What you’ll learn in this episode:   How Jeremy found that landscape architecture translated to jewelry making Why he was drawn to working with paper, and how he came up with his distinctive technique Why jewelry is a powerful object to preserve memories Jeremy’s design process and how he creates a unique piece of jewelry for each client   About Jeremy May   Jeremy May is a Landscape Architect born in Suffolk, UK. After having worked in his field of design for over 10 years, Jeremy created the first paper ring in September 2007. Jeremy’s literary jewels were first introduced to the public in January 2009, transforming the paper that aspires to last beautifully and bring joy, colour, and love to all those sustainably minded individuals. The jewels have been presented in London, Paris, Osaka, Athens, Hamburg and Saint Petersburg. Currently Jeremy is working on private commissions and on creating collections of jewels under a thematology to be presented in exhibitions around the world. He lives and works in London.   Additional Resources: Jermey’s Website Jermey’s Instagram   Photos available on TheJewelryJourney.com   Transcript:   It takes an adventurous jewelry designer to eschew traditional materials like metal and diamonds in favor of paper. But as a former landscape architect who left his career for more thrilling creative pursuits, Jeremy May was up for the challenge. He joined the Jewelry Journey Podcast to talk about why he was drawn to paper when he first discovered jewelry making; how he came up with his one-of-a-kind technique; and how he works with clients to create the perfect, meaningful piece. Read the episode transcript here.  Sharon: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Jewelry Journey Podcast. This is the first part of a two-part episode. Please make sure you subscribe so you can hear part two as soon as it’s released later this week.    Today, speaking to us from London is Jeremy May, who creates unique literary jewels from pages of vintage books. He transforms these books into unique pieces of paper jewelry with quotes carefully cut from the book. Each piece is unique to the wearer. We will hear more about the books and how he creates his unique jewels today. Jeremy, welcome to the program.   Jeremy: Hello. It’s an honor and a delight to speak to you.   Sharon: Tell us about your jewelry journey. How did you start?   Jeremy: I started in 2007. I made my first ring for my wife for our first wedding anniversary. I made it from a newspaper, and that’s basically how it all started for me in the jewelry world. I studied as a landscape architect, and I did that for about 12 years. When I made the first ring, that was like the catalyst. I saw my new profession, and I decided that landscape architecture was not for me. I started making jewelry.   Sharon: With landscape architecture, had it been in the back of your mind, “I have to find something else”?   Jeremy: I started landscape architecture from a very young age. My parents were both in the horticulture world, so it was in the forefront of my mind. My grandfather was a head gardener, so plants and horticulture were always at the forefront of my mind. It was second nature. For me, a progression into landscape architecture was great because I loved art and design, and that was my output, if you like, for creativity. From a very young age, about the age of 12 or 13, I decided I was going to be a landscape architect.    I researched and worked out how I was going to do this, what courses and classes I needed to take. I ended up going to Greenwich University, and it was very much an art-based course. It was less about horticulture and plants and more about design. I loved it; I adored it, actually. It was less writing and exam-based and more about design and making artwork, really. I was in my element there, and then you get to the end of the course and go, “O.K., now I have to go and get a job. That’s fine.” For 10 years, I loved it; I really did. I was working with t