Off to the PA Wilds with Stephanie Distler Artisan Jewelry

July 22, 2016

Off to the PA Wilds with Stephanie Distler Artisan Jewelry

The Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania Juried Artisan, Stephanie Distler, creating fresh off the bench #PAWildsMade jewelry.

A close-up of a copper cuff "Not all those who wander are LOST" and the PA Wilds branding

Sharing a recent post I wrote for The Pennsylvania Wilds are Calling blog of the jewelry line created for them by SDAJ.

PA Wilds branded jewelry, made by hand, includes bracelets, riveted rings, pendants, charms, bottle openers and key rings. The items are created from pure copper, sterling silver, stainless steel and food grade aluminum that is hand cut by the artisan from metal sheeting. Some of the steps used in making her line of branded PA Wilds licensed products include first cutting out desired shapes and sizes, grinding and filing edges, hammer forging texture, choosing the metal stamps relevant to the piece (such as a word string or design), work hardening in a tumbler to add strength and then finally sealing in the finish with a museum quality wax product that will last for years.
Stephanie is a self taught jewelry artisan living in Elk County. Using nature for inspiration, she designs and creates artisan jewelry together with hand tools and larger shop equipment. Collecting metalsmithing tools, learning new techniques and then implementing them in her designs is a passion that is the touchstone of daily life: “I am a crazy tool fanatic whether in the studio or preparing dinner for my family a good tool is the key to enjoying the simplest of tasks. When you have a passion for what you do it spills out around you, it’s contagious joy.”

I definitely need to take some new studio portraits, lol

Stephanie Distler Artisan Jewelry is available at Elk County Council on the Arts, Laughing Owl Press, The newly built PA Wilds Conservation Shop - at Kinzua Bridge State Park (opening beginning of September 2016) along with her working studio and from online shop, www.stephaniedistler.com

creating 'me' in the Wilds branding

Prices range from $7.00 to $50.00.

“If you love the great outdoors, Stephanie’s PA Wilds collection will blow you away! I live in the suburbs, and my pieces from Stephanie are a way to keep the outdoors close at hand. Her work is awesome!” -Debra

“Thank you so much for the PA Wilds elk charm! It is a small piece of home now that I am away. Last year I moved away from the great Keystone state to Iowa and boy do I miss those deep dark woods of Elk County. I used to camp a lot in Benezette. Thanks again for this awesome item!” -Wally

Just a simply beautiful ring! The rustic design fits so well with the bark like texture….and it does look like bark! This one will rarely leave my finger! -djarus