Laura Guptill Jewelry: The Joys of a Clean Bench

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Joys of a Clean Bench

The Joys of a Clean Bench...

I find that when my bench is freshly cleaned and rearranged, I am more apt to delve into a new big project. It is a fresh start and full of possibility. Ha, I think I'll go play~

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Testimonial:

Making our own wedding bands with Laura was such a wonderful experience. Not only do we now have beautiful, handmade rings that are personal and special, but we also had a ton of fun making them. Laura is such a great teacher, and she made us feel right at home in her shop. We went in with no prior metal smithing experience whatsoever, and we went home that afternoon with gorgeous rings we take great pride in. If you’re thinking about making your wedding bands with Laura, my husband and I would absolutely recommend it. I’m so excited to wear our handmade rings for years to come, and the experience of making them together makes them all the more special. Thanks, Laura!! Rachel and Grid

Testimonial:

Hi Laura,

I am adorned with the most beautiful ring I own! It's luster is incredible. What I've discovered wearing it is that it's true light comes in the shade as if it possesses an internal radiance all its own. And it does. Amazing. I love stones for all their uniqueness and vitality. What I often rehearse in my head is the knowing that this rock was once part of the Earth, covered since the creation of the planet. The natural forces that made it, colossal and extraordinary, formed a bond of minerals that are billions of years old. Revealing it has a responsibility to honor its origins with care and Love. That's how it was made.

Thanks and I love your ring box...very classy.

Andrea

Testimonial:

Laura, I wanted to express my deep gratitude for your expertise and patient teaching methods during my recent visit to New Hampshire and attending your metalsmithing class. You shared so many valuable techniques and ideas both for metalsmithing and ways to set up an environmentally safe shop. I appreciate your respect for the environment and your reclamation efforts. I have been able to continue to use the methods in jewelry making you showed me and have discussed with my family the best ways to set up my home workshop. Again, thank you so much for your valuable time, Rebecca

Testimonial:

I never really knew what I wanted to become after high school, what direction I thought would be right for me. I have always had a love of creating. I found a greater love for working with metal after making a ring in my high school shop class. I talked about it non stop to my mother about how much I enjoyed it and She decided to surprise me with a set of classes through Laura. Laura Guptill is so much more than her title in our valley as a talented silversmith. She is a wonderfully unique and creative woman. Taking those classes was one of the best experiences I could have dreamed of. I found my passion and after that first class with her, I knew that being a silversmith was the path for me. Laura is an impeccable teacher, I was nervous because I imagined meeting someone who would just brush over the concept of what they do, but Laura went above and beyond. Not only did she explain everything in amazing detail, she made sure I knew how to do it properly and why I needed to take those steps to get a beautiful piece of finished work. Her kind and bubbly nature made it very easy to feel at home and relaxed with her. If you decide you want to take a class to learn about making jewelry, or have a custom piece made, She should be the woman you visit. You will not be disappointed, I promise. I feel through the entire process I was able to embrace where I was at in my journey with the help of her encouragement, advice and her positive energy. That was the key, you walk through the door and are surrounded by positivity and someone with a love of teaching. Someone who truly loves her job and wants to share that with others. If I get stuck on a project, I know I can contact Laura and ask for her option on how to go about solving the issue I’m having. I have on a few occasions, she answered in depth and was more than happy to help me figure out the issue and problem solve with me. Laura gives her all and you can see it in her creations, the love and time she puts into every piece. She is definitely someone I look up to and hope to be as talented as she is some day. Laura is someone I feel blessed to have met and someone I am proud to consider a friend. The experience was truly something special and one of kind. Haley Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

Testimonial:

Dear World,

I recently completed a metalsmithing class offered by Laura Guptill. Within five minutes of meeting Laura, I knew I had made the right decision in selecting her class. Not only was I struck by her physical beauty and great sense of humor, I was also impressed by the studio shop she keeps in her home where she hones her craft. Laura has been making jewelry for over 39 years. She believes that a good foundation is necessary so she started out with explaining tools, supplies, and even the history of metalsmithing and how strongly she feels about sharing her knowledge with others in order to pass on this ancient craft. She assisted me in all aspects of shop set up and responded to my questions even on her personal off time. The nine hour class was intense and filled so much instruction and knowledge and helpful hints. I learned how to solder, how to work with silver, how to use a solder pick and a jewelers hammer, even the proper method for turning the torch on and off. Not only did I come away with having learned a multitude of techniques, I became aware that I was in the presence of a true and genuine artist. Laura’s class was worth every mile of the long drive and every penny of the tuition. I look forward to taking more advanced classes that Laura has to offer. Thank you Laura. You have opened me up to incredible possibilities and I can’t wait to get started on my journey in jewelry making.

Testimonial:

I had been looking for a workshop to learn how to take my jewelry-making to the next level, and my very long drive to New Hampshire to work with Laura was worth every mile. For eight hours over two days, I learned how to solder and how to use a jeweler’s saw, and I created beautiful jewelry. More importantly, however, was that Laura met me where I was. I had so many questions, and Laura never skipped a beat. In fact, one thing led to another as Laura fed me tidbits and tips (“Try holding it this way”). My knowledge as well as my skill base have grown in ways that I had not imagined.

Carol H.

Laura’s expertise, personal attention, and flexibility were the perfect combination for what I was looking for, and I know that I will be back to New Hampshire for more.

