract ended in October, it was finally time to release those pieces into the world.
This included ruby and sapphire versions of the Pavé Column Stack Rings, as well as mixed-metal styles that became the foundation of a new Mixed Metal Collection. Ten years after creating the first Bend and Pin Earrings, you can now personalize yours with an ever-growing selection of gemstones.
And finally — possibly the launch I was most excited about — I released the Baby Tilt Signets: miniature versions of my bestselling Tilt Signet Ring. Naturally a bit color-averse, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone by offering them with colored stones (teal sapphire, garnet, citrine), alongside diamonds. You loved them, and now I’m already thinking about expanding the stone options in 2026. (If you have requests, I’m all ears!)
3. Stone Vessels
The launch that caused me the most anxiety (but was also the most exciting in its own way!) was releasing the Stone Vessels: my first true departure from jewelry.
Even though making non-jewelry objects has been part of the vision from the very beginning (hence the name Abel OBJECTS), it took me eight years to finally take the leap. As a perfectionist who tends to procrastinate by endlessly refining, these stone boxes sat in my studio for over a year, collecting dust while I waited to feel “ready” and for the “right” moment.
After lots of vacillating (and nearly delaying the launch again), I finally put them out into the world — and you completely blew me away with your response. The Stone Vessels sold out in less than a month.
I’m so grateful for how receptive and encouraging you’ve been. This launch truly feels like the start of a new chapter for Abel — not just expanding beyond jewelry, but becoming a little less afraid to simply put things out there.
As you might expect, I’m already making plans for the next batch — and this time, I’m hoping to travel to Peru to meet the artisans who carve them in person. If you’d like to be the first to know when they return, you can sign up here.
4. Creative Collaborations
All of this new work needed to be documented, and this year I was lucky enough to collaborate with a group of incredibly talented creatives — some longtime collaborators, others new.
One of the most rewarding parts of collaboration is seeing something become greater than what you could have made on your own, and that’s exactly how I feel about the shoots and projects from this past year. While I’ll probably always continue to take my own photos from time to time, it’s endlessly humbling (and honestly, more fun) to see what’s possible when I join forces with professionals.
Thank you to everyone who worked with me this year!
Photographers/filmmakers: Léa Banchereau, Kristina Dittmar, Brent Goldsmith
Models: Tatiana Miranda, Sasen Efrem, My Jewelry Diaries
5. GRS Workshop
In April I took a hand engraving and stone-setting workshop at GRS with my friends Lindsay (Casual Seance) and Laura (BRUCE). It was a deeply restorative week — equal parts learning, reconnecting with friends, and getting my hands back into the physical craft of jewelry.
Since I now outsource most stone setting, returning to the bench reminded me why I fell in love with this work in the first place. I’ve always believed that hands-on experience makes me a better designer — and at the very least, a more observant and appreciative one.
Adding engraving options to my site has been on my to-do list for years, and this year I promise (hold me accountable!) it’s finally happening.
6. Holiday Market Marathon
This past holiday season, I participated in four weekend markets over five weeks on both coasts — with Thanksgiving as the lone weekend off. Between the travel, long days on my feet, and endless packing and unpacking, it felt like running a marathon (though let’s be real I wouldn’t know from experience…).
While I don’t think I’ll ever put myself through that kind of schedule again for the sake of my health and sanity, I’m proud I made it through and it felt well worth it. There’s truly no replacement for sharing my work face-to-face and getting real time feedback. I also love getting to meet new people, and I even got to meet some longtime customers I had never met before IRL! Ultimately these are always the moments that make the physical grind rewarding.
Looking back, it’s funny to see how little I could have planned for or predicted how my year would go at the beginning of 2025. On one hand this gives the Type A planner in me anxiety, but in a way it’s also liberating to know so much of this journey is out of my control. No matter how much I plan and prepare for the year ahead, I can never account for everything that might happen. The best thing I can do is meet new challenges with openness and trust myself to make the right decisions when the time comes.
I’m entering 2026 feeling exceptionally grateful for all of the people who continue to support me, who have shown me kindness, and who believe in and help share my work. None of this is possible without you. Thank you for being a part of this with me, this is really just the beginning.
the sheer VOLUME of what you accomplish is soooo impressive