About Wesla

I make objects of delight from reclaimed and upcycled musical instrument parts to help people celebrate their personal connections to music. I am inspired by the stories these materials have to tell. Craftsmen shaped them; musicians dreamed with them; listeners cherished those dreams. Then I turn them into kaleidoscopes, jewelry, and more – and art for your ear becomes art for your home.

I earned a BFA in graphic design from Cooper Union in NYC. I have illustrated a number of books, including Eric Idle’s The Quite Remarkable Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat.

While taking a metalsmithing class for fun, I was instantly captivated by the process of creating jewelry. Wanting to use recycled materials, I began to work with discarded and broken musical instrument parts to express my love for music, narrative, and craftsmanship.

I was honored when my Cymbal of Love (aka Love Cymbal) pendant won Uncommon Goods' first Jewelry Design Challenge in 2011. 

My commitment to arts education inspired me to learn a new instrument — taking music lessons for the first time since junior high school. I now play the marimba, the kalimba, and the ukulele. 

I live in Los Angeles with my lovely and talented wife Jane (muse) and dog (shop supervisor). While I love L.A. (unless I have to drive cross-town in rush hour traffic), I still consider myself part-New Yorker and always fold my pizza slice.

Photo credit: Diana Lundin