Jewelry artist open teaching studio | Business - The Star Democrat
STEVENSVILLE — After years of teaching jewelry in and around Maryland, a local jewelry artist has opened the first-ever teaching jewelry studio on the Eastern Shore.
For the past 10 years, Melissa Kay-Steves has been teaching jewelry making classes to adults at Chestertown RiverArts in Chestertown, the Academy Art Museum in Easton and Bead Fest in Philadelphia. She also has been teaching a jewelry class to children in Queen Anne’s County’s Partnering for Youth after-school program level since 2012.
When the opportunity suddenly arose to open her own teaching studio, she jumped at the chance.
“I was at a crossroads in my career when I was suddenly given a chance to purchase a closing jewelry studio,” Kay-Steves said. “It was do or die, and I took a running leap off the cliff.”
From 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, Charmtree Jewelry Studio will hold a ribbon cutting with the Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce, followed by a wine and cheese reception to celebrate officially opening its doors. There will be a meet-and-greet with instructors, studio tours, jewelry-making demonstrations, a raffle giveaway and more. The fall workshop schedule and project samples also will be on display.
Charmtree Jewelry Studio will offer beginner through advanced metalsmith workshops with a small instructor-to-student ratio. There are eight fully equipped jewelry benches, so students will have everything they need when taking a class.
The studio will host Ladies Night, Kid’s Night Out, trunk shows and an afters-chool program.
Kay-Steves will team up with Partnering for Youth again, this time offering the after-school program on location. Ten children from Stevensville Middle School and Matapeake Middle School will be bused to the studio after school on Mondays during the fall program. Kay-Steves said she is excited the Queen Anne’s County Board of Education has agreed to this new fit.
“These children are so fortunate to get the opportunity to see firsthand what goes on in a jewelry studio,” she said. “To learn about this trade at such an early age will open their eyes to a world of possibilities.”
Charmtree Jewelry Studio is at the Thompson Creek Business Park at 1200 Butterworth Court (upstairs). The studio entrance and ample parking are on Marion Quimby Drive.
