Student Work
Jeffe painting
directions
Please note that trains can block the road around the studio and you gotta wait…sometimes for a awhile. Plan to show up early to allow for this and have time to settle in. Time and again I hear that GPS misleads you.
Studio Steel: 3600 E. Marginal Way S. #24 Seattle WA 98134
Studio Steel is about 2 miles south of Downtown Seattle. It is directly under the West Seattle Bridge; two blocks west of 1st Ave S at the corner of E Marginal Way S & S. Spokane St. Look for the Blue-green warehouse.
The entrance to my studio is on the North East side of the blue-green building (as if you were going towards the on ramp to I-5). There is a drive way gate, which will be open. The doors to my side of the building are bright yellow (only yellow on building).
Your best bet is to hit the link below. Print out a Map! Searches for directions on the web and on GPS seem to leave something out about 15% of the time which can take you literally in circles. Beware that the Alaska Way Viaduct, Spokane St. Viaduct and the West Seattle Bridge all converge overhead while my studio is at ground level.
Clients
Custom Projects
Traditionally blacksmithed iron bears hammer blows of the maker and maybe a little blood, sweat and tears too. Wrought iron is handcrafted heirloom art and will be part of your legacy. Owner Mimi Riley has the professional experience to guide clients thru the process of articulating their aesthetic in order to collaborate on the design.
Start with a 20 minute no charge studio visit and discussion of your project. At that time you’re welcome to pick up steel samples in the shop, get a feel for the heft and beauty of wrought iron steel. Our meeting can include thumbnail sketches to flesh out your ideas. Words are inadequate when discussing art or aesthetics and there are many flavors any one base design can lead to. If you have sample photos of the type of metalwork that appeals to you this can be very helpful reference and a good starting point. This helps us get on the same page…so to speak. I prefer to design the work that I build, however I also work directly from a set of drawings or a photo. You may want to print a several examples – these can be out of a magazine/catalog/real life/ or a sketch you provide. I have a selection of metalwork design books for reference. Once we have met and I have a firm idea of the scope of your project I will put together pricing information then we can nail down project details. We are also able to communicate by photos and sketches via email and phone conversations.
I require a 50% deposit due upon booking into my fabrication schedule. Cash is preferred. Deadlines and due dates are understood to be flexible as each commission is unique and not part of a well timed production process. For those outside of the Seattle area crating and shipping are available. Any prices quoted are for custom metal work only. Installation/delivery and design are billed at $75/hour plus any materials. Feel free to contact me with any questions on how to proceed with your commission or the art I fabricate. I am excited to work on new projects, to expand my portfolio and skills.
P.S. Budgets can be stretched by providing sketches and precise measurements so that I don’t have to travel. If you are able to pick up & install the piece yourself this will be credited towards your budget.
If your project requires a template you might consider building and delivering it to my shop in Georgetown. Generally this applies to gates & railings and inset panels. Many clients provide me with a template to build from. I am happy to provide you with instructions to build a simple template with 1” X 2” wood and a screw gun.
I look forward to a handshake at the shop
Mimi Riley
Available for new work June 15
About
I am the rare Seattle native, entranced by steel in all its forms; dark gray mill scale, rusty mottled brown and bright shiny silver. Sparks flying and the feel of heat radiating off molten orange metal exhilarates and excites.
Working construction for 10 years I found myself fascinated by the welding sparks of ironworkers..they got all the fun. It was amazing to me that welding steel creates such a solid connection so quickly.
I am a “one woman show”. I am the artist and the fabricator and the teacher. I have a unique approach to teaching that draws in many students who have previously taken “beginning welding” from someone else. When asked why, they say….”it’s obvious you love what you do, your energy and teaching style did give a ‘gut’ level understanding of the process. Or, “we didn’t learn about the technical aspects or how the machine operates.” Students frequently comment that a one night welding class is fun, but not long enough. A second day let’s you put every thing you learned into practice after you have absorbed the info, cogitated over the experience and rested to approach it with renewed vigor and level of understanding. You do not need an entire school quarter of 3 months to learn.
I bought my first(born) welder secondhand on the job and started welding steel scraps together. I trained at South Seattle Community College during last year blacksmithing was offered, and have been teaching for 15 years now.
Steel really began on Sept 11 2001 while I was a commercial industrial Electrician happy in my career for 10 years. I was wiring the “new” SeaTac Airport control tower when the 2 planes hit the World Trade Center. The Airport was immediately shut down and everyone sent home. Boeing took a hit, union jobs were suddenly scarce. I entered a state worker retraining program 3 months later and was able to study both welding and blacksmithing. Of course I fell in love with welding, I created and sold garden art while in school. I started teaching classes the next year and ever since.
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