A few lines from William Morris

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From We Are Teachers

From Jason G. Sturgill

The well-loved line about items in our homes was the first William Morris quote we came across. Both as people with objects and as makers of objects, we feel passionate about this idea. But freeing our lives of clutter by surrounding ourselves with beauty and usefulness is just part of it. Useful items themselves can and even should be beautiful. And beauty, with its ability to raise our spirits and our expectations, should be an every day part of everyone's life.

It's remarkable how relevant and contemporary the writings of Morris, a 19th century textile designer and a founder of the English Arts & Crafts Movement, remain today. Many of the lines we love touch on our deepest values as artists and members of the broader community. Beauty, art, happiness, personhood, even the environment and the natural world. Nearly 150 years later, despite all the changes of the intervening years, these things remain at the heart of our lives. 

Round-up of recent projects

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Take a little spin through our studios and see what we've been up to lately:

  • Custom hand-forged mosaic drawer pulls

  • Hand-forged trophy for the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce Impact Awards. This trophy was presented to Sky Foundry for the Innovation Award.

  • Custom forged, folded bowl made from reclaimed electrical conduit.

  • Ceramic, glass, and collected object mosaics awaiting grout. The longer pieces will be coat racks when they are complete.

Fire Screen Collaboration

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Nothing is more gratifying to both of us as artists and  business partners than to use our unusual skillset on collaborative projects like this set of fire doors.

This custom fire screen was created as part of a room redesign and incorporates elements elsewhere in the room. The twelve porcelain and mirror glass mosaics pick up colors found in the upholstery. The forged bronze handles coordinate with other forged hardware and warm tones of the room.

The photos we've included here show the process of creating the many parts that came together to bring this project to life.