Meghan makes jewelry for runners, triathletes, duathletes, swimmers, cyclists, yogis with her business Girls Run Fast. Jewelry to celebrate your accomplishment and more. Meghan makes jewelry for runners, triathletes, duathletes, swimmers, cyclists, yogis with her business Girls Run Fast. Jewelry to celebrate your accomplishment and more. How did you get into metalsmithing? I took my first class when I was at the university working on my BFA, it sparked my interest then but at that time I could not  fit any more classes into my schedule. I got back into it and  started taking classes again  twenty years later after teaching art for many years. What inspires you? My life experiences and the experiences of the people in my life.  I started making my running pendants when I was training for a marathon and continue to get ideas for new pendants from events in our lives. One of my newer designs is a runner with a dog , inspired by our new dog. What is your design...

Arizona Artist Series: Rebecca/ MissHotcakes Q&A Rebecca of MissHotcakes has a quirky unique style that mixes her love of the vintage and weird in a beautiful way through her jewelry designs. Learn more about her process and style in our latest Arizona Artist segment below! How did you get into metalsmithing? Jewelry making has been something I’ve been doing since high school, maybe earlier, so it’s always been an interest of mine. It started with beads, and then in the late 90s, there were hemp necklaces/bracelets. More recently, I was on the lookout for vintage buttons, and I also was using felt for a bit. I enjoyed that, but I found that I wanted to elevate my skill set, which led me to taking a course at Harold in 2015. I fell in love with the process and the ability to really create something out of nothing.  Creating is just such an important thing to me, and metalsmithing is really my favorite way to scratch my creative itch. What insp...

Tips on Taking Good Jewelry Product Shots from a Professional Photographer – Part 1.   By: Amy Juneau Phoenix Photographer, Sage, of Desert Sage Photography, met with me recently to share some basic tips on how to shoot good jewelry product shots. She has 6 years of experience as a jewelry product photographer and 10 years of experience photographing weddings.   She’s been a real gem (pun intended) in creating quality photos for Harold Jewelry.   Check out her advice in answer to my questions below: AJ: What do you recommend for removing/avoiding dust and debris in close up shots? S:    It depends on what background you wish to photograph the jewelry on. A white background looks professional, but it can be tricky, as it shows lint and random debris easily. Keep a lint roller and or tape handy (Sage always asks her jewelry artist clients what is their preference for a background before a shoot). If you have a photo editing software, like Photoshop, and are...

Arizona Artist Series: Katherine Londen Q&A Katherine makes jewelry that mixes edgy lines with organic shapes and she always uses beautiful stones as a focal point. She just launched her etsy store, shopdearjewelry.com and we can't wait to see what she comes up with next.  Stick Earrings How did you get into making jewelry? I first became interested in metalsmithing in college, when I worked for a year as a sales assistant at a boutique jewelry store in Tucson called Viir Jewelers. I learned a little about gemstones and how they form in the earth, what gives them their colors, where they come from, etc. and I was fascinated by it. Jewelry making is really the intersection of art and science. I think that is the coolest thing! Years later, I read an article about Harold Studio and when I ended up taking a job downtown, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take a class and learn. I've since taken several different classes. What inspires you? S...

How to create with intention. It's so easy to focus on the negative, or the overwhelming list of things to do. The reason I am drawn to create is because it forces me to focus in the moment. But sometimes I can get so caught up in the process of making jewelry, I lose track of time and, more importantly, the goals I have for myself. ...

We debuted the treasure box class at Harold Studio this month.  It was a huge hit!  The students were given a list of ingredients that they would use to create their piece of jewelry.  They were able to eliminate one of the ingredients and to add one ingredient of their choice.  The class lasted three weeks and started off with each participant creating their design.  The class concluded this past Tuesday and none of the students finished their design so we decided to add an additional week to future treasure box classes.  The students in this first class will be given a few studio hours to complete their projects.  Here are some pictures from all the fun!  Stay tuned for another post about their finished projects and their comments about the class! Treasure Box supplies and rules!  The supplies will change with each class.   A visual look at the supplies. Louise is looking at a book for inspiration for her design.  I wonder what she will make!   ...

Happy Friday to all our friends! It has been a super week at the studio!  Classes are keeping busy and creating lots of wonderful jewelry.   Reminders: Please remember to wear close toed shoes and to keep your hair pulled back.  I know the temperatures are warming up and it is tempting to put on your favorite flip flops but your feet will not be happy with you if they get cut or burned by a piece of metal.  If you come in with open toed shoes you will not be allowed to work in the studio.  (I know, we are mean, but really we just care about you!)  :) We will be closed this Sunday for Easter. Upcoming Classes: Jewelry 1: Beginning Friday, April 25 2-5pm Beginning Sunday, May 18 12-3 Jewelry 1 Sign Up Jewelry 2: Beginning Thursday, April 24 12-3 Beginning Tuesday, May 20 6-9 Jewelry 2 Sign Up Tip of the Week When checking for a gas leak with the torch, you can use water and dish soap.  If you get bubbles, you got a leak.  Turn off tanks and ...

Happy Friday Everyone!  Hope your week was wonderful!  With the temperatures rising, I spent the week inside the nice, coo, comfy studio.  The orange room is taking shape with some new stools and exhaust fan.  Soon we will have a torch or two back there.   The 3rd Annual Laveen Festival of FIne Arts will be taking place May 16-17, 2014 at South Mountain community College Laveen Center.  You can enter two pieces of art for $20.  For more information you can visit:  www.laveenartleague.org Tip of the Week:  Use a mixture of alcohol and boric acid when soldering.  Alcohol and boric acid will prevent fire scale and will keep your metal clean so that your solder will flow better and there will be less clean up from oxidation during heating.  Just dip your metal into the mixture before you heat it up.  Repeat each time you solder. Here is this weeks pictures.  Enjoy! Laura made these super cool earrings and ring made out of shell casings. Tuesday night's Jew...