Reston Art Teacher Creates One-of-a-Kind Designs

Sunrise Valley Elementary School teacher Heather Warstler has long been an artist who works in many media.

In addition to teaching art in Reston and Herndon elementary schools the last 16 years, Warstler has explored scrapbooking, furniture making, jewelry making, photography and handmade Christmas cards.

But when she experimented with precious metal clay (PCM) a few years ago, an idea for a business was born. Warstler, the mother of two school-age children, thought it would be great if she could capture her children's fingerprints in a bit of PCM and turn it into a jewelry charm.

She began making them for friends and family, adding crystals to go with the fingerprints and putting them on sterling silver chains.

"People were complimenting me on how unusual and pretty the charms were," said Warstler. "So I started making them for presents."

Warstler and business partners Anne and John Moriarty are hoping the public will appreciate the artistry as well. The Moriartys, who have a background in business and marketing, and Warstler named their new jewelry company Regali (Italian for "gifts"). The first line from Regali - Prints Charming - is being sold at home shopping parties.

When Anne Moriarty received a necklace with her daughters' fingerprints as a Christmas gift last year, she encouraged her friend to go into business.

"We went to Heather and said 'you are an artist,' " said  Moriarty, a Vienna resident who has had three daughters go through Sunrise Valley.  "You focus on the artistic; we'll take care of the business."

The prints are captured by pressing a finger into the clay material. Warstler then fires it in her home kiln, and when it comes out the charm is 99.9 percent pure silver. Customers have their choice of shiny or matte patina.

The charms can be made into one of six necklace or two bracelet designs. They also can be added to existing charm bracelets or Pandora bead bracelets, Moriarty said. Prices start at about $50 per charm (there are discounts for additional charms on the same piece). A complete necklace starts at $110

To see more Regali Prints Charming designs, visit their website. You can also follow them on Twitter @Regalijewelry or on Facebook at Regali Jewelry.