Our Journey into Metalsmithing
Welcome to our Jewelry Making directory! My name is Tricia, and my adventure into the world of metalsmithing began with a unique quest. When my husband, Rob, and I were planning our wedding, we couldn’t find wedding bands that truly spoke to us. That’s when we discovered a local jewelry designer offering a “make your own wedding ring” experience. It was transformational!
I was hooked! My journey started with the talented Fredricka Kulicke in Wayne, NJ. Her stunning jewelry and the vibrant community that gathered in her studio every Tuesday night drew me in completely. This was also when my fascination with jewelry tools began. Check out my first ring ever!
After several months of classes, I decided to save some money and practice my newfound skills at home. I built a small studio in my basement with basic tools and spent countless hours after work and on weekends honing my craft. Facebook groups and YouTube became my go-to resources for troubleshooting. Although I stayed in touch with friends from Freddie’s class, crafting alone in the basement felt lonely. I missed the sense of community.
Determined to find others who shared my passion, I started a Meetup group for local jewelry makers. The response was overwhelming! Finding a studio to host our meetups was challenging, so I convinced my husband to open a Jewelry Making studio in town. What an adventure that was!
Annealed Studio opened in 2018 as a creative haven. We offered traditional classes in metalsmithing, enameling, glass beads, precious metal clay, and more. We also hosted fun workshops for girls’ nights out, parties, and Girl Scout badges. The community we built was vibrant and full of energy. Sadly, we had to close the studio in May 2020, another small business casualty of the pandemic.
After closing the studio, I became a student again. Like many others, I dove into online jewelry making courses. The virtual community of creative students from around the world was incredible. Despite the tough times, it was a deeply connecting experience for me.
As things began to normalize, I eagerly returned to in-person classes. Facebook has always been a great resource for finding classes and studios, but the information was scattered. I started compiling a list of studios and their offerings, and soon realized others found this resource useful too. That’s how Learn To Make Jewelry was born!
I am a lifelong learner, passionate about taking classes, discovering new techniques, meeting fellow jewelry enthusiasts, and, of course, buying tools! People often ask if I’ll ever sell my jewelry or teach again. Who knows? For now, I’m thrilled to build this resource for the jewelry-making community.
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Questions
Whether you’re curious about the Learn to Make Jewelry directory or want to know how to sign up a school, we’re here to answer any questions. Just send an email to travellinggoldsmith@gmail.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible