Fuller Craft Museum. Tricia Harding

Last night some of the South Shore Beaders went to the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA for the "Come and Craft" group. The room to meet is in the Education Department wing and is often different each week depending on what else is going on that day.


So, we walked in, stuck our heads in the first door and asked if this was the "Come and Craft" Group. The answer was no, so we started on when someone spoke up and said it was a Jewelry demo. We quickly turned around and asked if we could join. Since the answer was "Yes" we pulled up chairs and were treated to a nice demonstration of metal smithing by Tricia Harding. Tricia has a web site at www.triciaharding.com You can check out her jewelry items and portfolio. Tricia also has a studio in Fall River and we plan on visiting her in the near future.

I was very impressed with her passion for her work and the joy she showed as she worked. She had just finished a twisted ring when we arrived and was showing how to add texture to another ring that had been rather plain. She made it look easy but I'm sure my attempt would not have been as nice.




Next, Tricia demonstrated how to make an "S" clasp. Not the kind you can buy but a real handcrafted one. She started out by cutting a 2-3 inch length of 12 (?) gauge wire and proceeded to make it look like a tooth pick. Not the flat variety but the round whittled at the ends tooth pick. Next she bent it and hammered and soldered one end close and more hammering. The result was beautiful.

The picture at the beginning of this post is a Brooch by Tricia entitled "Chrysanthemum, Brooch, 2001 Brass, pierced and fabricated, dia: 1 1/4" See what I mean about her pieces?

You can see more of her work at her web site www.triciaharding.com.

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