We recently had the chance to connect with Karen Edgerly and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Karen, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my weekdays are similar. I wake up and feed my dog, Harry. As soon as I move in bed his nose is right there nudging me to get up. We go downstairs and start the coffeemaker. While the coffee brews, I feed Harry and give him a chew bone. Then while drinking my first cup of coffee and I do my shoulder stretches. These stretches are crucial since in my studio I’m hunched over setting stones, sawing, filing, etc.. Then I go to my computer to post on Instagram a photo of a recent piece I’ve made or news of a show I’ll be doing. Then it’s time for Harry’s walk, which is where I get grounded for the day to come, I do a walking meditation of sorts every day. Then when I’m back from the walk – the 90 minutes have passed and I’m ready to eat breakfast, check emails, and head to my studio. During the weekends the routine takes on its own schedule and varies from getting up and biking or skiing, to having a yummy breakfast with my husband.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I have been making jewelry since I was a teenager in San Francisco. I took my first silversmithing class at the DeYoung Museum and after that I was hooked. I continued to take silversmithing classes all through high school and college. I have followed several different paths in my life. In college, I majored in art and science. After college I pursued my goal of becoming an environmental geologist and continued to work on silversmithing. I then became a teacher and was one for 20 years. Fourteen years ago, I went back to my love for silversmithing fulltime. My interest in geology is clearly shown in my jewelry with its emphasis on precious and semi-precious stones. What sets me apart is my jewelry embraces both the scientist and the artist in me. I understand the chemistry behind the science of metalsmithing and the artist in me loves the creative part where you let your mind wonder and come up with a design.
I want clients to know that I love working with people’s old jewelry and redesigning pieces that speak to them. When designing a piece, I always look for a way to make it slightly different. I want people wearing my jewelry to feel they own a unique piece, and one that feels like is has been especially made for them. My jewelry embraces the find craft of silversmithing using various techniques and plays with mixing silver with gold and always adding the sparkling aspect of faceted stones. I call my style organic classic.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I have always loved teaching and after college taught skiing to little kids. During graduate school I was a teaching assistant and realized instead of doing research what I wanted was to become a teacher. I taught science for 20 years. Then 15 years ago, I left fulltime teaching to become a silversmith, but continued to run a metalsmithing program for art teachers. I recently decide to leave the metalsmithing program. It had grown and was self-sustaining and I was ready to just be a silversmith. It was time to release that part of me, the teacher, and be fully the artist. I’ll always love teaching, but that part of me has been fulfilled. I’m still working on my skills as a silversmith, which I’ve been doing for 15 years fulltime now, but had been doing it as a hobby for a very long time before that. Sometimes you need to let go of or release one thing in your life to move forward with another. And for me it was teaching.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back most of my life is not being “good enough” at whatever I’m doing. I am now doing my dream job, being a silversmith, and am slowly letting go of that fear. Creating has allowed me to work past this fear, letting go of what I envision is “good enough”. The beauty of creating is there is no black or white it just is. The skill however is black and white, but the creating part is not. I am constantly working on my skill as a silversmith to allow me to create what I envision.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire my husband for his character, not his power at work. He started a business in a garage and it grew to be a global company for avalanche rescue equipment for backcountry riders and skiers. He is excellent at asking others questions and thinking about their opinions. He has always maintained who he is and never has felt or acted like he is above anyone. I very much admire that about him.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel at peace in the mountains away from the hustle and bustle of life in the small city I live in. I have always been drawn to the mountains. It replenishes my soul.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karenedgestudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenedgestudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenedgestudio
Image Credits
Karen Edgerly, Taylor Lotte
