Katie Poterala Studio — Local services in Greenville

My fiance and I just completed a 2 day session with Katie in which we built our wedding bands start to finish. It was like going into the science lab on "experiment day" in school - which was always the fun stuff. We used several types of hand and motorized tools. We played with chemistry and fire. It was really a fun experience and we both got a one-of-a-kind ring that we made for each other. First, we carved our design in wax then sanded the wax ring down to our final prototype. We then made a plaster mold which had to bake overnight. Day 1 was about 5-6 hours with a lengthy lunch break off site. The next morning we got to melt the gold down and "sling shot" the molten metal into the mold, let it cool, then out came the ring. We finished by sanding down the metal and polishing. Day 2 took about 5-6 hours, again with another lengthy lunch break. Pricing is based on the actual amount of metal used in the final stages of the product. Katie really wanted to give us a fair price so she waited until we sanded off as much as possible before doing the final weight and calculating the cost based on that. Her quote was spot on and cost didn't exceed the high end. My fiance's was at the low end of the quote and mine was at the mid-to-high end. His was a much larger ring (men wear larger bands because they have larger hands/fingers) so was more expensive since it used a LOT more gold. Keep that in mind when discussing your project with her. The last piece I'll share is that Katie is very thorough. Her communication is unparallel with setting the project up, preparation prior to day 1, and throughout the actual 2 days. She is personable, patient, and so very kind. We felt immediately at ease in her presence and comfortable to ask questions and have her check our work. There was ZERO judgement and she constantly spoke words of encouragement. If you're looking for a unique experience that you get to walk away with a tangible product and memories for a lifetime - I highly recommend...

Katie is an incredibly talented jewelry designer with a true gift for bringing personal visions to life. She takes the time to really listen to your ideas and goals, and then transforms them into beautiful, meaningful custom pieces. She has created several custom pieces for me that I truly cherish. One of my favorites is a unique "college class ring" she designed — I never wanted a traditional class ring, but I did want something that honored my connection to the Tigers. Katie captured that perfectly with a design that’s both stylish and symbolic. In addition to her design work, Katie is also a wonderful teacher. She teaches metalsmithing with patience, clarity, and encouragement, making the craft approachable and enjoyable for learners at any level. Whether you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry or wanting to learn the art of metalsmithing, you absolutely can’t go wrong with Katie. She's the real deal — skilled, kind, and a joy...

Katie, I can’t thank you enough for creating something so deeply meaningful and beautiful. This ring is far more than a piece of jewelry — it’s a symbol of my family, my memories, and the love that ties us all together.

You took my vision — incorporating all of our birthstones and melting down my mom and dad’s wedding bands — and turned it into something truly breathtaking. The design is elegant and timeless, and every stone feels perfectly placed. The deep blue center stone immediately draws your eye, but what makes it truly shine is the story behind it.

Wearing this ring feels like carrying a piece of my family with me every single day. Your care, your attention to detail, and the way you honored what this meant to me means the world. I will treasure this ring forever. Thank you, Katie, for turning something so sentimental into something...