Kathryn Isabelle StMartin >
Artist's Statement:
I pride myself as a goldsmith and PMC artisan to take my students and my creativity to levels
that will not only challenge the dexterity and mind, but allow them to proceed eagerly with the
assurance that they know that they are equipped to do so.
I also am on a quest to bring the clay medium to my many jeweler friends and glass friends so
that both won't miss out on what the other has to offer. My personal goal is to see the great
glass art that is out there be accepted into my old traditional world of the fine jeweler. I also
wish to bring the talents of the traditional jeweler to the clay and glass medium by seeing the
traditional walls of craftsmanship fade into an open sharing mind set. We MUST learn from
each other and EVOLVE the art."
Biography:
25 years working as a gemstone setter and gold smith brought me through many experiences
in these fields. Initially while owning a couple of jewelry stores in CT throughout the mid 1980's
and into the early 90's, my responsibilities were repairs, stringing pearls, finishing gold
castings and the like.
A change of life brought me to PA in 1997 where I briefly worked with master gold smith John
Mason than to national fine jewelry artist Sharon Teaman. It was Sharon's teaching manner
which instilled a desire in me to take what I know, fine tune it and make it available for anyone
to learn.
In Oct. 1999 I opened up Isabelle's Bead Shoppe in downtown, State College, PA which
provided a starting point for many to learn my traditional and nontraditional jewelry making
methods. I'm sad to say that as I started my 8th year with the shoppe, I had to close it due to
increasing teaching engagements and the need for a larger facility. Hoping in the near future I
will once again to give the community the joy of a local larger beading experience.
In July 2004 I received certification in Precious Metal Clay through Rio Rewards in Rio Grande,
NM and have completed 2 levels of certification from PMC Connection as of Feb. 2005. These
organizations made me concentrate on my techniques and their delivery for my students.
Experimenting with glass, heat and gold I started consulting with specialist Doug Smith from
Penn State U in the summer of 2004. Through these experiments I have developed the KIST
(Gold on Glass)Techniques.
From Jan. 2000 to current my main focus is teaching basic jewelry techniques with a focus on
weaving several mediums together. I have taught throughout the country and am getting ready
to speak and instruct on the several facets of the KIST Techniques.
Publications:
Lapidary Journal's Step by Step "Woven Cuff"--Nov. 2005
Studio PMC "Using Aura 22 on Glass"--Jan. 2006
The Flow Magazine "Basic KIST Gold on Glass"--Jan 2007
Lapidary Journal's Step by Step Beads "Basic Stringing"--Forth coming 2007
My Mentors:
Precious Metal Clay- Barbara Becker Simon--Rio Reward's Certification & Wendy
Schuster--PMC Connection Level I and II
Enameling- National Enamelist, Karen Cohen
Gold Smithing- Nationally acclaimed fine jewelry artist, Sharon Teaman
Glass Sciences- Dept. Head of Glass Sciences, Doug Smith, PSU
I pride myself as a goldsmith and PMC artisan to take my students and my creativity to levels
that will not only challenge the dexterity and mind, but allow them to proceed eagerly with the
assurance that they know that they are equipped to do so.
I also am on a quest to bring the clay medium to my many jeweler friends and glass friends so
that both won't miss out on what the other has to offer. My personal goal is to see the great
glass art that is out there be accepted into my old traditional world of the fine jeweler. I also
wish to bring the talents of the traditional jeweler to the clay and glass medium by seeing the
traditional walls of craftsmanship fade into an open sharing mind set. We MUST learn from
each other and EVOLVE the art."
Biography:
25 years working as a gemstone setter and gold smith brought me through many experiences
in these fields. Initially while owning a couple of jewelry stores in CT throughout the mid 1980's
and into the early 90's, my responsibilities were repairs, stringing pearls, finishing gold
castings and the like.
A change of life brought me to PA in 1997 where I briefly worked with master gold smith John
Mason than to national fine jewelry artist Sharon Teaman. It was Sharon's teaching manner
which instilled a desire in me to take what I know, fine tune it and make it available for anyone
to learn.
In Oct. 1999 I opened up Isabelle's Bead Shoppe in downtown, State College, PA which
provided a starting point for many to learn my traditional and nontraditional jewelry making
methods. I'm sad to say that as I started my 8th year with the shoppe, I had to close it due to
increasing teaching engagements and the need for a larger facility. Hoping in the near future I
will once again to give the community the joy of a local larger beading experience.
In July 2004 I received certification in Precious Metal Clay through Rio Rewards in Rio Grande,
NM and have completed 2 levels of certification from PMC Connection as of Feb. 2005. These
organizations made me concentrate on my techniques and their delivery for my students.
Experimenting with glass, heat and gold I started consulting with specialist Doug Smith from
Penn State U in the summer of 2004. Through these experiments I have developed the KIST
(Gold on Glass)Techniques.
From Jan. 2000 to current my main focus is teaching basic jewelry techniques with a focus on
weaving several mediums together. I have taught throughout the country and am getting ready
to speak and instruct on the several facets of the KIST Techniques.
Publications:
Lapidary Journal's Step by Step "Woven Cuff"--Nov. 2005
Studio PMC "Using Aura 22 on Glass"--Jan. 2006
The Flow Magazine "Basic KIST Gold on Glass"--Jan 2007
Lapidary Journal's Step by Step Beads "Basic Stringing"--Forth coming 2007
My Mentors:
Precious Metal Clay- Barbara Becker Simon--Rio Reward's Certification & Wendy
Schuster--PMC Connection Level I and II
Enameling- National Enamelist, Karen Cohen
Gold Smithing- Nationally acclaimed fine jewelry artist, Sharon Teaman
Glass Sciences- Dept. Head of Glass Sciences, Doug Smith, PSU
ISABELLE'S online BEAD SHOPPE
ONLINE Bead Shoppe for the Discriminating Jewelry Addict. "We carry the Elusive BEAD!"
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