Julia Dobie: Third Hand Silversmith
written by Julia dobie
photographed by julia dobie, serena gossack, and court cathleen
My hands are always dirty. I haven’t painted my nails in years, and most days they resemble more of a seasoned mechanic’s hands than the ones I remember being born with. Despite their unkempt appearance, my hands remain my most prized possession because they allow me to make magic out of metal and earth. My name is Julia Dobie, and I’m the owner of Third Hand Silversmith in Bozeman, Montana. I use my hands to create powerful jewelry.
I started Third Hand in November of 2018 as a way to put my creative energy out into the world. A year later, my small workbench is now the place I feel most at home. It took a long time to admit (even to myself) that silversmithing is what I wanted to. I have a degree in Graphic Design, which is known to be the art career most likely to provide job security. But, the truth is that I felt burned out immediately after earning my degree, and silversmithing was the one thing that I remained passionate about.
The process of my craft is second nature to me now, it’s just as regular as brushing my teeth or cooking dinner, and it is just as important. I’ve tuned in to the rhythm of my flame, I can feel exactly how long it will take for my solder to flow, and know just how far I can push my metal before it cracks. It’s a methodical and magical process that I get to take ownership of. I put a piece of myself into each work I create, and feel so happy when I can see that resonate within someone else. I’m inspired by the chunks of earth that we call cabochon stones and prefer the asymmetrical, irregular ones. I relate to them a lot more than the perfectly cut, symmetrical stones. I prefer my work to be as imperfect and powerful as we all are— to me, their imperfections add to the quality of my work.
Image by Court Cathleen.
I didn’t give much attention to the landscape around me until I started smithing. Surrounded by the mountains my entire life, I suppose I took Montana’s beauty for granted. I can see now, through the style of my jewelry, how much of the landscape and life in Montana shaped me and subsequently, the work I create. My work is well-crafted, but never too precious. I prefer the term un-fine jewelry. Each piece is strong enough to experience our beautiful world and seldom sits in a jewelry box.
Creating jewelry means so much more than putting consumable objects into the world. With the amount of creation and consumption that occurs every second, it’s important for me to be mindful of my contribution to that. I believe in the quality of the handmade and the impact that quality objects can have on our world. My jewelry is meant to last. It’s a timeless process constructed of timeless materials. There is no worry of shoddy quality or fast trends. Creating jewelry is inherently magical and when you wear a piece, you’ll feel the magic within both yourself and the meld of metal and stone. When I sit at my bench, my wish is for whoever wears the piece to find the confidence, joy, beauty, and meaning they might need in their day.
Feeling this at home with my craft did not come easy. Hundreds of hours in the studio, invaluable mentors, supportive friends, and Montana’s incredible creative community are to thank for helping me get to this point. Just like the earth from which I get my inspiration, creativity requires growth to be sustained. Growth is hard alone. My favorite way to grow as a creative is to collaborate with others. I have learned through my background in Graphic Design the importance of taking feedback gracefully and sharing ideas across mediums. Working with other artists I resonate with helps me step out of my comfort zone and create the absolute best work possible. I’ve been so fortunate to share my journey with incredible women who are business owners, creatives, and craftswomen. It is an honor to have them share their talents with me. From their strength, I double my own and return to my bench with intention. With them, I am better. And my art is better too.
I’ve come to admire the rugged patina washed over my fingers. I no longer dwell over the bite of my jeweler’s saw or the burn of my flame. Those aches ground me to the rugged nature of my craft. The ability to tame metal, earth, and flame makes me a powerful woman. It’s with these hands, my most prized possessions, I communicate with the world. I pick out stones and form metal to create something meaningful. With these hands, I create.
