Fall Inspirations and Materials That Shape My Jewelry Design
As the weather turns cooler and the sunlight takes on that golden, fleeting glow, I always feel my creativity shift. The bright, easy colors of summer give way to something deeper; richer hues, softer textures, and the gentle stillness that comes with crisp mornings and vibrant afternoons.
Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons to draw inspiration from. There’s so much beauty in its transformation, whether it’s the harvest, the falling leaves, or the last blooms of late-season flowers. Everything feels layered and full of contrast, and I find myself reaching for materials and colors that capture that mood.
Each autumn, as I begin crafting my seasonal jewelry, I return to certain themes and textures that never fail to spark new ideas.
Leaves
The changing leaves are endlessly inspiring. When the greens fade into shades of gold, crimson, and burnt orange, it feels like nature is putting on one last grand show before winter. To me, that transformation captures the heart of the season. It’s vibrant, fleeting, and unforgettable.
It’s no surprise that leaves often appear in my jewelry designs. I love incorporating them through small charms or bold pendants that mirror their natural shapes. Each piece becomes a little tribute to the beauty of change.
Gemstones
Every season has its gemstones, but fall draws me toward the earthy, grounding ones I tend to overlook the rest of the year. Smoky quartz, tiger eye, jasper, and even larimar and turquoise find their way into my designs more often during this time.
These stones carry the warmth and depth I associate with autumn including the browns, golds, and soft blues that remind me of forest trails and open skies. I love pairing them in unexpected ways, blending cool and warm tones to create something that feels both bold and balanced. There’s something about fall that makes me braver with color combinations.
Leather
Leather feels like fall to me. It’s natural and wonderfully versatile. I love using it in place of chain for wrap bracelets or weaving it around beads and metal accents. There’s a rustic warmth to leather that pairs perfectly with gemstones and metals, especially in the brown and tan hues that echo autumn’s palette.
Every time I work with leather, I think of cozy textures of fall, including worn boots, soft jackets, and the earthy scent of the season. It adds that same comforting quality to jewelry, grounding even the most intricate pieces.
Copper
No material feels more “autumn” to me than copper. Its warmth, its glow; copper just belongs to this time of year. When I’m creating my fall collection, I find myself reaching for copper over and over again: copper chains, accent beads, and wire. There’s something about its tone that perfectly complements the season’s colors.
Copper stands out against browns, gleams beside blues, and enhances the reds and oranges of fall gemstones. It’s as though it carries a bit of autumn light within it, glowing softly even when the days grow short.
Sky and Frost
Not all my inspiration comes from the earth. One of the most striking sights in fall is the sky. It is deep blue and endlessly clear, framed by fiery trees and distant mountains. That vivid contrast between sky and foliage is one of my favorite color combinations to bring into my designs.
And as the season deepens, the first frosts arrive. I love the way a light frost catches the early morning sun, glinting against fallen leaves. The mix of cool whites and greys with warm reds and oranges creates a texture and color contrast that I can’t resist. It’s a subtle reminder that even as the season fades, there’s still beauty in every small detail.
Bringing It All Together
Each year, when autumn comes around, I find myself drawn back to the same elements; leaves, gemstones, leather, copper, the crisp blue sky, and the delicate touch of frost. They’ve become part of my creative rhythm, the language through which I express what fall feels like to me.
I never know exactly how these inspirations will come together, but that’s part of what makes the season so exciting. Each piece becomes a small reflection of fall’s fleeting beauty. Warm, textured, and full of life. If you’d like to see fall jewelry designs of the past, check out my my past fall collections: Autumnal Bliss, Volume II, Volume III, Volume IV, Volume V, and Volume VI.