At Marty Magic, jewelry design is truly a family affair – especially now that school’s out!
This weekend, July 27-29 2018, Molly McCormack will work her first Marty Magic Show at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Molly turns 12 this August and Alisha was 12 when she began helping me at the fairs and festivals. The weather for the Gilroy Garlic Festival is predicated to be a mild 82 – 92 degrees so we expect a great turn out.
The photo below is from 2015, the one and only time I did Santa Cruz Open Studios. Molly helped us a little by putting jewelry in boxes and cleaning glass. She is now taller than I am and will be in charge of packaging and restocking at the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
2015 – Marty, Alisha and Molly at Open Studios Santa Cruz
2015 – An update on the creative energy going on this summer in the Marty Magic Studio. John is home for the summer and not wanting to be left out of the creative loop, he set up his own wax carving station and just designed this striking and unique “Heartbeat Amulet.” His design incorporates a beautiful 13.5 Ct Moldavite, an 11.5 Ct Arizona Fire Agate and a 2.5 Ct Australian Opal. Flower of Life patterns are etched on the back side of the pendant. It will be cast in sterling silver and if I can tear the finished piece away from John it will be available in mid September.
Heartbeat Amulet by John Bobroskie 2015
Molly with magnifying goggles – Summer 2014
2014 – My granddaughter Molly doesn’t start summer camp until next week, and in the mean time she’s helping us in the studio! Molly became fascinated with wax carving – the first step in the jewelry design process we use – after watching her mother, Alisha, and I work. It looks like she’s following in Alisha’s footsteps as the next MartyMagic jewelry design whiz! In the photos below you can see her starting to carve out a starfish. I think it’s a great idea for the Octopus Garden Collection!
Molly and John carving waxes
Molly experimenting with wax
My son John is also home for the summer, on break from his studies at San Francisco State University. Here you can see him showing his girlfriend Steph and his cousin Tim the technique of wax carving. Tim is here on vacation from his home in Florida. It’s the first time we’ve met him, and his first trip out to California! It’s heartwarming to see everyone bonding over jewelry design. The two-person work station is a bit crowded, but creativity flows in spite of limited space!
John and Stephanie wax carving – 2014
2014 Lightning Skull Wax- front and back view. John Bobroskie
We’ve found that the “family business” has become much more than just a business. Do you have a shared craft in your family? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section below.
Wax Carving – A Family Affair -2014
Stay updated with the latest information from MartyMagic by checking out our Facebook Page or signing up for our newsletter.
When I first saw the picture of Molly in the magnifying glasses, I thought it was Alisha! There are some strong genes in the Macklin family. How fun to see you all creating together. It reminds me of the time our family visited yours at Bonny Doon, and we all tried to sculpture in wax. That was such a wonderful visit.
Yes, there is definitely a family resemblance:) Thanks for the photos of your three beautiful and precocious grandchildren….and the photo of Hobbs. Did you know that I named a one of a kind fire agate turtle pendant after “Hobbs?” http://www.martymagic.com/hobbs-the-fire-agate-tortoise_sold/