Craig Dabler
When I was 10 years old my Grandpa Ole took me on a trip from
Minnesota to Montana where we camped for several days along the
Yellowstone River and hunted for agate and jade, something I still
remember like yesterday and the beginning of my interest in jewelry.
When we returned to Minnesota my Grandpa started sorting the agates so
that he could cut them on his lapidary saw to be later cut into
cabochons for jewelry he created as a hobby, something he felt I had a
natural ability for. Eleven years later, at age 21 I started my 8 1/2
year apprenticeship to become a custom fine jeweler. I had a brilliant
jewelry teacher who at 60 years old worked 15 hours a day, seven days
per week, and he expected me to as well, but I didn't mind because I
loved every minute of it! By age 29, I had learned nearly everything
he could teach and in June of 1993 I decided to leave and go on my
own.......yes, I probably should have stayed longer but something
inside me just changed and I knew I wanted to try it on my own. It was
very tough for about 6 months until I opened a Trade Shop doing the
work for 9 other jewelers in Tucson and soon was working 7 days per
week again doing as many as 75 jobs per day during Christmas. It was
crazy but the money was great and I was able to increase my repair
skill knowledge to equal my custom skills making me one of the better
jewelers around which helped to get more and more difficult custom
work. In 2008, I created my first ring worth over a million dollars
which included setting a 13.5 carat diamond! After closing my custom
business back in April of 2013 I decided I wanted to pursue Etsy full
time knowing it would allow me to spend more time with my wife and
daughter and let me create my own designs, something I never had the
time for before. I still worked hard and eventually had 4 separate
stores on Etsy but still felt something was missing until November of
2016 when my long time friend Kevin Potter asked if I'd be interested
in taking over the sand casting part of Potter USA. It took about a
month for me to realize that I had finally found a business that I
would love more than even my best years making jewelry. Now, just over
a year later, I am absolutely having the time of my life inventing new
jewelry tools for the beginning Metalsmith and Jeweler along with
having the opportunity to give back through Let's Make Jewelry and the
several smaller groups on Face Book. Thank you for reading, Craig
Roberta Pihl
Roberta Pihl began her journey into metal art in 2010 with beading, chainmaille and light wire wrapping. It started as a therapeutic hobby after leaving the military and not having anything to do with her hands.
After discovering how to solder she continued down her self taught path - with the help of others in the field - and found herself teaching others and running a small time business out of her home under the name of Wire Crossing. She attended fairs and events and set up booths to sell her handmade jewelry while attending college at Central Oregon Community College and the Oregon State University.
In January of 2017 she began marketing handmade metal stamps under the name of Oregon Trail Silver after a two year fight to learn how to properly carve and work steel. In conjunction to offering her tools, she offers free videos on how to perform metalsmithing techniques and loves to encourage others to challenge themselves as she continues to aspire herself.
Brad Smith
Brad Smith is a studio jeweler, lapidary, and jewelry instructor in Santa Monica, CA. Over the last 15 years, his classes have introduced hundreds of students to the challenge and the fun of making their own jewelry.
His jewelry tips are posted several times a week on the Facebook BenchTips page and appear each month in about 200 newsletters in six countries. His jewelry techniques books have received praise from the Florida Society of Goldsmiths, the Society of Midwest Metalsmiths, and the Australian Facetors Guild.
Brad's background includes 30 years in a career of manufacturing automation, machine tools, and CAD/CAM software plus the practical experience of building several jewelry shops, his own house, announcing horse shows, and operating a family horse farm. He is President of the Culver City Rock & Mineral Club and a member of the Metal Arts Society of Southern California.
Sharon Rivera
Richard Barrett
John Mezaros