United Wood Craftsmen Gallery

My love for stones and the art of jewelry began when I was a young girl.  My father took a claim on some abandoned gold mines in the California desert and suddenly our summer vacations became all about mining turquoise and picking through rock piles.

 My father soon found his passion in Native American inspired jewelry and quickly shared it with me.  Time with him was spent learning how to cut and polish stones as well as soldering and casting my own creations. Today, I am inspired by both vibrant colors and contrasting shapes.  I love the feel of a completed necklace and find solitude in the shapes and textures of each and every piece.  I was drawn to Art Clay Silver because of its organic qualities and versatility of its use.  There was a tremendous appeal to me in the ability to combine both art and nature so easily.  To me, it is all about texture.

My journey with Art Clay Silver has really just begun.  As I explore new and different ways to apply metal clay to my art, I also discover new ways to express myself and grow as an artist.

I am a Senior Certified Art Clay Silver Instruction and enjoy a teaching partnership with my father at his glass studio in Corona.  I live in Costa Mesa with my husband and three children. 

What is Metal Clay?

When Art Clay Silver is taken out of the package, it is a slightly moist lump of clay composed of silver powder, organic binders, and water. The clay is then molded into its desired generic shape, and dried.  After completely drying, the clay can then be filed, sculpted, and sanded, after which it is fired with in a kiln.  During the firing process, the organic binders burn away and the resulting silver particles "sinter", becoming denser and stronger.  Once completely fired, the remaining piece is composed of 99.9% pure silver.

Art Clay Silver is a "green" material. It is produced from reclaimed metals from everyday items such as computer circuit boards and photographic supplies.

What is the difference between Sterling Silver and Pure Silver?

Sterling Silver is composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of one or more other metals. A common misconception is that copper always makes up the remainder, when in reality titanium, platinum, palladium, and a list of other metals are often used. The addition of another metal to the silver creates an alloy. Sterling Silver is stronger than Pure Silver, and as an alloy, it tarnishes more quickly as well. Pure Silver is composed of 99.9% silver and nothing else.