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

Kathleen , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

A couple of years ago I was approached to make jewelry out of WWII airplanes that would honor the men and women who served in that war. I had no idea what to expect. On a snowy day in March, I met with Larry McManus who runs the gift shop for The National Museum of WWII Aviation located in Colorado Springs. Larry showed me their workshop, where they restore planes that flew in that war. He introduced me to some of the guys who make tables, lamps, desks, and more out of the plane artifacts. Then I got to see the parts and pieces of planes that I could use to create jewelry. He gave me free rein to make what I felt inspired to create. It was like a shot of creative adrenaline.

I came back to my studio with scraps of mangled planes that actually flew in that war. I felt so humbled to create art from those artifacts. I kept thinking about all the people involved with those planes so long ago. It’s an honor to pay homage to them with the work I create from the aircraft.

Kathleen , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have always loved working with my hands, so from as early as I can remember, I was always doing something artistic. The classic coloring with crayons, learning how to draw, making macrame jewelry, oil painting, stained glass and more. Fast forward to 2009, I was exploring the world of fused glass and wire wrapping glass cabochons that I made. I began to sell them through a small gallery and met a metalsmith teacher who gave me a solid foundation.

The type of work I create is earthy and organic. Trees, rich textures, and the night skies inspire the type of pieces I create. My focus is creating one of a kind art jewelry that is as unique as the person who wears it. If anyone is looking for distinctive jewelry, I think you will like what I make.

My goal is to think outside the box. Stay curious and see where I’m led by what I’m working on at the time. No two pieces of my jewelry are ever alike because I don’t do production work. Each piece I create is something I imagine myself wearing. I have always strived to be an individual and I believe this carries over into the pieces I make. Craftsmanship is essential. It’s the key to how I fabricate statement pieces, along with items you can wear every day.

The desire to be the sole designer and craftsman in my business means everything is made by me. I have no desire to outsource the work. I want each piece to have my imprint, my breath, my soul. I want what I produce to be an extension of who I am, my thought process, and my fingerprints.

As I mentioned earlier, some of the work that I’m most proud of is the pieces that I create out of WWII airplane artifacts. The metal is aluminum. It’s a lovely material that takes textures well. It’s humbling to work with these airplane pieces that once flew in that war.

I find the process of exploring metal to be exhilarating. Continual learning and growing as an artist is an essential part of who I am. I love developing new ideas for future work. Failure is the greatest teacher. Learning from what didn’t work well is how some of my most popular lines came to life.

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

I think that 2020 caused many of us to pivot in ways we never had before. Stores that carried my work were open on a limited basis. There was a serious downturn in sales. Some of those stores closed. People didn’t spend their ancillary income on items, like jewelry/art, because they spent money on the necessities like food, shelter, and transportation. Everyone was cutting back.

Given what was happening during COVID, I had to rethink my approach, along with being patient and waiting for things to turn around. I took a few workshops, as they were offered, because I thought it was important to strengthen my skills and knowledge. I experimented with designs. I re-worked my website and my approach on social media.

As a result, I garnered sales through my website. I was also able to diversify my presence with new retail stores that survived the shutdown. Growth and expansion happened for me. It definitely wasn’t fast, yet, I kept pushing myself to be ready when things started to return to normal again.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Playing it forward is my most rewarding aspect of being an artists. I have taught on a limited basis. Sharing my love of metalsmithing and some of the knowledge I have with those who want to learn is incredible. To see the spark ignite in those students and watch them take off with their own ideas is fantastic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kathleenkrucoff.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleen.krucoff.jewelry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenKrucoffArtJewelry
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleenkrucoff/

Image Credits
All photographs taken by Daniel Krucoff