Britta Culbertson started her metalsmithing business in 2019 under the brand Mud Lotus Handmade. While developing her artistic voice over the last few years and dedication to bringing stone stories to life, a new name was in order.

The word “terra” comes from the Latin for “Earth,” while “storia” is a shortened version of “historia,” which means “story” in Latin and “learning from research” in Ancient Greek. This name is a reflection of what Britta does in her jewelry work—articulating the connection between geology and geography and telling the story of the stone through metalwork.

Britta specializes in combining ethically sourced stones from the Pacific Northwest with pressings of local flora, topographical maps, and nautical charts in handmade sterling silver jewelry. Recently, she has started doing her own lapidary work and many of her pieces feature cabochons cut and shaped by Britta herself.

The stones we admire tell a story ages in the making—the goal of Terrastoria is to forge a connection between people and the landscape with wearable works of Earth.