Conversations with Michal Lemberger

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michal Lemberger.

Michal, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I opened Community Jewelry Arts Studio with a single private student on January 31, 2023 and it has blossomed from there. For years, I had been pursuing jewelry making as an increasingly serious hobby while I worked in other fields. I had trained and then worked as a teacher in various local universities and private settings, but I hadn’t taught in a few years and missed the interaction with students, so when I found myself drawn to a career change into the jewelry space, I realized that opening a teaching studio would be the next logical step for me.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive–there is a hunger for connection and creative expression right now. At our studio, we focus on small group classes and workshops, which gives people a warm space in which to forge those communal bonds and make beautiful jewelry for themselves. Since that first private session, the studio has continued to grow. We now hold classes every day of the week, and often both days of the weekend, under the guidance of four additional instructors. And I always have plans to grow: new ideas for workshops that will allow even more people to explore and make things with their own hands.
At the same time that I was growing the studio, I opened my own line, Lem Fine Jewelry, in November, 2024, which fuses ancient techniques with a modern design sensibility, and a mixture of metals with vibrantly colored stones.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Getting to the point of opening the studio doors was the hardest part for me: I was new to the professional jewelry world and had never run a business of this sort before. To say I was scared is an understatement. But I trusted my experience as a teacher and knew I had something to offer that people wanted, because it was something I had wanted–a small, private space to learn and make jewelry. The studio’s growth, from one student and then a single workshop and one 6-week class to a full schedule of half-day, full day, and 6-week classes has felt fairly natural. I added classes and brought on new instructors as demand grew. I hope that demand continues to grow and that we continue to be able to meet it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a teaching studio, CJAS caters to anyone curious about making jewelry. We offer many opportunities for absolute beginners, like our one-day Beginning Metalsmithing and Soldering workshop and our half-day Lost Wax workshop, which give students a chance to try out these approaches and make a beautiful piece or two. For those who want to jump in more fully, our 6-week programs in both Metalsmithing and Lost Wax allow students to gain confidence as they develop their skills (and make even more beautiful pieces). And then we level up, with advanced workshops in techniques such as bezel-setting, making chains and hinges, and so much more. Finally, we offer an Open Studio Hours program for those with a bit more experience, who can design and make their jewelry but still benefit from some guidance and instruction. We also work with students privately. Recently, a couple even got engaged in the studio! I was so honored to witness that moment.
Most importantly, we offer participants a chance to learn a new skill and then apply it. There is nothing better than watching a student gain the confidence to bring their visions to life.

What’s next?
CJAS is still a relatively new enterprise. We’ve grown so quickly that it sometimes feels like I need to catch up with myself first, before I can look forward. That said, I am thinking toward a future that includes more varied classes, because there are so many different approaches to making jewelry. Ultimately, I hope to move into a larger space where we will be able to offer all our current classes and so much more. I’m dreaming big these days.

Pricing:

• $175: registration for half-day workshops
• $225, registration for full-day workshops
• $645 for 6-week classes
• $210 for a 3-hour private session

Contact Info:

• Website: https://communityjewelryarts.com
• Instagram: @communityjewelryartsstudio
• Facebook: Community Jewelry Arts Studio
• Other: https://lemfinejewelry.com

Image Credits
Michal Lemberger
Carmen Zhou
Shlomit Levy Bard