We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Edgerly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.

The end goal of my silversmithing career is to become a goldsmith. In Europe there are specific requirements to transition from one to the other, but in the US it’s more nebulous. I look at famous goldsmiths like Herman Junger (Germany), Bill Cronin (US), and Natalia Milosz-Piekarska (Australia) and admire their creativity and mastery of the art. I look at certain techniques like flush setting princess cut diamonds and want to have the ability to create pieces I design without having any limitations in my techniques. If I feel I can create anything I want to and play with flush setting any faceted shaped stone, then I would say I have accomplished my goal as a goldsmith. I work with gold and silver right now, but more silver than gold. I do like that I mix silver and gold into most of my designs and plan to continue that style in my work. Excited to continue to work toward my goal.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
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. Twelve 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.

Starting my silversmithing business was easier than I would have thought. I was pursuing a passion that burned in me for a long time. It started out organically and has grown like that ever since. The lessons have been mostly about running a business. Being creative and designing is one thing, selling your work to the world is another. I have learned from others about running a business. The great thing about being a creative is others are always there to help you. The community is very supportive.

I want the world 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 the style organic classic.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I am a outside girl at heart. So, I would take her camping and mountain biking in western Colorado. We would stop on our way to the campsite and eat great Mexican food and drink margaritas. Then for a couple days we would check out different mountain bike trails, especially ones along the Colorado River. Then other friends would join us and camp in the desert. We would have big campfires at night with friends playing their instruments and serenading us. We’d play corn hole in the afternoon or horseshoes. Then toward the end of the week, we would all do a float trip on the river. That night we would cook up a big Greek dinner at the campsite; lamb on the grill, Greek Salad, and risotto. Also, just for fun we would all dress up in fun costumes to celebrate life.


The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes, I would like to dedicate my shoutout to Boulder Metalsmithing Association (BoMA) and my mom. I was on the board of BoMA eleven years ago and presented an idea about training art teachers with silversmithing skills. The president of the board jumped at the idea and we wrote a grant. We have successfully run the program now for nine years and it’s growing. The program had been an idea in my head for some years before I expressed the idea and I am so thankful that it came to fruition and that BoMA made it happen. I’d also like to send a shoutout to my mom. Who originally when I was younger and wanted to be a silversmith discouraged me, but when I left my teaching career of 20 years to be a silversmith, she was all in. She went and found a fantastic gem shop in San Francisco that she would take me to and buy gems for my birthday and holiday gifts. She was so excited to see my business grow and couldn’t have been prouder.

Website: https://www.karenedgestudio.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenedgestudio/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenedgestudio

Image Credits
Taylor Lotte, opal earring photo; Cami Grichel, opal with diamond earring photo

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.