Native to Southern California, Krista received a degree in Art History from the American University of Paris, France. Years spent living in the rich artistic milieu of Europe indelibly influenced her as an art, antiques and jewelry collector. It was during her travels to Italy, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Brighton Lanes in Southern England, and her subsequent exposure to these unique jewelry markets, that her interest in designing jewelry was inspired. Her appreciation of history and antiques is reflected in the Ethiopian Cross Collection. In other collections, her designs are kept simple in order to highlight the purity of the featured gemstones, their clarity and cut.