Merry Christmas!

I am so grateful for my loyal and new customers, and I just want to say THANK YOU for your business and encouragement all year long!
The shop is busy these days, however, it is not too late to get some new art jewelry for your collection, or for someone special on your list! Time is running short though- but hey- I am here for you!
Let's get together and create something you've been dreaming of.
Don't forget, you can always buy a Gift Certificate, for jewelry or for custom work,  OR maybe even gift the "gift of learning" and get a Gift Certificate for my Metalsmithing Workshops!

Give me a call at 603-447-3719 to arrange a "play-date".  :)

Busy days in Santa's studio!

With the newly fallen snow, the Christmas spirit is definitely in the air and in the studio! Please visit my ETSY shop for easy Holiday shopping!
You may also contact me to create something CUSTOM (as these items were) Just for you!
www.etsy.com/shop/lauraguptilljewelry

Gift Certificates for Classes Available Now- Great Christmas Idea!

Want to do something really special for someone for Christmas? How about a gift certificate for my Basic Metalsmithing Classes! One on one time with me, completing TWO projects to keep, and lighting a fire of creativity! Flexible scheduling and loads of fun.  More information in the sidebar on right side of page...

Having FUN with textures!

Fold-forming, hammering, torch texturing and torch fired patinas... so much fun. Art to wear on the go!

Wedding Band Slideshow

Please visit the archives for a Wedding Band Slideshow, November 2008 in the archive section! Thank you!

14K Gold-Fill = Affordability on a tight budget

In these days of rising costs of gold, I have created these rich spiral earrings in 14K gold filled. Gold fill is a process that uses a base core metal such as brass, with thick outer layers of genuine 14K gold. This is much more durable than vermeil or gold-plating. If you love gold, these are for you!

" Some consider the spiral a symbol of the spiritual journey. It is also considered to represent the evolutionary process of learning and growing. It seems that life doesn't proceed in a straight line. The path of life more closely resemble a spiral. We seem to pass the same point over and over again but from a different perspective each time. To walk and then stand in the center of a spiral or labyrinth has been a psycho-spiritual exercise for centering the consciousness.
The spiral stands for coming into being."

Tanzania, of all places ;)

Today I begin making Wedding Bands for my customers in... Tanzania! No kidding. It blows my mind where some of my jewelry has traveled to. They had purchased a ring here, several years ago,  in North Conway that I had in a gallery, and fell in love with my jewelry. Once again, I am honored to be a part of this couples journey. Many thanks from a grateful heart.

Back to the studio after Irene!

We were very fortunate to only experience a little high water, but no damage to our home and property. Many people in NH and Vermont were devastated by the flash flooding. My heart goes out to them in their recovery process. Please consider a donation to the Red Cross for flood victims.

So, now the time has come to get back to work and catch up on some exciting new jewelry projects. Stay tuned ;)

Senior Art Clay Instructor, Gail Moriarty comes to the North Country

Last week I had the privilege of having Gail Moriarty of Nashua, NH as a student in my studio. Gail came to learn age old traditional metal smithing skills to add to her repertoire. One of our goals was to try to solder a sterling ring shank on to a piece of art clay, to be able to combine the two art forms. Gail went home (to her "camp") after her first day in the studio and created a  dragonfly in art clay, armed with nothing but a swiss army knife. The results were amazing! We had great success soldering the sterling silver shank to the dragonfly. Big YAHOOS! This will add endless opportunities to Gail in her designs.
Please visit Gails website @ www.gailmoriartydesigns.com

A Little Painting

5x7" of Mount Chocorua, NH. Oils on canvas board. Ready to be framed, $65 at www.etsy.com/shop/lauraguptilloils

Summer Studio Time

The heat wave seems to have come and gone. The river has been indulged in, the fans are getting a break, and I am able to sit in my studio again without melting.
I have been making some awesome little sea glass and NH Riverstone rings, simple and classic in nature. They have been well received and I am stoked to get back into my studio today!
Let the jewelry begin!

Honorable Mention- Bridgton Art in the Park 2011

It was a beautiful summer day by the lake in Bridgton, Maine on Saturday, July 16th. A beautiful way to spend the day, makes me so happy to do what I do and have the opportunity to sell my jewelry to appreciative art patrons in such a lovely setting. Frosting on the cake is to have your work receive a ribbon, of any color ;) in this case a "matching" turquoise Honorable Mention!

Distractions of working from a home studio...

Working at home has plenty of rewards and an equal measure of challenges. Oh yes, the sunny, hot, "it's finally summer" afternoons just beckon you to close up shop and enjoy life today, in this moment. Because if you wait and just finish this very important job, there is no question that by the time you have finished, the sun will have hidden very deeply behind a big, dark cloud that will take three weeks to clear itself from the sky.  Once you have donned your summer sun goddess attire, it will be woodstove weather and sunglasses will render you lost in the darkness and stubbing your toe on a cabinet as you bolt out the door. This will inevitably lead to the early cocktail hour. Yes, just close up the shop, because one way or  another, you ARE done working for the day! 

Of course, when you work from home, all of your friends know this, and you will have said: "Give me a call, we'll go for a walk!" Well, this is, all at once very welcomed and very disruptive. How can you say no? Yes, I am flexible, but sometimes I really need to focus and just sit down and work... a lot. But I love to go for a walk, and how often are my friends available, really? Just because I wasted hours procrastinating getting to my workbench has nothing to do with the sudden availability of my friends at any given moment. Hey- they're on vacation! 

Photos of handwoven chain and process...

Handwoven Chain!

My hands are busy these days working on some handwoven chains. These are a piece of art unto themselves. It takes approximately 2 feet of wire to weave one inch of chain. That's a lot of handwork, created just for you ;) Pictures will follow.
When I was 14, my first boss told me "Busy Hands are Happy Hands..."  it is true. I thank God for my hands and my eyesight every day. I am grateful.

SpRiNg!

So happy to have more sunshine and daylight and milder temperatures! Back to work after a brief hiatus to welcome into the world, our 1st Grandchild! A boy, born on April 2nd! Welcome to the world, Porter :)

Metalsmithing Classes~Jewelry Workshops!

This is a great time to take an enrichment class for yourself. Treat yourself!  Call Laura to schedule some classes to learn the basics of making jewelry in sterling silver. If you already have a skill level, lets' talk and create a class that would work for you! In my class, we will work one on one... you will have my undivided attention. You will learn how to make, (and take home!) a hammered sterling silver link bracelet and a sterling silver ring.
To read more about the classes, continue to scroll, there is more information on the right side of the page.

Call to set up a flexible class schedule now. 603-447-3719