Hello, my name is Maha Ghobrial. As far as I can remember I have always had a love affair with art in its many forms, from painting, knitting, sewing, embroidery to mixed media.
For ten years while my daughter was growing up I taught painting while working part-time.
I “stumbled” into jewellery making by chance late in 1997 while attending a craft show. I came across this “cool” new product called Silver Clay.
I attended a “make it & take it” half hour introduction workshop and I was hooked.
Since then I have attended every possible class & workshop going. (Yes, I am a workshop junky!!)
I also started to learn glass bead making, initially taking classes with my friend Natalie Song and then with every Australian and visiting International glass teacher offering classes. This included Pauline Delany and Kathryn Wardill from Australia, Aki from Japan and Corina Tettinger and Leah Fairbank both from the USA.
But since that first class with Silver Clay I became addicted to metal clay.
I was lucky that my dear friend, teacher and mentor Maggie Bergman moved to Melbourne in 2006 and opened her studio in Brunswick where I became a “Fixture” attending just about every workshop Maggie offered. Not only did I learn so much about metal clay from Maggie but she introduced me to the more traditional silver smithing world that has changed my life.
I enrolled in NMIT’s Diploma of Engineering & Silver Smithing course and I have just completed the 3 year part-time course.
I have attended many workshops with Australian artists such as Rex Merten Steele, Carolyn Delzoppo and Debbie Sheezel along with visiting artists Robert Dancik, Barbara Becker Simon, Hadar Jacobson and Susan Lenart Kazmer all from the USA.
I have gained many skills and techniques in many different mediums.
The skills that I have learnt in traditional metal smithing along with metal clay, glass, acrylic, resin and enamels has given me great flexibility when creating my jewellery and these are the skills that I am able to pass on to my students. The sky is the limit!
In 2009 I was invited to exhibit at the prestigious “For the Love of Egypt Festival”.
The festival was a celebration of everything Egyptian and this included an extensive exhibition of artists with an Egyptian background. It was a week long celebration held at Melbourne’s iconic town hall.
I am a member of the PMC Guild and a founding member of the Melbourne Chapter.
I am a very proud member of “The Chain Gang”, a group born around the jewellery benches in Maggie’s studio and now a successful group of four jewellery artists running a joint jewellery business.
For ten years while my daughter was growing up I taught painting while working part-time.
I “stumbled” into jewellery making by chance late in 1997 while attending a craft show. I came across this “cool” new product called Silver Clay.
I attended a “make it & take it” half hour introduction workshop and I was hooked.
Since then I have attended every possible class & workshop going. (Yes, I am a workshop junky!!)
I also started to learn glass bead making, initially taking classes with my friend Natalie Song and then with every Australian and visiting International glass teacher offering classes. This included Pauline Delany and Kathryn Wardill from Australia, Aki from Japan and Corina Tettinger and Leah Fairbank both from the USA.
But since that first class with Silver Clay I became addicted to metal clay.
I was lucky that my dear friend, teacher and mentor Maggie Bergman moved to Melbourne in 2006 and opened her studio in Brunswick where I became a “Fixture” attending just about every workshop Maggie offered. Not only did I learn so much about metal clay from Maggie but she introduced me to the more traditional silver smithing world that has changed my life.
I enrolled in NMIT’s Diploma of Engineering & Silver Smithing course and I have just completed the 3 year part-time course.
I have attended many workshops with Australian artists such as Rex Merten Steele, Carolyn Delzoppo and Debbie Sheezel along with visiting artists Robert Dancik, Barbara Becker Simon, Hadar Jacobson and Susan Lenart Kazmer all from the USA.
I have gained many skills and techniques in many different mediums.
The skills that I have learnt in traditional metal smithing along with metal clay, glass, acrylic, resin and enamels has given me great flexibility when creating my jewellery and these are the skills that I am able to pass on to my students. The sky is the limit!
In 2009 I was invited to exhibit at the prestigious “For the Love of Egypt Festival”.
The festival was a celebration of everything Egyptian and this included an extensive exhibition of artists with an Egyptian background. It was a week long celebration held at Melbourne’s iconic town hall.
I am a member of the PMC Guild and a founding member of the Melbourne Chapter.
I am a very proud member of “The Chain Gang”, a group born around the jewellery benches in Maggie’s studio and now a successful group of four jewellery artists running a joint jewellery business.
