About the Artist
In her life Libby Ferrara has moved often and held a variety of jobs but she has always, always made things. In 2018 she moved to the small seaside town of Seward Alaska to make full time as both a self-employed artist, during the summer, fall and winter, and as a seine net mender in the spring.
Stray Goose Studio originated while Libby was still a student at Maine College of Art in 2008 with the idea of continuing to create well-crafted things while leading a seasonal, migratory, lifestyle. Her intention, re-iterated again and again, between seasons of earning a living serving, guiding, commercial fishing, coalesced when she began making jewelry again. In exploring materials from her surroundings—salvaged hanging twine, antique lures, tanned salmon skin—as adornment—the aesthetic canon evident in her work today started to emerge.
Stray Goose Studio has since grown to maintain a year round studio space, which has enabled Libby to reincorporate some traditional metalsmithing techniques using recycled sterling silver and brass. The stability has also empowered her to pursue ethical and sustainable studio practices from sourcing metals responsibly, throughout the processes of making, to how each piece is packaged. Her desire is to make everything consciously—a dynamic goal that strives to align itself with the needs of our ever-changing world.
The incredibly intricate and inherently purposeful beauty found in nature continually inspires Libby not only artistically but also in her desire to live a meaningful life. Though the purpose of jewelry may appear purely decorative Libby believes it has deep, deep currents in identity, expression and a sense of place. She also believes that to be surrounded or adorned by things that are intentionally made and intentionally chosen gets us a little closer to the harmony of wilderness.
About Stray Goose Studio
Stray Goose Studio was formed as a business in 2015 and is fully owned and solely operated by artist Libby Ferrara. Each and every facet of the business is attended to by Libby personally and is both a labor of love and necessity. In the future Stray Goose Studio hopes to expand to include other members as well as a studio location that is off-grid and as sustainable as possible.
Jewelry Care
Our mainstream culture elevates the value of replacement over cherishing our older belongings; by carefully choosing consciously handmade things we interrupt this destructive narrative. Thank you for your awareness and care! To ensure your jewelry lasts in it’s original state avoid getting it wet if components include salmon leather. Sterling and brass jewelry and components may tarnish or oxidize with time. There is nothing harmful about this. However, if you prefer it stay shiny, clean with a polishing rag or paper but avoid chemical silver polishes as it could damage the other materials.
Salmon Leather is an organic material that requires some maintenance to say as it came. The biggest threats to your leather jewelry are water, which may cause it to stretch or dis-form, and sunlight, that may cause leather degeneration by excessive drying. Avoiding light is clearly not possible wile worn but simply storing your jewelry in a dark place (avoid the windowsill or sunny shelf) will keep your jewelry in top shape!
The following guidelines help do less harm if damage occurs:
-If your leather becomes wet allow it to dry slowly, away from any heat source in order to preserve its texture.
-If your leather becomes dry re-hydrate it with a very small amount of natural leather conditioner. If you want to make your own conditioner melt one part organic beeswax with one part pure coconut oil in a double boiler. Once melted, mix together and poor into a jar to cool before using. To apply disperse a tiny bit onto your fingertips and rub just enough into the leather to appear moistened. If too much was applied remove excess with a soft, clean cloth.
Repair
Stray Goose Studio strives to make high quality things but realizes some of those things are very delicate and that life happens! Should your Jewelry need repair to continue being beautiful/useful Stray Goose Studio is happy to do so for a fair cost. In the case of one lost earring it is usually possible to re-create the missing mate to make a pair again. To request repair/a half pair please fill out the contact form on the "Contact" page with “Repair” or "Lost Earring" in the subject line and briefly detail the situation. Stray Goose Studio will do its very best to fix it.
Recycling
Stray Goose Studio uses certified 100% recycled sterling silver. Stray Goose Studio also collects and recycles scrap and filings generated in the process of making by sending them back to the refinery to be purified and re-made into usable material. If you have precious metal jewelry you no longer wear Stray Goose Studio encourages you to recycle it to minimize demand for newly mined resources!
Store Policies
Ordering: Unless specified as "Ready to Ship" jewelry purchased at www.straygoosestudio.com is entirely handmade to order. Understand it could take up to two weeks before your item(s) ships. If you need your order rushed please contact Stray Goose Studio prior to ordering to discuss if expedited production/shipping is possible. To request an estimated production time or for answers to any other questions concerning ordering please use the contact form on the "Contact" page.
Packaging: Your jewelry will be mailed in beautiful, locally printed custom packaging made with renewable plant-based vellum cardstock. Shipping boxes and labels are 100% recycled and the sustainable sealing tape uses a plant derived backing and adhesive making the used box fully recyclable. Please reuse or recycle!
Shipping: All orders ship USPS First Class Mail. When your order ships you will receive a tracking number by email. Please note for made to order items it could take up to two weeks before your item(s) ships and you receive a tracking number. For international shipping please contact Stray Goose Studio prior to placing your order to request a shipping quote.
Returns: Stray Goose Studio products may be returned within two weeks of the date received provided they are in new, unused condition and in their original packaging. Please note: custom orders cannot be returned. If you wish to make a return please use the contact form on the "Contact" page and write "Return" in the subject line.
Wholesale
If you are interested in carrying Stray Goose Studio jewelry in your shop or gallery please use the contact form on the "Contact" page to request the current catalog.
Commissions
Libby considers custom work on a case by case basis and as her schedule allows. If you are interested in discussing a commission please reach out by filling out a contact form on the "Contact" page with a brief description of your idea and desired time-frame.