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Testimonial:

When I first saw Laura Guptill's jewelry at the Artisan's Marketplace in North Conway, I immediately connected with her style, design, workmanship, creative use of material and her "thinking outside the box". I contacted her for classes and we were off. My classes with her have been an adventure in combining all of these areas into my own work. There is no question unanswered, no problem unsolved, no design rejected. She is a rare teacher in that she is able to connect her students to her expertise. Rather than focusing solely on technique, she combines it with design and creativity making the learning experience product based. Laura is generous with her time, tips, and talent and the pieces we have worked on together constantly get rave reviews. I always look forward to our next class and the adventure and excitement of a new journey in jewelry. L Marcario

Testimonial:

Laura is the best jeweler that I have ever met. I have only met two, but she beats anyone that I will ever know because she has a sense of humor. She not only has s precious skill, but makes it not a job, but a passion. That can teach everyone a lesson. That is the best example you can set for a job. She works hard, and sometimes get overwhelmed, but she doesn't act like anything is on her mind. She puts you first, and that will never change. She makes beautiful jewelry, and I am very lucky that I have had the chance to make one ring, one bracelet, and two or three necklaces with her. They are all beautiful. She is a great artist, and her jewelry is very easy to tell apart from a machine made ring or necklace or anything. It has the hard work, and good spirit in it, so every time you put it on, you always think of her, and you're happy. -Taira Hovden, California (age 12)

Testimonial:

My first real endeavor in metalsmithing was with Laura. From the outset, I knew I was in capable hands.
Laura taught me many of the basics in my first classes with her. I learned how to set up a shop, keep myself sage, use a torch, solder, shape, hammer, and cold weld. That's a lot!!! And Laura is so patient and goes step-by-step at your pace.
I absolutely loved my time with Laura and have gone back for additional help when needed. I took a class in Maine that was far inferior to Laura. Never again. Go where you get the 1:1 time and consideration for who you are and what you want.
Susan Winters, VanderVenter Jewelry

Testimonial:

I know that I am pretty biased on the topic of Laura's jewelry, as she is my mother. However, that is not going to stop me from sharing my complete adoration of her work. I have witnessed the evolution of Laura's jewelry from its earliest days of sterling silver disc earrings with designs of mountains and trees hammered into them. I have watched her make jewelry for years on the side, as a hobby while raising two children and working at Hannaford’s. When she took on jewelry making and repairing full time, her skill set gained both depth and breadth. She worked studiously at the bench learning to set diamonds, to work in a variety of metals, to do repair jobs and custom work. In the most recent transformation of my mother's jewelry making she has come home to work in, yes, my old bedroom. It is no longer filled with Barbies and my little ponies but instead an amazing jewelry studio crafted for inspiration and work. Now I can watch my mother at work again making jewelry, moved by nature, by fine art and by the materials around her. Her process is very organic and fascinating to behold. I am continually amazed by the pieces she makes (and wears) so well. Which brings me to my favorite part. To me, my mother's jewelry is the best that there is. It is all that I will wear. Allison W. Brattleboro, VT

Testimonial:

Having known Laura & Robbie for many years, on a personal as well as professional level, I would like to say that they just don't come any better! Laura's talent in the jewelry trade is impressive. She has a sense of form , design and style that is easily recognizable. Every element of her work is done with an attention to detail that is not seen in this era of mass productions. Each design element of a piece compliments the others so the finished pieces have a sense of balanced harmony to them that is unique. Being a jeweler myself, I have at times, borrowed (with permission) ideas and techniques from Laura that have helped me when I have hit "road blocks" when designing some of my own pieces. If you love jewelry and artistry, you need to check out Laura's Gallery now before someone buys "YOUR" special piece!! Thanks Laura and Robbie for being good friends... Bob P. Fryeburg, Maine

Testimonial:

Sharing my experience working with Laura is a pleasure. Remember a couple of years ago when jewelry stores were promoting 3 stone rings? I thought "Wow, I would like one!" Then I thought., " Nah. I am not interested in something everybody else has. But I sure did like the idea of having my own 3 stone diamond ring! How could I make it unique? Ahhh...I called Laura. She invited me to her shop. We sat. We talked, we drew pictures. We shared ideas. When we were done a beginning was created. The muse were still flowing...she put on her eye protection, lit the torch, started playing with some of the gold pieces I brought. When she touched the torch to the gold ...instantaneously it melted into a blob...she could move the gold with the flame...it was fascinating! Laura poured the melted gold blob into a tall jar of water...dropped it in...the water caught the gold...cooled it...the gold morphed and sank to the bottom of the jar where it sat quietly. Taking on a total free form as it moved through the water. It was remarkable. I knew instantly that I wanted that process involved with my ring. And it was. Laura's knowledge of how to use the tools (the torch was pretty cool!), how metals respond to different processes and how to attach pieces of stone to metals is something she should be very proud of. Laura's compassion, intuition and artistic ability are expressed in her passion as a jewelry maker. The day came and Laura called me. She told me to come up and take a look at the piece before she finished it. I did. But I didn't have to. I knew as soon as the phone rang that I had trusted the right person to create a ONE OF A KIND 3 stone diamond ring which I wear daily and enjoy telling the story about as much as wearing the ring. Jo Madison, NH

Laura Guptill Jewelry

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Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Joys of a Clean Bench

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