How did you get into metalsmithing? I have always loved silver and turquoise and wanted to do something that included those in my creative outlet. My early childhood, I grew up in Arizona so that had a lot of influence on my interest in the Southwestern styles. My Dad had a very close friend who had the largest Turquoise belt buckle I had ever seen. I thought it was so beautiful and special, I will never forget it. I also credit my start into silversmithing to my Mom! She passed down her turquoise ring from the 1970’s to me when I was sixteen. I still wear the ring almost daily. We spent our summers in the Northwoods of Wisconsin on a lake (my favorite place) and every year on one of our “town” visits, we would visit a silver shop and would get to pick something out. That is why I named my business Northwoods Silver. My path to metalsmithing was a bit untraditional, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just 8 months ago, I took my first class at Harold Studio and have take...

How did you get into metalsmithing? I’ve been into collecting jewelry since high school, when I inherited a bit of my grandmas native turquoise jewelry collection. Then after collecting and searching for stuff that I like or that fits for years, I just decided I wanted to try to make things that I couldn’t find and things that fit me. I have a couple good friends who are also into metalsmithing, lapidary and collecting that also really helped me get into silversmithing. I took the 8 week jewelry 1 class at the Harold Studio and really took off from there! What inspires you? Everything! I live for 40s/50s Fred Harvey era silver. Turquoise! The desert! Stones! Stones, probably more than anything, they really make every piece so special. What is your design process? I don’t know if I really have a process really. I doodle designs a lot, but my drawing is terrible. I usually just lay out some stones and it really just comes to me from there. Ill start moving ele...

How did you get into metalsmithing? Years ago, my grandma gave me her wedding ring and told me that I could reset the stones, if I wanted to do so. I felt that the best way to honor her, would be to learn how to reset the stones myself. Ironically, I no longer want to reset the stones. I cherish the memories that I have of her wearing that ring. I want to preserve the ring and the memories. What inspires you? I'm very inspired by other cultures. Specifically, Native American and Hispanic cultures. I love the story, the spirit, the richness and the detail. What is your design process?  I tend to be a more methodical person, so, I'm not one to "wing it".  I almost always have a plan before I start working on a piece. Usually, I end up deviating or modifying somewhere along the way. That's the part of the process that I have a tricky relationship with. I don't like uncertainty, although, uncertainty can be our best teacher. What is you...

How did you get into metalsmithing? I had an uncle who made a living as a watchmaker. He also had an interest in stones and made some jewelry. When I was in elementary school he would take me along to hunt for rubies, and on one occasion he bought me a handcrafted Sterling dogwood flower ring. I thought this was so amazing! Later on I became aware of art shows, and grasped the fact that I could actually make a living designing and making jewelry. What inspires you? I would have to say beauty. I relate to the fluid nature of metal, and am totally in love with the drama of fire. I find clarity in looking for design, and it is usually a subtle, very unplanned idea that starts my process. c What is your design process? Very simply, I make it up as I go along! What is your favorite tool? I like working with my foredom ..... the finishing process I find rewarding as the piece is becoming a whole. What is on your bench right now?  ...

How did you get into metalsmithing? I have always enjoyed learning and doing anything art and crafts related. I also admired all the pretty silver and turquoise jewelry out there, but had a hard time finding rings or cuffs that fit. I remember thinking maybe someday it would be cool to be able to make it myself. Two years ago, I was looking for a creative outlet to balance out my life and randomly searched the internets for a local metal-smithing class. I found Harold Studio, took the awesome Jewelry 1 class, and have been hooked ever since.   What inspires you? Lots of things - a lot of the times just looking at the stone itself sparks some idea for what it could become or what style would fit it best. I had lots of fun looking to nature and the National Parks for inspiration for several pieces. Sometimes running low on supplies (rarely happens right...) generates ideas. It ends up being a semi-fun challenge to see what I can try to create using what I have left un...