In her life Libby Ferrara has moved often and held a variety of jobs but she has always, always made things. In 2018 she moved to the small seaside town of Seward Alaska to make full time as both a self-employed artist, during the summer, fall and winter, and as a seine net mender in the spring.
Stray Goose Studio originated while Libby was still a student at Maine College of Art in 2008 with the idea of continuing to create well-crafted things while leading a seasonal, migratory, lifestyle. Her intention, re-iterated again and again, between seasons of earning a living serving, guiding, commercial fishing, coalesced when she began making jewelry again. In exploring materials from her surroundings—salvaged hanging twine, antique lures, tanned salmon skin—as adornment—the aesthetic canon evident in her work today started to emerge.
Stray Goose Studio has since grown to maintain a year round studio space, which has enabled Libby to reincorporate some traditional metalsmithing techniques using recycled sterling silver and brass. The stability has also empowered her to pursue ethical and sustainable studio practices from sourcing metals responsibly, throughout the processes of making, to how each piece is packaged. Her desire is to make everything consciously—a dynamic goal that strives to align itself with the needs of our ever-changing world.
The incredibly intricate and inherently purposeful beauty found in nature continually inspires Libby not only artistically but also in her desire to live a meaningful life. Though the purpose of jewelry may appear purely decorative Libby believes it has deep, deep currents in identity, expression and a sense of place. She also believes that to be surrounded or adorned by things that are intentionally made and intentionally chosen gets us a little closer to the harmony of wilderness.
About Stray Goose Studio
Stray Goose Studio was formed as a business in 2015 and is fully owned and solely operated by artist Libby Ferrara. Each and every facet of the business is attended to by Libby personally and is both a labor of love and necessity. In the future Stray Goose Studio hopes to expand to include other members as well as a studio location that is off-grid and as sustainable as possible.
Jewelry Care
Our mainstream culture elevates the value of replacement over cherishing our older belongings; by carefully choosing consciously handmade things we interrupt this destructive narrative. Thank you for your awareness and care! To ensure your jewelry lasts in it’s original state avoid getting it wet if components include salmon leather. Sterling and brass jewelry and components may tarnish or oxidize with time. There is nothing harmful about this. However, if you prefer it stay shiny, clean with a polishing rag or paper but avoid chemical silver polishes as it could damage the other materials.
Salmon Leather is an organic material that requires some maintenance to say as it came. The biggest threats to your leather jewelry are water, which may cause it to stretch or dis-form, and sunlight, that may cause leather degeneration by excessive drying. Avoiding light is clearly not possible wile worn but simply storing your jewelry in a dark place (avoid the windowsill or sunny shelf) will keep your jewelry in top shape!
The following guidelines help do less harm if damage occurs:
-If your leather becomes wet allow it to dry slowly, away from any heat source in order to preserve its texture.
-If your leather becomes dry re-hydrate it with a very small amount of natural leather conditioner. If you want to make your own conditioner melt one part organic beeswax with one part pure coconut oil in a double boiler. Once melted, mix together and poor into a jar to cool before using. To apply disperse a tiny bit onto your fingertips and rub just enough into the leather to appear moistened. If too much was applied remove excess with a soft, clean cloth.
Repair
Stray Goose Studio strives to make high quality things but realizes some of those things are very delicate and that life happens! Should your Jewelry need repair to continue being beautiful/useful Stray Goose Studio is happy to do so for a fair cost. In the case of one lost earring it is usually possible to re-create the missing mate to make a pair again. To request repair/a half pair please fill out the contact form on the "Contact" page with “Repair” or "Lost Earring" in the subject line and briefly detail the situation. Stray Goose Studio will do its very best to fix it.
Recycling
Stray Goose Studio uses certified 100% recycled sterling silver. Stray Goose Studio also collects and recycles scrap and filings generated in the process of making by sending them back to the refinery to be purified and re-made into usable material. If you have precious metal jewelry you no longer wear Stray Goose Studio encourages you to recycle it to minimize demand for newly mined resources!
Store Policies
Ordering: Unless specified as "Ready to Ship" jewelry purchased at www.straygoosestudio.com is entirely handmade to order. Understand it could take up to two weeks before your item(s) ships. If you need your order rushed please contact Stray Goose Studio prior to ordering to discuss if expedited production/shipping is possible. To request an estimated production time or for answers to any other questions concerning ordering please use the contact form on the "Contact" page.
Packaging: Your jewelry will be mailed in beautiful, locally printed custom packaging made with renewable plant-based vellum cardstock. Shipping boxes and labels are 100% recycled and the sustainable sealing tape uses a plant derived backing and adhesive making the used box fully recyclable. Please reuse or recycle!
Shipping: All orders ship USPS First Class Mail. When your order ships you will receive a tracking number by email. Please note for made to order items it could take up to two weeks before your item(s) ships and you receive a tracking number. For international shipping please contact Stray Goose Studio prior to placing your order to request a shipping quote.
Returns: Stray Goose Studio products may be returned within two weeks of the date received provided they are in new, unused condition and in their original packaging. Please note: custom orders cannot be returned. If you wish to make a return please use the contact form on the "Contact" page and write "Return" in the subject line.
Wholesale
If you are interested in carrying Stray Goose Studio jewelry in your shop or gallery please use the contact form on the "Contact" page to request the current catalog.
Commissions
Libby considers custom work on a case by case basis and as her schedule allows. If you are interested in discussing a commission please reach out by filling out a contact form on the "Contact" page with a brief description of your idea and desired time-frame.
For more details on Libby's art making and life visit the "notes" section at the top of this page. Stray Goose Studio can also be found on facebook (where the photo albums include images of work dating back to 2005) and Instagram @straygoosestudio.