About

There's a moment in the studio when everything comes together — the torch flame dies down, the metal cools, and a piece of jewelry that didn't exist yesterday is suddenly real. That's why I do this.

I'm Karen Howard, the artist, metalsmith, and glass fuser behind Cozy Cove Studio. I work from my home studio on the shores of a sheltered lake cove in Florida — a quiet, light-filled place my husband and I call Cozy Cove, though you won't find it on any map. It's where I spend my days playing with fire, shaping metal, and turning raw materials into one-of-a-kind wearable art.

What makes my work different

Most jewelers source their stones from suppliers. I make mine.

The fused glass cabochons in my jewelry are created in my own kiln — I design the color combinations, control the firing, and hand-select each piece that earns a spot in a setting. When you wear a Cozy Cove pendant, the glass and the silver were both born in the same studio, by the same hands.

The sterling silver settings are fully fabricated from sheet, wire, and tubing — cut, formed, soldered, and finished by hand, one piece at a time. No casting, no kits. Each setting is designed around its stone, which means no two pieces are ever quite the same.

I also work with sea glass collected from beaches around the world, gemstone cabochons, and enamel — materials that each bring their own history and character to a piece.

Jury-recognized artistry

My work has been accepted into nationally juried art shows and has received jury awards for design and craftsmanship. These shows are evaluated by panels of professional artists and jurors — acceptance is earned, not purchased.

If you've seen my work at a Florida art show, you already know what it looks like in person. For everyone else: several of my customers tell me the pieces are even more beautiful than the photos. I take that as a challenge to keep improving my photography.

My path to metalsmithing

I came to metalsmithing the long way — through curiosity, stubbornness, and an embarrassing number of library books and YouTube videos. I'm entirely self-taught, which I think shows in the work: there's no school telling me what jewelry is supposed to look like, so I make what excites me. That means you'll find a real variety of styles here, because I love to experiment and follow where the materials lead.

Come find me

My studio is a private home studio, but I exhibit at Florida art shows during the fall and winter season — check the blog for my current schedule. There's something special about seeing the work in person, feeling the weight of sterling silver, watching dichroic glass shift color in the light. If you can make it to a show, I'd love to meet you.

If you can't — welcome to the next best thing.

— Karen