Meet Melissa

Studio Owner/Instructor

Melissa Kay-Steves has been making jewelry since she first repaired a special necklace that her grandmother gave to her back when she was twelve. She taught herself basic techniques like wire wrapping and forming, for many years. In 2006, one year after her daughter was born, she took a PMC certification class and was instantly hooked. She spent many years creating and selling her work at craft and vendor fairs and to local boutiques. In 2009, 2 years after her son was born, she was asked to teach and instantly found her calling and began teaching classes in precious metal clay. But her yearning to learn metalsmithing had her travelling to gem shows and local venues for classes. After taking a class in D.C., she met a metalsmith who would become her private instructor and mentor.

 In 2019, after10 years of teaching, creating and learning, her mentor decided to sell his jewelry business and school and encouraged her to start her own teaching studio. She decided to take the leap and opened Charmtree Jewelry Studio, a metalsmith school on Kent Island, just East of Annapolis. She teaches metalsmith classes including precious metal clay. She is PMC certified through PMC Connection, Art Clay World and Camp PMC. She enjoys her days at the studio creating, teaching and sharing her passion and excitement with others.