The month of December is such a great time of year for holiday parties and spending time with loved ones that we oftentimes forget about getting together the rest of the year. I’m definitely guilty of it too! After having parties every Friday and Saturday night for weeks leading up to December 31st, I tend to turn into a recluse during the month of January. This year was kind of different for me. I actually wasn’t able to make it to too many parties this holiday season due to a terrible cold and I’m already thinking about how I can make that up in 2017.
Right before the holidays hit, I hosted a jewelry making party on Sunday, November 20th with nine of my amazing blogger friends. From left to right in the photo above: Carolyn Anger, Erica Mendoza, Laci Langston, Melissa Valmonte, Candice Mathis, Josie Jackson, Karolina Bakanovas, Robin Giordano, me, and Jenny Donnell. Michelle Moyer, artist and owner of KP Studios, invited us to her jewelry studio and instructed us in making two-toned hammered bangles and stacking rings.
I met Michelle Moyer at Pineapple Triangle’s AZ Share That You Care market earlier in the year. (Please refer back to my post where I talk about her jewelry line, Kenneth Pierre Designs, here.) Chatting with Michelle she invited me to check out her new studio space where local artist can rent a table to work on their own designs. Michelle explained how she also teaches workshops to people wanting to learn anything from an introduction to jewelry making to specific techniques like stone setting, bird’s nest chain, and Egyptian spiral chain to name a few. Michelle holds jewelry making parties for groups of 10 or less people and we decided that it would be the perfect excuse for us bloggers to get together, get our creative juices flowing and work with our hands.
[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”149″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_slideshow” gallery_width=”600″ gallery_height=”400″ cycle_effect=”fade” cycle_interval=”10″ show_thumbnail_link=”1″ thumbnail_link_text=”[Show thumbnails]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]Michelle allowed us to bring in our own food and drinks and the event took place over three hours. We learned how to cut, size, solder and texture the metal for our very own bangle bracelets and stackable rings. The technique for actually soldering the metal together with blow torches was very therapeutic, as was banging the bracelets with hammers! Maybe that says something about me 🙂
[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”150″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_slideshow” gallery_width=”600″ gallery_height=”400″ cycle_effect=”fade” cycle_interval=”10″ show_thumbnail_link=”1″ thumbnail_link_text=”[Show thumbnails]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]The best part about the whole experience, other than catching up with these lovely ladies, was being able to create something specific to me and what I want. Instead of talking about someone else’s designs, I get to talk about my own design! Plus, you had enough room within the designs to tailor it to what you want to make. Erica made midi stackable rings that were so cute! Some girls decided to make the bracelets all one metal color, where I tried to make sure that each bracelet was silver and copper. I figured out that through the process I prefer the hammered metal look instead of textured metals.
If you’re interested in hosting a party at KP Studios, don’t think that it has to be all girls. Michelle has held parties for co-ed birthday parties, work events, holiday parties, date nights for couples or double/triple date nights for groups, and of course something similar to our party – a girl’s night in, or a bridal shower. I felt it was similar to the painting classes that I’ve done in the past, but for me I much prefer making jewelry because I’m going to wear it again and I also enjoy making something rather than painting. I’m a terrible painter and lack patience, so that is probably why! If you’re concerned about what the men in the group would make, Michelle has a list of projects. Some include cufflinks, men’s rings, necklace chains, etc. You can also make something for your significant other and they can make something for you!
Very conveniently located SJ Jewelry Supply store is next door to KP Studios, so if you ever want to pick up some materials and create something on your own you can go there first! Otherwise, Michelle charges a small supply fee for the supplies that you use during the party. To rent the entire space, it costs $250 for a private three hour party for a total of ten people.
Party Details Below
KP Studios | 2725 N. 24th Street #4, Phoenix, AZ 85008 | kpstudiophx.com | 602-320-7513 |
Michelle Moyer | Owner & Artist | michelle@kpstudiosphx.com | Instagram |
SJ Jewelry Suppy| 2725 N. 24th Street #1, Phoenix, AZ 85008 | sjjewelrysupply.com | 602-956-0189 | info@sjjewelrysupply.com |
Be you, bravely.
The Foxy Kat
Visit The Foxy Kat’s profile on Pinterest.
