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Studio Tour jewellery maker, Michelle Bruce—who was born in Windsor but raised in London—confesses that, although her mom and grandma were craft-inclined, she was decidedly left-brain when it came to her schooling and her early work career. She and husband. David, attended Western University in London and graduated as geology majors. But, not being able to land work in that field at that time, took training in accounting, moved to Burington (in 1987) and landed jobs in that profession. Her craft-making, right brain “aha moment” happened during the Burlington years when she randomly walked into a stained-glass craft store that happened to be at the end of her street, loved what she saw there and began taking lessons to learn the craft. In the late 1990s, the Bruce’s decided they needed a change and moved to Maynooth, with David continuing in the accounting business and Michelle opening and operating an art gallery/home decor store in Barry’s Bay for 14 years that she named Botanical Glassworks—primarily selling works by local craftspeople and, eventually, works of her own. During the years she operated Botanical Glassworks she took numerous classes in jewelry making as well as embarking on buying trips to Arizona gem shows from where she collected a bountiful inventory of beautiful semi-precious stones and beads. Over the years Michelle continued to build her skills, sell her own designs and reached a point where she was encouraged to share her knowledge with others–which led to her teaching numerous classes in beading, wirework and metal-smithing. She also participated in local Maynooth, Barry’s Bay, Combermere and Bancroft craft fairs and farmers’ markets as well as offering items in the Muse Gallery in Bancroft. She joined the Bancroft and Area Studio Tour in 1999 and participated off and on over the years—even assuming the role of co-ordinator for the group for a 3-year period. However, around the time that Covid struck, she and David felt they needed a change in their lives and in 2022 they purchased a property on the coast of the Bay of Fundy in the St. Andrews area of New Brunswick and moved there. Michelle continues to create mostly copper and silver jewellery in her home studio as well as in the metal lab of Sunbury Shores Art Center in St. Andrews. |
She participates in the local farmers market and in shows throughout the southwest area of the province. Her sterling silver work can also be found at Handworks Gallery in Saint John. Not abandoning her adopted Bancroft area, Michelle returns to participate in the studio tour every fall—as a guest of Nancy Mckinnon in West Bay House at 187 Storey Road, Hartsmere. Connect with her on her website: michellebrucejewelry.com or by email at botglass7@hotmail.com (Profile writing by Allan O’Marra) |
