My name is Julia Tadlock. I am a an artist, maker and organizer from Southern Vermont
I began crafting stones into jewelry nearly a decade ago in an effort to capture the beauty of the earth on my person. The practice took hold of me in myriad ways and became a hobby to which I dedicated a lot of time and eventually a small business. I find extreme sanctity and solace being in the outdoors and I wanted a way to carry that with me. I have family in Southwest, which I consider my second home, and which has been a heavy influence on my aesthetic. It is also where I source many of my stones.
Many people ask about the name. First Water is a term used to measure the purity and clarity of a stone, which is apt for what I do, certainly. However, the inspiration for the name came from a line from Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot that always struck me: “Beauty, grace, truth of the first water. I knew they were all beyond me.” My first love is the theater.
Through First Water Jewelry, I came to organize the Brattleboro Flea: a frequently produced Makers Market in Brattleboro, Vermont, which has connected me with an incredible community of wonderful and talented makers in my area. For more info on the Brattleboro Flea, visit our site: brattleboroflea.com
All pieces are handmade by me in my studio, in Brattleboro, Vermont. I acquire the stones and crystals from a variety of sellers/miners/vendors from all over the country, taking care to source safe and ethical minerals.
I am happy to do custom orders and welcome requests and inquiries.
Custom ordered Stampede String
