Located in the Seven Lakes Business District, Karen Simmons Designs is an Art Clay studio that offers a wide variety of classes and workshops in jewelry making. The shop also has fine finished jewelry and Art Clay supplies for sale.
A certified Art Clay instructor, owner Karen Simmons-Milligan will open her doors to the public on Saturday, October 1, to share the fun and exciting process of taking a piece of silver clay and making it into a one-of-a-kind piece of silver jewelry.
Art Clay is a pliable jewelry-making material made with 99.9 percent silver powder.
“It’s better than sterling silver,” said Milligan, “because there are no additives or extra stuff.”
The clay can be rolled, sculpted, stamped, sanded, filed, engraved, drilled and pre-polished into jewelry. “You can do so much” with the product. Milligan told The Times.
After a piece is sculpted, it can be kiln fired, gas stovetop fired, or hand torched to set the silver. That burns away the nontoxic Art Clay binders and water, leaving behind a piece of 99.9 percent pure silver.
Unlike the kiln firing process used in ceramics, a silver piece of Art Clay jewelry is ready in under fifteen minutes.
The fine silver powder used in the product is sourced from recyclables making it eco-friendly. That “green” approach is something that Milligan has incorporated throughout her studio — from her web page, which is wind powered, to the silver jewelry, gift bags, and overall design of the studio.
“It’s amazing,” said Milligan, when describing the process of creating jewelry from Art Clay. “You are leaving with a fine piece of silver jewelry, but you feel good about making it...[it’s] the best of both worlds.”
Art Clay can also be set with different stones that Milligan offers. including one native only to the United States, called the “Oregon Sun Stone.” Milligan also has all of the supplies necessary to make earrings, necklaces, rings — you name it. If she doesn’t have something in stock, she is more than happy to order it for her customers.
Although Milligan has ready made jewelry — earrings, pendants, bracelets, and pins — for sale at the store, she told The Times, “The goal is; I want you to be involved in the clay.”
Her “learning center” boasts a wide range of books and magazines about Art Clay jewelry-making — what Milligan calls “a great inspiration space.” With the Krups coffee maker just steps away; Milligan encourages anyone who stops by to enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee and learn about Art Clay.
Milligan will be hosting a variety of classes this Fall that can be scheduled by calling or dropping by the studio. [A fifty percent non-refundable deposit is required for classes]. The Learn About Art Clay classes will be held on Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00. Prices start at $29.
The studio will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11am to 4 pm (evening and Saturday classes will start in October). Parties for birthdays, bridal showers, or a girl’s night out can all be scheduled ahead of time, as can seasonal projects and individual instruction time.
Karen Simmons Designs Art Clay Studio is located on 150C Grant Street in the Seven Lakes Village, beside the Italian Table in the Tracy’s Carpet’s building.
To schedule studio time, to learn more about the product, or to consult class schedules visit www.karensimmonsdesigns.com, call 910-603-5750, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
On Saturday, October 1, the studio will host a Grand Opening from 11 am to 2 pm, with door prizes and the chance to win a free Art Clay beginners course.
