By Katie Weidenboerner-Deppen
“I love the smell of metal and what it’s capable of.”
Stephanie Distler, of Johnsonburg, started her artistic journey when she was seven years old. Her love of art transformed and grew as she did before settling to focus on jewelry making.
“Right now, I’m where I want to be,” Stephanie said as she hammered metal in her studio, which is attached to her home and was made for her by her husband, Herb. “When I lose myself I feel like I find myself in my studio space.”
A self-taught artist, Distler turns to nature and the PA Wilds for inspiration. Using silver, copper and brass in wire or sheet form, she works with an eclectic assortment of tools to translate that inspiration into her vision.
“There’s so much nature in my work because it’s such a natural process.”
A fierce advocate of artisans and the Wilds, Stephanie says the Wilds Cooperative has been important to her as a maker, saying, “You don’t realize how many people are out there doing their art until you do see it. I see it because of my connection to the PA Wilds. It’s this nice sense of community. And you don’t feel like you’re alone.”
Stephanie Distler Artisan Jewelry is one of many Wilds Cooperative of PA members who helped launch the PA Wilds Marketplace this past spring. Check out her seller storefront here!
About the Author
Katie Weidenboerner is an adventure mom, trail runner, photographer and award-winning journalist hailing from the rugged and gnarly mountains of Elk County and now living in the Pittsburgh area. A fierce advocate of the PA Wilds, she can most often be found on back roads chasing the most wicked, weird and wonderful exploits the region has to offer.
