Our Story
Wildscape Inc. was born out of a simple yet life-changing question:
Could caddisfly larvae, known for building protective cases from stream stones, also create with gemstones?
In 1995, Kathy Kyle Stout and her husband embarked on an experiment in his biology lab that would transform into a life’s work and passion. By introducing gemstones like gold nuggets, ruby, malachite, and seashell fragments into a simulated stream environment, they witnessed something amazing. The caddisfly larvae began building their cases, blending these precious materials in ways that nature alone could never accomplish.
This experiment grew into Wildscape, a brand that celebrates both the artistry of the natural world and the caddisfly itself, a remarkable insect with a complex annual life cycle.
Each spring, Kathy collects the larvae from pristine headwater streams and gives them a temporary home in her lab. There, she nurtures them from February through August, providing aerated, chilled water and leaves to shred – a key part of their diet in the wild. When the caddisflies reach maturity, they emerge, leaving behind those beautiful empty cases. These unique creations are preserved, filled with epoxy, and transformed into the distinctive jewelry Wildscape is known for.
