JUDITH J GAUTHIER

Judith moved to Bellingham, WA in 1972 and started her career in metal jewelry design and fabrication at the legendary Alaska Silver & Ivory Company.  She became a shop supervisor, assisting in the production of a very unique and beautiful hand- made line of sterling silver jewelry using fossilized mastodon elephant and walrus ivory.

Her love of this medium motivated her to pursue a degree in Art Education with an emphasis in metal work at the University of Montana, Missoula.  She received “Best of Show” at the annual student art exhibit.  Further studies in this field followed in Eugene, OR where she worked as assistant production supervisor for Jody Coyote, a very prominent jewelry company who sold to Nordstrom’s and Macy’s.

With a new family, work, and college experiences to draw from, she decided to return to Bellingham in 1989 and start her own jewelry company, “Pouncing Rain Creations.” Judith made her own line of jewelry and sold wholesale to stores in the Pacific Northwest.  She also was a member vendor at the Bellingham Farmers Market, Best of the Northwest and Anacortes Art Fairs and was an active member of Allied Arts of Whatcom County.

Pouncing Rain developed into a jewelry school where Judith taught hundreds of students metal jewelry techniques. Currently it is a non-profit organization called Bellingham Metal Arts Guild where she is an active member.

Judith teaches metal work at the J, was a primary developer of the jewelry studio, and serves as the studio lead.  She continues to love and share with others the wonderful world of metal art/jewelry, as well as create one-of-a kind pieces in her home studio.

LEAH MELESKI

Leah was born and raised in Connecticut. She moved to Massachusetts in 2004 to pursue her dream of creating jewelry. After going to a liberal arts college for a year and not finding her passion, she happened upon Massachusetts College of Art and Design. This is where it all started. Leah had not realized it was possible to study jewelry and actually become a working living artist. By 2008 Leah earned her BFA in Metals/3D and Art Education. Leah recently moved to Bellingham, Washington to be closer to her family and is excited to be part of the amazing community out here.

Every day in her studio Leah creates, plays, explores, and experiments allowing her play to lead to something truly amazing. Play within a process is truly the best way to learn and the only way to succeed. Letting go of failed experiments and knowing which ones to keep is invaluable. She allows herself to make as many mistakes as possible. Letting go of perfectionism when possible, but keeping all of the steps along the way to develop the actual pieces. Leah creates her work in her home studio located in Bellingham, WA and looks forward to teaching classes here at the Jansen Art Center. You can find more information about what she is currently working on through her blog at and her website.