About

Jewelry designer and owner of Manna, Whitney, specializes in precious metal, genuine diamond and colorful gemstone pieces.  Conflict free stones are carefully selected, gold is carved, sanded and finished by hand within her working studio. Striking solitaires and curated cluster settings are worked into unique pieces that feature earthy textures and soft, brushed finishes.  The self taught goldsmith and designer has become an established fine jewelry artist, sought after for her perfectly-imperfect aesthetic, organic wedding/engagement rings, delicate layering pieces and feminine adornments.  All materials are ethically and sustainably sourced, certified conflict free and adhere to the Kimberly Process. Beyond her own work, Whitney carefully selects unique fine jewelry pieces that are available to her customers online as well as in Manna. 

History & Process

 After devoting years of uncompromising benchwork to her craft, countless hours of precision stone setting and fabrication, Whitney's love for forging and the art of working directly with these precious materials was sealed. For many years Whitney worked as the sole set of hands - designing, fabricating, setting and hand finishing every component from scratch, for each client. Having grown into a multifaceted jewelry studio and brick and mortar shop that currently serves her local community as well as international clientele, she now works with a production team consisting of some of the best precision stone setters and bench jewelers in the country.  Once casting and stone selection are complete, Whitney personally hand carves and finishes each piece according to every client's specifications.  Custom stones in various shapes, sizes, cuts and colors rest brilliantly within soft waves of gold. Modern settings and high polished finishes are also available and compliment their earthier counterparts within each collection. Wedding and statement bands are built to custom widths and are hammered out in studio to feature various forms and textures, allowing customers to peruse an array of one of a kind pieces.

Whitney and her husband Zak, an award-winning film director and marketing strategist (www.zakshelhamer.com), live with their daughter, Marigold, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. In 2016, the Shelhamers opened Manna (www.themannashop.com), their working studio and retail shop where customers were able to try on the jewelry in person and, often times, witness the pieces being constructed within ear shot.  Manna was born and grown against the breathtaking Pacific Northwest ocean in Oregon and now resides at 510 E Sherman Ave., in the heart of beautiful, downtown Coeur d’Alene, ID.