Our Instructors

Debbie Cardwell is a jewelry artist working from her home studio in Houston, Texas. She comes from a long line of family members who worked with metals, fabricating locks, hardware, and other products in their family’s machine shop. Debbie has always loved jewelry in all shapes, sizes, and styles so it’s no surprise that she pursued the craft of metalsmithing. Since there were no women in the family business, Debbie pursued a career in the medical device industry and worked in the corporate world for 25 years. However, Debbie had always enjoyed exploring various crafts in her spare time, such as knitting, crocheting, leather crafts, beading, and repurposing vintage jewelry.

It wasn’t until 2016 that Debbie really focused on learning to create jewelry from sheet metal and how to solder. She loves to work with all metals whether its sterling silver, gold, brass, copper, or steel and enjoys the life long learning process that goes along with metalsmithing. Debbie still loves vintage jewelry and has greatly enjoyed creating custom pieces for clients utilizing their family heirlooms or sentimental pieces. Her new pieces are greatly influenced by many years participating in equestrian activities and she strives to create pieces that give the wearer a sense of confidence but in an understated manner. Bold chains, geometric shapes and enduring quality are hallmarks of her jewelry. Most recently, Debbie has focused on crafting different types of chain including loop in loop chains, chainmail, Viking knit, and other types of chains that are hand wrought.

Glen Williams has always had an interest in art.  He’s dabbled in oil painting, woodcarving, jewelry, fabrics, and paper-mâché.  His attraction to cloisonné comes from the jewel-like durability, the vast color palette, and the depth of the 3D quality in a 2D object.  During his time in California, he studied the wet-pack method of cloisonné enameling under cloisonné guru, Merry Lee Rae, which he has pursued for over 10 years.

Born in the Rocky Mountains in Salt Lake City; Jamie Winters young work history started with him teaching first aid, communications, and conservation to Cub Scouts as a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America.

Soon after high school, he joined the United States Navy as a Seabee learning extensive machinery and equipment. During this time, he also found himself teaching, this time as the detachment Senior Military Instructor.

Jamie has been a lifelong rockhound and took that passion further and learned to cut and polish the stones he had gathered for years. Now Jamie makes jewelry from his work as well and collects more stones to cut open. He loves to see what people make with raw stone and in the end, learn about their world a little more. 

You can find Jamies beautifully crafted and polished stones for sale in our retail store.

Jason Spencer received a BFA in metals and jewelry from Texas State University in 2007. He has worked as a studio assistant for artists Boris Bally and Wells Mason. He has 10 years of experience working in bronze foundry production specializing in mold-making for art casting. Teaching experience includes jewelry courses at Southwest School of Art in San Antonio and Creative Side Jewelry Academy. Jason specializes in Casting Courses at B Golden Jewelry School. 

After watching a friend skillfully cut an opal during college in 1977, Jim Dailing knew that he had found an outlet for his creative passion. He spent the next 10 years furthering his education and gaining experience in a variety of metalsmithing techniques. His enthusiasm and genuine love of the craft is evident in every piece created. He designs unique engagement rings, wedding rings or anniversary rings. He incorporates personal elements into the design well beyond jewelry design; architecture, furniture, and nature. All these elements are utilized in creating a custom ring design that is stunning visually as well as personally empowering. With sources for award-winning gemstones and the skill to alloy much of his own metal, Jim creates beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces to suit a variety of styles and budgets. He also has experience incorporating recycled metals, such as a grandmother’s wedding band or other family heirlooms. He teaches workshops all around the nation with a focus in goldsmithing, alloying, stone setting and wax carving. 

Michelle was born in a small farm town in Idaho, surrounded by the rugged beauty of rural farmland. This upbringing was significant in cultivating her appreciation for raw and organic forms. She gravitated to the art of electroforming because of the endless options it offers to honor and preserve pieces of nature and create tokens of this wild, beautiful world! Her unique electroformed jewelry uses materials such as copper, organic matter, and gemstones, paying homage to the wonders and majesty of nature.

Participation in the arts was always important to me growing up. A strong arts program in high school influenced my decision to pursue a degree in the arts. I chose the arts program at Bowling Green State University in northwest Ohio, where I discovered and fell in love with metals. I was introduced to many artists, including Michael Boyd, who became an inspiration for me.

Upon graduation, I apprenticed for Michael Boyd at his studio in Colorado. That experience turned into an eight-year adventure that continues today. With Michael, I learned to work with and manipulate stone, adding a new element to my love of jewelry design.

Since being in Colorado, I have started my own business, Ryan Gardner Designs. I now showcase my work in galleries across the country. I love working with combining stone and metal in new ways creating works of art for people to enjoy in their daily lives.

Sean Eckel is an artist whose passion for creating spans various outlets including jewelry making and stone shaping. Beginning his journey in metalsmithing and lapidary 8 years ago, with many years of wire wrapping before that, he has grown in experience and ability over time. Each piece of jewelry he makes is an opportunity to intentionally love and adorn ourselves with natural and hand-crafted elegance. Unique and special bits of Earth combined with artisan handiwork.

Drawn to a clean, harmonious design aesthetic and the main focus being the stones, he prefers materials that tell a visually striking or geologically fascinating story. Preferably both! This has led to an affinity for picture jaspers, dinosaur bones, colorful agates, and any other rocks or minerals that capture the imagination.

For all who appreciate the beauty of the earth and the workmanship it inspires, Sean's jewelry offers a distinctive blend of manmade artistry and natural wonder.

Shalena White is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator who uses metalsmithing techniques incorporated with found, organic materials to create sculptural forms as adornments and architectural installations. In 2014, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with her MFA in Metals from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2009, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA specializing in Metals/Jewelry from Texas State University.

In 2014, she was awarded People’s Choice by popular public vote for Austin City Hall's yearly competition at People's Gallery. Mountain Laurel Mandala II is now included in the city of Austin's permanent art collection. It is currently on display in the mayor's hallway at Austin City Hall. She was also awarded with the Austin Chronicle's 2011 Best of Austin Critic’s Pick Award for Best Stunning Adornments.

Recent exhibitions include Shalena White, solo exhibition, Texas State University, 2019; Repurposed at ICOSA, 2019; Craft Texas 2014, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft; Pool, MFA thesis exhibition, UT Austin Visual Arts Center; 10th Anniversary 2014 People’s Gallery Exhibition, Austin City Hall; Echoes of Form, three-person exhibition, UT Austin Visual Arts Center; Craft Texas 2012, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

Shalena is currently living in Austin and pursuing multiple artistic interests including community-based, public art projects, and teaching at B Golden Jewelry School.