Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karen Edgerly. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Karen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

“Enhancing Art through Metalsmithing” is an idea that started nine years ago at a board meeting at Boulder Metalsmithing Association (BoMA). During the meeting, I expressed my interest in educating teachers about metalsmithing. We could start a program where BoMA trained art teachers in metalsmithing and after the training teachers would borrow kits with enough materials and tools to take to their classrooms to teach their students. BoMA jumped on the idea and applied for funding. Well, eight years later we have four school districts involved, have trained 25+ teachers, and reached over 1000+ students. It has been fabulous to see the teachers and students just fall in love with metalsmithing. Even teachers who have taught metalsmithing for years, have jumped on our program. I have loved watching the idea materialize into a successful project. It would never have happened if BoMA hadn’t been open to the idea. We are now going on our ninth year and applying for funding for next fall.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been making jewelry since I was a teenager in San Francisco. I took my first silversmithing class at the DeYoung Museum and after that I was hooked. I continued to take silversmithing classes all through high school and college. I have followed several different paths in my life. In college, I majored in art and science. After college I pursued my goal of becoming an environmental geologist and continued to work on silversmithing. I then became a teacher and was one for 20 years. Eleven years ago, I went back to my love for silversmithing fulltime. My interest in geology is clearly shown in my jewelry with its emphasis on precious and semi-precious stones. What sets me apart is my jewelry embraces both the scientist and the artist in me. I understand the chemistry behind the science of metalsmithing and the artist in me loves the creative part where you let your mind wonder and come up with a design.

I want clients/followers/fans to know that I love working with people’s old jewelry and redesigning pieces that speak to them. When designing a piece, I always look for a way to make it slightly different. I want people wearing my jewelry to feel they own a unique piece, and one that feels like is has been especially made for them. My jewelry embraces the find craft of silversmithing using various techniques and plays with mixing silver with gold and always adding the sparkling aspect of faceted stones. I call the style organic classic.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Since I was a teenager, I have loved looking at and admiring quality silversmithing/goldsmithing. Looking at the lines and the designs that people have come up with fascinates me. Many of them are from Europe or Australia and I find Ancient Roman jewelry exquisite. So, yes there is a particular goal I have on my creative journey. It is to reach the skill level and but even more the creative level of some of the goldsmiths I admire. An instructor in college opened my eyes to what is possible, and that skill is great and necessary, but expanding your creativity is even better. She helped me believe that this goal of mine is attainable. It is always exciting to work on improving a skill you love.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My big pivot happened 11 years ago, when I was teaching high school. Students were asking teachers about what they would be if they weren’t teachers, I said a silversmith (it is in the yearbook). As life can change on a dime, I was struck with a serious health issue that semester and that summer my career path changed. Faced with looking at my mortality, I knew I had to leave teaching and start the career I had wanted to do years before. So, I took a medical leave and then classes at the community college in silversmithing to refresh my skills and learn new ones. I set up studio in my house and that was the beginning of KarenEdgeStudio. While I missed teaching at first and working around people, I love the time in my studio and creating. I couldn’t be happier and glad I easily jumped off one track and onto another.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karenedgestudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenedgestudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenedgestudio

Image Credits
Taylor Lotte, Jesse Schlauch, and Gsquaredweddings photography