enamel • patina • copper
This copper enamel quilt is a result of six years of dreaming about creating a quilt from copper. After a two-week residency at Pocosin School of Fine Craft, I came home to Richmond and began firing the 88 squares that make up this 24” x 30” quilt panel.
Above: a few sgraffito squares that make up the fabric replications of a cathedral window quilt. Inspired by my grandmother Mildred’s high-school graduation gift, I built this quilt in her memory.
Mildred’s Cathedral Window
studio157 is a one woman copper studio in Richmond, Virginia
copper abstractions, leaf portraits, collage totems and hand-forged copper are expertly crafted using industrial grade copper, hand-harvested leaves, found objects, and a variety of acids, bases, and solvent dyes to create intricate patina abstractions.
explorations in enamel bring fired color to coordinate with patina renderings. magnetic wearable buttons, scarf slides, and hand cut ornaments bring something new to the holidays every year!
functional and fun copper leaf cuts and collage totems are made seasonally as green leaves emerge and are rendered in patina on copper. copper mirrors are designed to bring nature and color into your home. rendered with leaf patinas, enamels, and abstract solvent dyes for saturated, nature inspired colors.
“Knowledge is only a rumor until it lives in the muscle.”
— The Asaro tribe of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
Shop in person!
You can find my work at Annie Gould Gallery in Gordonsville, VA; Crozet Artisan Depot, in Crozet, VA;
Objects, Art & More Gallery in Irvington, VA; Sophia Street Studios in Fredericksburg, VA; Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA; Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery in Winston-Salem, NC; and dandelion wishes in Hopewell, NJ!
Green, then Blue, 12x24 copper collage
Torch-firing a copper quilt section
enameled buttons, magnetic closures
This quilted totem set features layers of copper stitched onto a background of mustard garlic leaf abstractions
meadow on fire, 48" x 24" copper abstraction
piecrust bowl in the rain
cutting bowl blanks from 18 gauge copper
60" x 30" corporate commission with begonia and monstera deliciosa leaves.
patina process with limes and mint leaves
do everything with focus, heart, gratitude, love, care, purpose, faith & intention
Porcelainberry medallion, available at Objects, Art & More in Irvington, VA
hammered ring trays, ready to be cleaned, polished and enameled
embothrium coccineum, Argentina. watercolor studies inform future designs
six totem array
vaughn uses her father’s hammers and grandfather’s anvil to form and detail copper
begonia leaf portrait, 6" x 12"