The Artist

Sommer Cleveland is the self-taught metalsmith behind Rustic Souls, crafting one-of-a-kind wearable art that bridges ancient inspiration and contemporary defiance.

After receiving life changing medical diagnoses, she left corporate life, trading spreadsheets for torches and teaching herself silversmithing through relentless experimentation. Today, Rustic Souls is her manifesto, slow, intentional craftsmanship born from a home studio, where chronic illness dictates the pace but never the passion.

Her work, forged from recycled metals, undyed gemstones, and inspired by historical motifs rejects mass production in favor of pieces that feel unearthed, lived-in, and rebelliously alive. Her creative process is ADHD fueled controlled chaos and collections evolve through tangents, with playful detours into new techniques. The result? Jewelry that feels like armor for the wild hearted and heirlooms for the rebellious.

“Jewelry is armor and a relic of personal stories collected over a lifetime.”

Rustic Souls has gone NOMADIC! To see more of my adventures as I make jewelry on the road, make sure to follow me on Instagram @TheRusticSouls

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