Silversmith Erin Kandoll has always considered herself an artist.

When the Pilot visited Kandoll's studio, her ginger-color hair sat atop her head in a hair bun while she sorted out dozens of turquoise stones.

Twisted Ginger, the name of Kandoll's silver-and-stone jewelry business, was born from a creative pastime.

"Started from a state room on the Kestrel with my tackle box ... then to the garage ... to selling everything, to quitting, and then to this," Kandoll recalled. "Now, I'm just ... living my dream."

"I started 10 years ago when I was just twisting wire into shapes, and then Twisted G...