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...and sometimes it takes us a while to get there.  

Back in high school, my career assessment test spit out three unexpected words: Stained Glass Artist. Weren’t those tests supposed to say things like doctor, lawyer, or dental hygienist?  

If I had ever told my dad about being an artist, he would have choked on his pizza. He never said it outright, but the sentiment was clear. Be an artist!? That unconventional path would surely end me up penniless with bills for him to pay. 

So I followed the safe path—earned 2 degrees and worked in 7 states—Good jobs, that paid my bills and gave me benefits. But perhaps most of all, let me work with people. This conventional path, was actually the unconventional road to becoming an artist. It somehow soldered me together and showed me what I love.  

All the while, I had dabbled in jewelry making for years, but finally, two decades after that fateful high school career test, I was engaged to be married and wanted to save money, so why not make my own wedding rings? (Funny how one can come full-circle while actually making circles.) It was the freedom of crafting my own story that allowed me to discover my unabated obsession of metalsmithing.

Some people would have us believe that artists live only in exposed brick lofts, with flighty lives and no responsibilities. But the truth is that we artists grow beauty everywhere; it’s that creative spirit that manages the daily tasks and finds beauty from her office desk in the kindness and innovation of others.   

It took me 22 years to figure out that metalsmithing was my passion. And the same amount of time to actually start calling myself an artist. I now own and run my own brick-and-mortar store in beautiful Bellingham, WA at 2100 Iron Street in the Sunnyland neighborhood.

Martini Metal Craft is authentic jewelry for people hammering out their own stories.  

And yes, my last name is Martini.  My first name is Marijo (it sounds like Mary Joe).