How did you get into metalsmithing? I was searching for an alternative creative outlet removed from the food world that I have spent my working career in.   I needed a new medium that still let me use my hands and tell a story, but without being edible. ( ring ) What inspires you? The natural world inspires me the most.  I look to the scenery around me for form and functionality.  Themes are important to me.  I like to set an idea and then open up the drawing books to let the creative juices flow.  I research botanical illustrations, animal anatomy, and maps to help ground my wandering mind. ( earrings ) What is your design process? Draw, draw, draw.  I try to draw in my books daily, even if I feel that is not consistent with what I’m working with at the moment.  It helps me keep a log of what I was feeling at the moment.  I also make prototypes for myself that I can where out and see the response I receive.  The responses help me know if the piece is liked by the collec...

This Ring was made by Michelle, probably a year ago. •Clean lines  Michelle has a very Scandinavian aesthetic to her work that I love. At the same time she manages to make a lot of it rustic. •Tube setting She does a lot of her stone setting by tube setting faceted stones. There aren't too many cabochons in her work portfolio.  This piece is enameled a dark color underneath, with a light blue faceted stone that is tube set on top. Love it! I love what she's been doing lately as well! She gave me a pair of earrings that remind me of one of my favorite  Ikea lamps. I'll have to share those soon with you all because they're just about one of my favorite things. Hopefully she'll be making more. ...

This Heart on Your Sleeve cuff by Elizabeth Lyons uses fold forming and heat patina to create something that describes just what makes you happy. What a cool reminder of things we have to make us grateful throughout the day! So what would you put on your cuff? Mine would definitely have coffee. And maybe espresso too! Liz is also an author and her most recent book is a wonderful read...even if you don't have kids!...

Gaera is the newest addition to the Harold Studio home, but she's been around since nearly the beginning after finding out about the studio while going to metal smithing school in Turkey. The product of two artists as parents, Gaera definitely has designing in the blood. She's been all around the globe and her travels definitely seem to be reflected in her jewelry design. You can see some of her work here and I'm sure these pieces will be on her site soon! What do you think?...

Michelle, of White Dog Studios made a fabulous ring a while back that I featured in this post . Everyone loved the ring so much, she decided to make earrings out of the same design. I was able to catch her this weekend after she finished making a pair to photograph them as well as another pendant. Pretty and sleek: This pendant and earrings feature tube set stones. These are made out of sterling silver and have a brushed finish to them. The earrings have champagne cz's set on both sides and have a lovely teardrop shape to them. Checkout Michelle's shop for more pretty pieces!...

Joesphine, the newest key member of Harold Studio has a laugh that is catching. She does a lot of research for her day job and makes jewelry to relax and enjoy doing something she loves. Here are a couple of pieces I snagged off her today: This necklace has a clasp at the back with an extension which hangs down several inches. These are some earrings which are mokume. Mokume stands for wood eye metal. This is Josephine's first attempt at mokume and they turned out pretty neat! Last, these are some soon to be earrings using the technique of keum-boo. Josephine makes everything without using electricity! She thinks her pieces have a primitive look to them. What do you think?...

Gaera made this lovely pendant at the studio last week. It's not in her shop yet, but her website gaera.com has some pretty hand sewn hair clips and bows as well as jewelry. Check it out and look for more jewelry to show up there soon!...

We have a few beautiful pieces of jewelry at 10% off to anyone who mentions Harold Studio to the seller this week! That's over $35 in savings! First off is a Spinner Ring by Elizabeth Lyons Designs. Next, we have a beautiful fold formed necklace by Chris at Cross Currents Studio Silver and Stone earrings by Michelle at White Dog Studios Finally, there are the classic pearl earrings by Ariel at Beni par Dieu...

Dara's been around the studio for longer than most and many people know her as the guru of all things jewelry. These are some amazing earrings she was sporting today that look sweet on. With a spiculum each and quirky silver balls at the end that remind me of foliage, these are some Dara originals for sure....

Liz is an all around wonder woman and it's amazing to me where she finds any time to even make jewelry. She's a regular blogger and such a good writer that she can even draw me (an unmarried gal without kids) into a world about stories of parenting and the married life that are filled with hilarity and common sense. She has 3 books under her belt, is a public speaker, the creator behind Hold it Baby , and did I mention she has 5 kids? She started Elizabeth Lyons Designs in 2011 and it has been inspiring to have her in the studio. She has a very positive, get it done attitude that is a lesson in how to achieve a lot in life....