Melissa Steinhauer.

I have always loved art.  I am constantly taking in shapes, colors, designs and patterns.  It never stops.  I can be inspired by something as simple as a shoreline or as complex as a map.  I was born and raised in a small artist community in northern Michigan and moved to Bozeman MT in 1998.  I attended Montana State University, and graduated with a degree in Art Education.

The clean and sturdy lines of the great lakes and mountains inspire my new line of jewelry .  That, and I am the ultimate Virgo, things have to be just so.  Experimenting with silver and resin, I am excited by the infinite combinations possible.  As of late, I have been putting spices and dirt into my pieces.  I am continually amazed at the beautiful colors that emerge.  A lot of my things are works in progress, I do a lot of trying before doing.  When I am in the studio, the hammering and bending, the sawing and fusing, help me find my peace. I believe in functional yet fun pieces, things that don’t need to be taken off before jumping into the lake.

When I am not playing artist, I am a mom to 3 amazing children.  We own a dog that mirrors her name Nettle, and I am married to the funniest person that I know.  I love to organize, go on long walks at sunset, bargain shop, and drink good coffee.