Two Carrots Studio

Silversmith ~ Teacher ~ Gardener ~ Creative soul

Welcome to two carrots studio!

My name is Carrie Carbol-Ritcey. I’m a mom to two wonderful girls, wife to a dedicated husband, a gardener and an aspiring metalsmith.

I say metalsmithing rather than silversmithing, because they are quite different! True silversmithing is all about making vessels and utensil pieces, not jewelry. What I do is closer to goldsmithing, but because I work in silver, copper and a little bit of gold, metalsmithing is a more appropriate title!

I became interested in metalsmithing after taking a continuing education class, and was hooked! I have since taken private studio lessons, and many, many courses at Bedrock Supply in Edmonton, mainly under the patient tutoring of Andrea Blais. I have accumulated a large library of resource books, and am always on the lookout to learn new techniques and add to my skills. I am by no means an expert at any, but I’m happy to learn from my mistakes and push the limits of my skills to get better with each piece I create.

Most of my pieces are one of a kind; some are designed or commissioned with a specific person in mind, others become what they are quite organically. No piece is perfect. Mistakes in a piece mean I repurpose an element, redesign a piece or just melt it down. Other mistakes are just an opportunity to learn and create something new. As I write, I am preparing to teach myself small-scale production work, with the intent to sell locally, and through Etsy.

I think one of the hardest parts of being an artist is letting a piece out into the world, but it gives me joy to see my pieces being worn and loved.

Thanks for visiting! Please come back often.