Debbi Ordan is the owner and creator of Ariel Studios. She lives and works in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina about 18 miles west of Boone in the Appalachian Mountain Range. The beauty of nature and her surroundings are the most important inspiration for her work. She graduated from Ithaca College in 1978 and traveled around the country looking for a beautiful, quiet, hospitable place to live. Luckily she found Sugar Grove and decided to make it her home.

Debbi studied jewelry and metalsmithing during a 5 year apprenticeship which took her to Santa Fe, New Mexico. She returned to North Carolina in 1985 and built her studio and began her business, Ariel Studios, named after her beloved dog. She has studied at many workshops and retreats honing her skills in metalsmithing and fabrication.
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Her work is entirely handcrafted through all stages of its creation, using traditional metalsmithing techniques, including piercing, chasing, applique, lamination and weaving, and the finest available materials. The metals she uses are recycled sterling silver, jeweler’s bronze, copper, sterling and fine silver wire, gold wire and semi precious gemstones. She creates earrings, bracelets, pins/pendants, barrettes and rings. She is always working on new  designs. She is a member of two cooperative galleries, Main Street Gallery in Blowing Rock and Hands Gallery in Boone. She has several wholesale accounts and does about 1o art shows a year. Debbi loves the work she does. “I enjoy my jewelry and take the utmost care in making it, I hope you enjoy wearing it."