Meet the newest member of our house!

Meet the newest member of our house!
Isn't he adorable?

Puppy sooo tired after a run which ended in a mud bath...

I think that perhaps I'd like Luke to be spelled Luk.
In any case, Luk and I went jogging this morning and he was politely running right next to my leg most of the time.
(What an improvement from yesterday's super bad leash manners he had straight out of SPCA... Poor thing finally got to relax and not sit cooped up in a cage all day long;)

ROCKITECTURE 2013

It's that time of the year again!

The invitation to ROCKITECTURE 2013 is beautiful, as always, and we have decided yet again to donate a hand-made piece for the silent auction in support of our wonderful Architecture Center.  Custom designed by Izabela Wojcik of Potter Art Metal Studios, and hand forged by the artisans of Potter Art Metal Studios, this adorable wrought iron writing utensil stand will add whimsy to the desk of the winner of this one of a kind piece.   Design details: rose and leaf.   Donated by Richard Potter of Potter Art Metal Studios.

ROCKITECTURE 2013 is benefitting the Dallas Center for Architecture and guests will join some of the top designers, architects, builders, photographers, and just about anyone else who simply loves architecture.

An evening of great design in the stunning and recently restored Federal Building and Post Office, including Judge Sarah T. Hughes' historic courtroom, will be a hit for sure!  It will be a night of stylish cocktails, bites, tunes, and a silent auction especially curated for lovers of great design and architecture donated by us and other local and national designers, artists, and architects.

Hope to see you there!

Izabela

Rustic Pine Cone and Needle Fireplace Screen

The things we can do with metal... it's just incredible.  I designed this custom, wrought iron, fireplace screen for one of my favorite clients; she's just so sweet.  I matched the screen to a pine cone and needle fandelier we hand forged for her a few years ago, and I am absolutely in love with it!
The pine cones, the needles, the texture on the stems... it all just looks so real, and everything is scrolled in such an artistic way; it's exactly what I had in my mind when I drew it.  Our metalworkers simply rock!

If you are looking for ornamental metalwork for a cabin, a lodge, or just your lake house, a design like this one would fit right in.  We custom design and make fireplace screens and tools, table bases, railings, chandeliers and fandeliers, vent-a-hood covers, and just about anything else you can think in metal.  Drop on by our Dallas showroom, and I'll be happy to design something just for you.  We are located right next to the Dallas Design District, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding us.

written by: Izabela Wojcik

Rustic Pine Cone and Needle Wrought Iron Door Grille

One of our all time favorite builders, Ricky Parker, who does a lot of very well built homes around Henderson, TX., sent over a fabulous design duo - Jerri Spivey and Kristal McNew- for a very special project.

The design goal was to echo the rustic beauty of The Piney Woods of East Texas in the amazing detail of the metal work, while still allowing for a generous view of nature itself through the glass.

J and K Designs is made up of the design team, Jerri Spivey and Kristal McNew.  Together, they offer superb interior design services ranging from the blueprint stage through the final decor.


About a year before, we had built a gorgeous three tier pine cone and needle wrought iron chandelier, which happened to also be a fandelier for one of Ricky's clients;  Jerri and Kristal just so happened to have a similar idea for their current client's home.  This time, the pine cones and needles would serve in adorning two pairs of exterior doors.  We went back and forth on how much of the grille should be open to view the beautiful scenery around the home and finally settled on a design very similar to what the girls had pictured.

Every single piece of metal on the grilles is hand forged, every pine cone is put together from several layers of metal, and everything including the textures is hammered in right here at our Dallas shop, where Potter Art Metal has resided for almost a century.  Even the grille hinges are custom designed to fit the look we were going for.

I honestly don't think that the photos do these door grilles justice, and Jerri and Kristal seem to agree: "Photos just don't do them justice-they are beyond fabulous!  You are so talented, and it was a pleasure working with you on this project." (Thanks girls!  I loved working with you as well!)
As always with our work, you really have to experience the fine hand worked detail first hand.  We take our metalwork very seriously (smily face.)

written by: Izabela Wojcik

Gothic Style Chandeliers

Izabela Wojcik: Designer for
Potter Art Metal Studios in Dallas, Tx.

Just wanted to show off my latest beauties...
I always love designing metalwork and lighting, but the gryphon chandelier in the background is a bit different and extra cool; which, of course, is my thing!

I designed this chandelier for one of Candace Atkins' clients.  Candace is a realtor in Dallas, Texas, with a passion for helping her cients achieve the advantages of homeownership;  this includes such perks as helping decorate their new homes.

It is a reverse tier fixture.  Why you ask?  Well, first, reverse tier chandeliers are really neat and different, but most importantly they serve a very serious role... like in the home of this particular client, who wanted a rather long fixture to drop inside an oval stair case.

A traditional three tier chandelier would have been too heavy on the bottom, but with the tiers reversed, we end up with the two gryphons, situated inside the longer side of the oval, to be enjoyed on the perimeter of the middle ring of the second story's balcony railing, and the smaller tier below, so that the first floor gets a beautiful, yet not overwhelming view as well.

See something you can't live without?  Visit Potter Art Metal Studios and I'll be happy to help you choose the perfect chandelier or any other piece of metalwork you can think of for your home or business.  I have been designing metalwork for over 7 years, this includes chandeliers, fandeliers, railings, tabe bases, doors, gates, etc...  What can I say?  You just can't beat custom metalwork!

My thoughts on ART

I used to think... What are these galleries thinking? This stuff is crap! It's like the artist has to come up with some sappy story to sell this junk.
Then I realized... It's not always about the pretty thing on paper... sometimes the real art is what's inside the artist, being conveyed in the best way the artist can... so listen to what is beneath the piece of paper and you just might fall in love with what's on it.

Only the best, because I'm rich.

You see it in movies all the time: "Only the best for my...," says the handsome wealthy man. I smiled.
A long time ago I used to think that this and many other Hollywood ideas were true, and perhaps some of the time they really are, but after working as a high-end custom metalwork and lighting designer for the past seven years I have learned something to the contrary. Most of the time it's not the money which drives people to get the best, it's actually education. I have noticed that the clients who have traveled around the world and chose to learn about their surroundings and the people around them are much more likely to appreciate the fine things in life, even when they are much less wealthy. Interesting indeed.