[heading size=”2″ color=”#000″]Wandering the Wilds with ‘made by hand’ jewelry[/heading]

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

A variety of Distler’s work.

Stephanie’s 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.”

The artist in her studio.

Stephanie Distler Artisan Jewelry  is available at Elk County Council on the Arts, Laughing Owl Press (from their physical shop, Fraley Street in Kane), her working studio and from her online shop, www.stephaniedistler.com.

PA Wilds branded bottle opener.

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

Locate  #PAWildsMade made by hand through The Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania from juried artisans at www.pawildsartisans.com