My Story
I grew up riding horses and chasing cattle in the Bear Paw Mountains of North Central Montana. That is where I gained an appreciation for beautiful and functional things. In my early youth I remember falling truly, madly, and deeply in love with an agate ring my great-grandmother wore. She spent her life wearing fabulous jewelry while working on the ranch, pulling calves, bailing hay, irrigating fields and hugging grandbabies. She once told me that if she had a dollar for every cow her rings had been inside she wouldn’t have much to worry about. When I create pieces for people to wear, I have her in my mind when it comes to wearability. It is my mission to create something that you feel comfortable in while wearing it in your everyday life. Aside from my great-grandmother’s jewelry, my youth was spent seeing gear that my father and grandfather had built.I come from generations of makers, starting back with my grandfather. A welder by trade but a cowboy at heart, he combined the two and made spade bits for his own use. What he made didn’t have silver embellishments, or any kind of fancy detail for that matter, but what he made was balanced well and withstood the test of time. He passed that knowledge down to my father who has been making bits and spurs since he was in the eighth grade. What they made wasn’t always considered fashionable but it was always functional. Once upon a time, dad had purchased fancy silver bits and spurs, but over the years they lost their shiny parts. He kept all the silver overlays in a box and from time to time he would pull them out and tell a wiry tale of a horse wreck or a bull roping gone wrong. Now its my turn to create. I plan to follow in my grandfather and father’s footsteps, with my great-grandmother for added inspiration. Until I have more experience under my belt, I will be focusing on creating jewelry — the kind of jewelry that can be worn on the ranch or out on the town. I will also be working toward my goal to continue my family’s tradition of creating cowboy gear that is made to stand the test of time, while still being beautiful. I welcome you all to come along with me on this journey.
Tawnya Bach