Mr. Chris Ploof

Chris started creating early in life. While growing up in Massachusetts, he used to visit a local living history museum. While there, Chris spent hours watching the blacksmith and tinsmith work their craft. It was amazing to watch simple tools, hands, and hearts make complex items of beauty. He would then go home, and using whatever was at hand, re-enact what he had seen.

"Thirteen years ago, the desire to recreate some of what I had watched being hammered out was overwhelming - my head was full of ideas - and with the help of a 55 gallon drum, some fire bricks, and a hairdryer, my career in metalsmithing was launched. I felt something was missing, however. "

Chris found the missing link when he started taking jewelry making classes. He felt very at home with jewelry scale items. After becoming a full-time student, he began an apprenticeship under a master goldsmith and stone setter which continues today. Chris learns and teaches in this relationship.

"I love exploring new techniques and materials, and I especially love to push the envelope of current and accepted techniques. Challenges always seem to lead down long roads even after they have been met, and spawn many future ideas and designs for me. Impossible is only a temporary condition. My favorite materials are gold, mokume, and meteorite."

Chris maintains a studio in Worcester, Massachusetts. Here, he designs and hand crafts several lines of exclusive production jewelry, as well as many custom pieces.

Examples of his work may be viewed on his website.


Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Email Newsletter
 

For Email Marketing you can trust



Winter Courses Now Enrolling!
Don't wait to sign up for our upcoming Weekly Classes, and Weekend and One Day Workshops! Read our online Winter Course Catalog, and see our entire schedule—including special events and open studio time—on the Metalwerx Studio Calendar.
Sign up Today!
New! On Our Blog
Jewelry-making supplies & free lectures at Metalwerx vendor day
Tools, Jewels and the people who use them are once again the focus of Metalwerx' 7th annual Vendor day!

Vendor Day is an opportunity to meet some of the best vendors in the business! Aspiring and professional metalworkers, beading enthusiasts, woodworkers, or the casual crafter can see product demonstrations and find top-quality supplies for immediate purchase with no shipping costs or delays.
Read more >>

Subscribe to our blog

February 11, 2012
 Knitting on the Rocks
 This workshop presents alternative approaches to successful knitting with wire. Learn new ways to create knit stitches while exploring tubular structures including how to encapsulate objects (like stones) within knitting!
Read more...
  
February 17, 2012
 Mold Making and Casting
 

This course is designed to demystify the lost wax casting process. You will gain a clear understanding of what will work well and be cost effective in a production environment.

Read more...
  
March 10, 2012
 Diamonds in the Rough: Setting Gemstones on Beach Stones
 Juxtapose the precious and the ordinary in a truly unique personal treasure by learning to set diamonds into river rock or beach stone.
Read more...
  

Copyright © 1996 - 2007 MetalWerx
Site by The Ganoksin Project