Studio Guides at the Curious Forge:

Karen Ramsey:

Instructor and Area Guide Karen Olsen Ramsey is an international award-winning professional goldsmith who has been making jewelry at the bench since 1989. She first studied jewelry making and design at the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana. After moving to California and a short mentorship with Jima Abbott of Mendocino, California, she attended classes at the Revere Academy of Jewelry in San Francisco. In 1990, she and her husband purchased 20 acres overlooking a canyon on the west slope of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range.  It is here where they built their home, and where she draws her inspiration for her jewelry designs. Shortly after, Karen began teaching jewelry making privately, and in 2014 she set up the jewelry lab and began teaching classes at The Curious Forge.

Karen brings her years of expertise to The Curious Forge and loves teaching her students what she knows as much as she loves fabricating the jewels of her imagination. See her work at artjeweler.com. She’s in the jewelry area Tuesdays from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Marcy Speck:

I’ve worked with fused and flame-worked glass for about 10 years.  I love the variety of techniques, colors, and textures you can with experiment with in glass. You can see some examples of my work at sugarpineglass.com. I’m in the glass area on Wednesday 12-4pm.

Teresa Smith:

Love to sew and create! I’m here to help with your experience in Textiles. I’m in the textiles area on Tuesdays from 2 to 5 pm and Thursdays from 4-7 pm.

Jacqueline Michie:

Jacqueline is a Milliner and seamstress, she owned Mill and Main in Grass Valley for 3 years. She loves to create and is here to help with your experience in Textiles. She’s in the textiles area on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 to 3 pm.

Gary Upton:

I have always been drawn to the interplay of sculptural form. My goal is to distill the design into its simplest elements in order to create a timeless presence. I’m in the woodshop Tuesdays from 4 pm to 8 pm.

James Heaphy:

James Heaphy started his journey as a woodworker and craftsperson at the age of 5, spending time in his Grandfather’s cabinet shop, learning how to use, and misuse tools. He has worked professionally as a fabricator since 2004 in a variety of disciplines including the sign industry and countertop fabrication and repair. In those industries, James worked with a wide variety of materials including, acrylic, composites, wood, steel, aluminum, and cast resins. James has extensive knowledge in finishing using everything from rag-applied polyurethanes to sprayed catalyzed paints. Above all else, he enjoys sharing his knowledge and hopes to help members at The Curious Forge build awesome things. He’s in the shop on Wednesdays from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Dave Sherr:

Dave’s superpower is how very much he LOVES helping people. Whether support for a project or getting you through a qualification he’s there. You’ll find him in the woodshop Wednesdays from 11 to 3pm.

Dylan Berry:

Dylan is our latest addition to Workshop Studio Guides, he comes with a wealth of knowledge and really steps up for tasks that need to be done. We’re happy he decided to join us. He’s in the shop Tuesdays for 2pm to 6pm.

Liam Ellerby:

Liam is the Founder of the Curious Forge and is known for being “loose” with all kinds of materials and will generally learn anything once. Aesthetically appealing, utilitarian, and weirdly functional assemblage pieces are his main interest. Metal was his first love and the first cut is the deepest. I’m in the metal areas Wednesday afternoons.

Hans Shillinger:

Our newest Studio Guide in the metal area, Hans has jumped in with both feet and is eager to help out members and the Forge! In the Metal Shop Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Bob Hubbard:

A professional oboe-est who has played with the San Francisco Symphony, SF Opera, and SF Ballet orchestras, he discovered that being a professional musician didn’t always pay the bills. He learned lessons in machine tools technology to at first make parts for musical instruments and then worked in various machine shops honing his skills. He is available by appointment in the Machine Shop as your reference.

Pam Montalbano:

Pam Montalbano comes to us from the NY/NJ area where she taught in her home studio, the recreation dept., and the university in the town of Teaneck. She has taught successfully for 25 years.  She has exhibited on both the east and west coasts over the thirty-plus years she has been involved with clay. She describes clay as her natural medium, as it’s so malleable and forgiving.

Yvonne Dockter:

One of our ORIGINAL members, Yvon brings her wildly creative self to the Ceramics area. She’s taught a number of classes including Raku, which is a special love of hers. You can see her work throughout the Forge. Yvon is in on Tuesdays from 2pm to 6pm.

Bob Davis:

Bob is a long-time member and long-time volunteer in the Forge. You’ll find him cheerfully attending the area during his time each week. A skilled ceramicist with a vast knowledge of glazes, his work can be found in local shops or restaurants in the area. Bob’s in the shop Tuesdays from 2pm to 6pm.

Candy Tkachenko:

Candy is a long-time member who started helping Pam out with workshops. Now she’s running her own workshops and summer camps and has taken up the mantle as Studio Guide. You can find her in the ceramic lab on Wednesdays from 2pm to 6pm.

Eive Hahn:

Eive brings a wealth of experience from her time as program director at Camp Agusta, besides being our newest Blacksmith Studio Guide she’s helping to create youth programs as well. She’s led a few popular Hammer Time events in the studio! She’s here Wednesday 2-6pm.

Linda Lansky:

Linda’s enthusiasm for flameworking is catching, she loves teaching people the art of it and seeing their creations happen. You can find her in the glass shop Wednesdays from 1 pm to 5 pm.

Robert Kahl:

Robert Kahl, a glassblower since the early 1990s, has been influenced greatly by nature in his work. He and his wife Sunny’s business is Flame Memorials, in which they add loved ones’ ashes into glass for beautiful memorials and keepsakes. Robert was a key leader in creating the glass-blowing studio at the Forge and leads workshops and tasters.

Jonathan Whitcomb:

We tragically lost Jonathan in June 2025. He was a fine young man, who was intelligent and kind and loved helping people. His loss shocked and deeply saddened us all. We so appreciate his being part of the Forge, and he is missed.

Peter Traugot:

Peter’s joined the Digital Fab area as one of our newest Studio Guides. He’s taking over the 3D printer qualification class and Intro to CAD as well. We really appreciate him stepping in and hitting the ground running. He’s in the Digital Fab area Wednesdays 1pm to 5pm.

Clara Frawley:

Clancy is a two-time award winning cosplayer with experiences in multimedia costume design, we are very excited to have him light up the Mixed Media area! He’ll be here Tuesdays and Thursdays 3 – 6pm..