Kline family continues jewelry tradition in Montrose

MONTROSE — Melanie Kline has accomplished a rare feat as she has made all her life dreams come true.

Kline, an accomplished jewelry designer and metalsmith, recently expanded her family business with the opening of Ouray Silversmiths on Main Street in Montrose.

“I always knew that I work in a field of art,” Kline said. “I liked to draw and paint but once I got a torch in my hand and started working with precious metals, I knew what my future held.”

Kline grew up in Denver and studied metalworking in high school.

“I was really lucky as a student of the Denver Public School System,” she said. “I learned all about metalsmithing and then I was able to apprentice with a master silversmith.”

Kline’s silversmith career has burgeoned over the years and eventually led to her family’s relocation to Ouray. She bought a home in Ouray in 1991 and permanently relocated in 2000. At the time she thought she would just have a workshop to focus solely on Judaica projects.

Judaica is a term used to relate to Jewish ceremonial objects such as candlesticks, religious items and other artifacts as they relate to the Jewish faith. Kline’s talent has been commissioned by several synagogues around the country to create artwork. She has also been commissioned by the Development Corporation of Israel to design several awards and pins to recognize various dignitaries. She was one of six American artists, and total of 100 global artists, selected to execute specific pieces for the 3000th anniversary of Jerusalem.

“I moved back to Colorado to retire,” Kline said. “I came to get out of the jewelry business. Every dream I had ever had — had come true. I thought I would move here and focus on my Judaica.”

However, after completing 45 intricate Judaica pieces over a three-year period for the 150th celebration of the Washington Hebrew Congregation show, she decided to dabble in jewelry again for a little fun.

“It was such an honor that they chose me,” Kline said. “But at the end of all that I wondered if I had one more drop of Judaica left in me. I started to make some silly, fun jewelry. The first thing I did was make this ring that looked like a corral and then I added horses. Then I made jewelry with aspen leaves and mountains. It made me feel really good about home in the American west.”

Kline opened a workshop and store front in Ouray and then moved the store to Main Street five years ago. She continued to teach her craft and without completely realizing it, she passed on her talents to her two sons Josh and Dan.

“I didn’t’ even know I was teaching them” she said. “The kids would come to the store after school so every day between 3 and 5 p.m. they would absorb. Then I would teach classes and I would drag them along. They received very little direct teaching but they really picked up a lot.”

Josh now runs the Ouray store along with fellow silversmith Zane Mund while Josh’s wife, Chena, is running the Montrose location with Kline.

“Josh has really made a serious commitment to jewelry,” Kline said. “He has truly developed incredible skills and he has such talent.”

Dan recently moved back to the Uncompahgre Valley after living in Israel for several years. He helped Kline open the Ouray store but is not currently involved in the Montrose project.

Kline said the family is excited to open the Montrose store.

“Montrose is the place to be,” she said. “Ouray has a wonderful, seasonal economy, but Montrose is more stable and is growing.”

The Montrose location features original jewelry and jewelry making supplies like beads, wire and silver. Kline will start teaching jewelry workshops this spring. Judaica is not featured in the store, but rather she showcases those pieces in New York.

Chena says the Montrose location has a different vibe and that unlike Ouray where customers tend to randomly pop into the store, most of the Montrose customers have come to the new store on a mission.

“We have seen several really serious buyers,” Chena said. “Ouray is more tourist driven and often times patrons just happened into the store without realizing all that we offered.”

Chena adds that in addition to the retail end of the Montrose store, they also offer jewelry repair and work on commissioned projects.

Kline said the family could not be happier in Montrose and business has come a long way over the years.

Josh says he is pleased with the Montrose store and feels their new location is classier and even more focused on jewelry.

“I just hope the store results in a good interaction with the people of Montrose,” he says.

Josh never thought he would end up going into business with his mother but could not be more pleased with the outcome.

“She is a professional artist and that is exactly what I wanted to be,” he says. “When I make jewelry, I work in four dimensions. There is the length, width and height of a piece but I also concentrate on endurance. Time is the fourth dimension and when I make jewelry I want to make sure it lasts. I want it to hold up over time.”

Ouray Silversmiths is located at 312 E. Main St. in Montrose. The store is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and occasional evenings. A grand opening is slated for late November.