my handmade life
making …
~ in my work, creation is improvisation, intuitive, spirit guided
~ images come, shapes flow, metal clay is rolled, pinched and poked, nudged and smeared, textures emerge, form follows function, the simplest answer is usually the best answer, scanning bins for bits and bobs, where does my gaze land, sparkly or matte, stack or layer, solder or wrap, drill and sand and file, long or not so long, plain or forged, dark or bright … how you do anything is how you do everything and God is always in the details
~ each element considered, comfort and ease, no snaggy bits, functions as conceived, not too heavy, not too light, balanced, uplifting, essential
~ above all else ... effortless, joyful, grounding
about the jewelry ...
I started making jewelry in 1994 and through the years I've assimilated a diverse range of influences and inspiration and interests, from Japanese boro to the painting of Hilma af Klint to ancient stone steps in Provence, into a distinctive jewelry style that I call Urban Primitive.
I am endlessly fascinated with compostion and arranging things which is perfect for my method for designing and making jewelry … initially creating a whole range of components and elements, then seeing how many ways I can use them. I'm primarily self-taught via lots trial and error, a few how-to books and, way back, there was a week long beginner silversmithing workshop. My medium of choice is a relatively new material called Precious Metal Clay (PMC) - fine silver metal powder in a clay-like base. I began working with the original PMC in 1998 and it was love at first touch. My favorite thing about metal clay is how I can form each component by hand, pinching and nudging shapes, smearing and rolling edges ... my fingerprints are visible in each piece, quite literally, the hand of the maker. After forming, the elements are fired in a kiln; the clay burns out, leaving the now-fused metal - 22k gold or fine silver.
do we really need more stuff ?
As a maker, I struggle with the idea of creating more stuff to put out into the world. An online friend responded, "We live in a world of things ... make things with soul, consciously, with gratitude for what is used." Thanks, Dawn!
as for me …
I’m all about simplicity and sustainability. I prefer the things in my life to be few, but exceptionally well crafted, rustic rather than polished, and with a story to tell. I want my food as local and organic as possible … farmer’s markets are one of my favorite things on the planet and a big reason we’re now in the Hudson Valley. I’m a straight up, what-you-see-is-what-you-get, sort of person. A friend once said (with a heavy Alabama accent), “You’ll have to forgive Kathy, she’s kind of abrupt” … I prefer “direct,” but you get the idea!
Where we now live …
In February 2025 we took a giant leap of faith and moved to the iconic town of Woodstock, NY and we’re finally starting to feel a bit more settled. I’m exploring my new locale and seeing what this landscape inspires me to make. So far, it really does feel like home.
From 7 acres in the mountains of western NC to our new Bearsville Flats neighborhood home in Woodstock, NY!
