I am a spine surgeon turned glass artist, goldsmith, and writer — working from a lakeside studio in Texas where nature, light, and the quiet practice of making shape everything I create.
Each piece is crafted with intention, patience, and attention to the story it carries. I work closely with clients to create something lasting, meaningful, and worn close to the body.
My memoir The Quiet Return explores the creative life after illness.
I write regularly at thesehandsremember.substack.com
Hand-fabricated from 18k gold using fold-forming and anticlastic raising, these earrings capture the organic movement of a fern frond caught mid-unfurl. Rippled texture catches the light from every angle, while the anticlastic curve follows the natural line of the ear for a comfortable, close-to-the-lobe fit.
Despite their sculptural presence, they're remarkably lightweight — designed for all-day wear without any pull on the earlobe.
Each pair is one-of-a-kind, formed and finished entirely by hand.
Approximately $2,000, based on current gold market pricing. Also available in sterling silver — inquire for pricing.
Custom commissions welcome — reach out to discuss size, metal, and texture options.
Studio update: glass and chains. 🔥✨
Just wrapped a nine-vessel drop ring series in kiln-formed Bullseye glass — 297 hours of kiln time from start to finish, including two of the larger vessels in the series. One piece was inspired by my wife calling an orange vessel "pink" (she's not wrong, glass does its own thing under selenium chemistry).
The offcuts don't go to waste — I cut cabochons from them and build glass chains, leaded bezel technique, each jump ring soldered by hand. It's become its own practice alongside the vessels.
On the commission side: just finished a wedding gift chain for dear friends' daughter, working from a warm palette — amber, crimson, maple, moss, deep teal. Feedback's been wonderful, and that batch sold out fast — more chain commissions already lined up on the bench.
If you're looking for a special wedding gift or present, let me know — happy to talk through options. 🪟🔗
A Lovely article about my journey.
https://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-al-heilman-of-houston
After more than a year of writing and revision, The Quiet Return grew out of daily reflections shaped by illness, recovery, creativity, and the slow return to self.
This book is not about fixing everything.
It is about noticing what remains.
Written in quiet moments—many first shared here—these reflections explore healing, presence, and the steady work of becoming. They speak to interruption, endurance, and what it means to live attentively when life asks you to slow down.
My hope is that The Quiet Return offers readers something familiar, grounding, and quietly reassuring—a companion for moments of pause, recovery, or reflection.
– Sold
A luxurious 18K gold ring featuring a vivid green tourmaline at its heart, encircled by a bevy of brilliant diamonds. Handcrafted with precision and elegance — a celebration of color, light, and timeless design.
Available by private commission. Contact for bespoke inquiries.
– Sold
A fabulous pair of handcrafted earrings in 18K gold, featuring vibrant green tourmalines, luminous pearls, and a touch of sparkle from fine diamonds. Each element is accented with delicate granulation, showcasing the artistry and precision of traditional goldsmithing.
These earrings balance texture and elegance — pearls crowned in gold and diamonds, suspended beneath radiant green tourmalines.
Created as a private commission.
For custom designs or inquiries, contact me directly
– Sold
A dazzling pair of handcrafted 18K gold earrings featuring brilliant blue-green opals framed in fine granulation and accented with luminous pearls. The interplay of vibrant color and soft luster creates a timeless, ocean-inspired harmony.
Each pair is meticulously crafted, balancing bold modern design with the refinement of classical goldsmithing.
Created as a private commission.
For bespoke designs or custom inquiries, contact me directly
The joy of creating is working out a solution that involves the client and gives the jewelry a voice that matches the dream.
$1,100.00
A one-of-a-kind kiln-formed glass vessel that celebrates color, form, and light. Layers of Bullseye glass are meticulously fused and shaped through heat, gravity, and time, creating dynamic murrine patterns that dance across the surface.
The vessel’s flowing form captures reflections and shadows that shift with changing light — from the fiery oranges and purples to the tranquil blues and neutrals within the glass. Each piece is cold-worked, refined, and finished by hand for perfect balance and clarity.
Medium: Bullseye glass (COE 90)
Process: Hand-cut murrine, kiln-formed, cold-worked, and sandblasted
Dimensions: Approximately ___ inches (7.5 × 9)
Unique piece — signed by the artist.
$2,000.00
A bold, hand-forged fine silver bracelet featuring a radiant Padparadscha sapphire, framed in a custom 18K gold bezel. The patterned silver surface is sculpted with precision, creating rhythmic textures that echo the organic flow of molten metal.
The warm coral-pink sapphire contrasts beautifully with the cool luster of silver and gold, embodying strength, grace, and balance. Each hammer mark and carved line tells the story of craftsmanship — forged by hand, refined by fire.
Materials: Fine silver, 18K gold, natural Padparadscha sapphire
Finish: Hand-textured and polished
Unique, one-of-a-kind piece — signed by the artist.
For inquiries or custom commissions, contact me directly
Maybe the grey of today isn’t just a mood or a weather pattern. Maybe it’s a metaphor. A reminder that life’s grey areas don’t need to stay stagnant. With a little effort—a stroke of amber pigment here, a touch of warmth there—we can transform the grey into something else entirely. Something brighter. Something truer.
The process of creating a pair of earrings for my muse, blending design, materials, and inspiration into a wearable work of art.
"Jewelry should be fun, exciting, and uniquely yours. I love blending silver and gold with a touch of eccentricity to craft one-of-a-kind pieces. Let’s collaborate to create something truly special together."
"Men deserve a place at the table in jewelry design. Let’s create a bold statement piece that reflects your individuality and style."
"Jewelry should be fun. Let’s collaborate to create something truly special together."
"Wearing custom jewelry should be a fun and playful experience."
"Combining glass and metal so they speak to each other is my passion and magic happens"
"Color and design are true partners in creation. Adding hand-made murrini to the mix makes the result truly magical."
"Genes: We’re all made of the same ones, just arranged in different patterns. This panel represents the randomness of those pairs."
