Brookline Jeweler to Open Etsy Store

A Brookline jeweler is hoping to start her own business soon, but in the meantime, she’s building an impressive inventory of work and her unique designs are available by request.

Sally Stewart is perfecting the art of metal clay designs, among other things. The work is as fun as it is challenging, she said.

“I will spend hours on it sometimes and not even realize it,” she said. “I will sit there and refine a piece, then I’ll add and look at it again. It’s such a release to come home and be able to work on this.

Stewart currently works for an insurance broker in Green Tree, but said she’s always dreamed of the day when her jewelry will be her fulltime business.

“I try to incorporate one into the other,” she said. “I’m more of a creative person at heart so being in a business setting can be a little stifling at times. I try to bring elements of that creativity into work with creative thinking, which is a little different than creative things.”

Opening a storefront on Brookline Boulevard would be ideal, but for now she plans to start with an online store at Etsy.com. She hopes to have the store up and running by the end of the summer, so that her work in this distinctive medium is more visible.

Metal clay is a combination of clay, metal particles and an organic binder that is easy to shape. When fired, either in a kiln or with a torch, the binder burns off, leaving only the metal.

“It’s sort of a consistency of something between chewing gum and silly putty,” Stewart said. “It’s not what you think of when you think of clay.”

The clay dries very quickly, so Stewart must work quickly to create the charms and medallions that become the centerpieces of her jewelry. Once the pieces are fired, she often hammers more details into the metal.

The process allows her to quickly create custom pieces, which she has done for friends, clients and even whole bridal parties.

Stewart started working with metal clay about four years ago as a way to get back into metalsmithing, which she learned in high school. She also is skilled at wire jewelry and beading.

Although she studied art in her free time and has taken workshops and classes, she is not formally trained. She holds a certification in metal clay from Rio Grande Jewelry and is a member of the Western PA Metal Clay Guild.

To set up an appointment with Stewart, contact her at sally.stewart.jewelry@gmail.com.

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