When Manuel Colunga-Hernandez's wife, artist Nan Deressa, asked for a towel rack, a fanciful free form bar sprouted on their wall.

A brass floor light took the shape of a tulip. Door handles patterned into shell forms.

Ordinary fixtures become art under the hand of Colunga-Hernandez, an artist and smith in a variety of metals.

At the Silver Spider Forge in northern Itasca County, he works as a traditional blacksmith in iron and also as a silversmith to create fine works of jewelry.

The two complement each other, he believes. The pleasure in creating something in metal "doubles upon itself if you also use tools that you made," he explained.

Although he bought his first anvil in the early 1980's, he came to silversmithing through his graphic designs. Deressa wanted to see his designs in three dimensions and suggested he make them in silver. His first attempt was a dragonfly made from a silver bowl.

Now he fashions thimbles, brooches, necklaces and rings as well as custom pieces, all with a unique touch.

Some of his work may be a surprise. One of his pieces was a combination pocket sundial and nocturnal star clock. On a clear night in the northern hemisphere, knowing the season, date, position of three constellations, and the pole star, a "noctural" can actually tell the time.

Nature permeates his work. "I don't do loons," he laughed, but his jewelry designs often extend the patterns found in semiprecious gemstones or include shapes from nature. Celtic knotwork and Art Nouveau design also have influenced his work.

But while living in an urban area the couple could observe that people were drawing away from nature. In fact people seemed to act like the earth's resources were unlimited. In 1990 the couple moved north so they could live self-sufficiently in an unspoiled setting.

"The earth is finite," pointed out Colunga-Hernandez. "That's how I look at my art." When he works with silver, he explained, "I see something that was taken from the earth... [and think] what's the best use I can make of this?" Instead of silver bullion, for instance, he will create something beautiful that will show off the qualities of the metal.

As a smith he has worked with a variety of metals including gold, copper, titanium, stell, aluminum and brass. He also does lost wax vacuum casting and hopes to do foundry work in the near future, thus allowing him to cast both large and small designs.

Most of his knowledge he has gained from an extensive library and through experience. Colunga-Hernandez is willing to share what he has learned. Internet users can find basic silversmithing instructions on the Silver Spider Forge website at

To some, blacksmithing may be simply beating a piece of hot metal, he explained, but the fact is far different. In the past, blacksmiths used wrought iron -- pure iron with slag in it. Now the metal is usually recycled steel which has different properties depending on the content of impurities like chromium, molybdenum and carbon.

In addition the smith needs to be aware of the quality--the ring and recoil--of the anvil and how to use different tools. The physical environment itself is also important; ventilation, floor material and posture.

What is the attraction of forge work? "It takes a special idiot to want to be a blacksmith," Colunga-Hernandez grinned. Ultimately it is knowing that your own hands can make a tool, and that tool will survive through time because of its usefulness.

"Sometimes," he added, "I have to work with steel in the forge to get the thought process going to work with silver."

And when his work resonates with someone else who says "I want that," Colunga-Hernandez said, it's an indescribable feeling. "They want it because you made it," he said. "You feel a real surge of humanity."

(To all our wonderful customers and those who may read this article, please note the following change - thank you.)

In 2005 the Silver Spider Forge shop closed to the public, however the work goes on over the internet... you can call Manuel at (218) 659-2621 or email: silverspider@silverspiderforge.com, as he is still creating jewelry and hand-crafted works in metals, and as always is willing to answer your questions to the best of his knowledge.