Meet The Artist
Hey, Jazz Cats!!
My name is Michael (pronounced like the “traditionally” boy’s name), and I make polymer clay earrings. I worked in theater before coming to clay, and still remain a thorough theater nerd. I’m a playwright, an aspiring 90s sitcom connoisseur, and jazz history nerd. I love to read, buy books that I’ve yet to read, and buying books that I accidentally already read. My goals include: someday having a fleet of dogs. My leisure time includes: making lists of potential names for said fleet.
My journey with polymer clay started when Miché Fambro, my beloved musician father passed. I inherited (musician kids will understand) $500 bucks and his immense record collection. I used the $500 for a bed in the back office for my Mom to come over and stay the night whenever she wanted.
I couldn’t listen to Dad’s music, but I found that I could listen to the records, and it was a nice way to bond with Dad from afar. I would listen to an album while playing with clay. He introduced me to the deep tracks of Sonny Rollins, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, Johnny Guitar Watson, so much Frank Sinatra I can’t count, underground punk of the 80s, so much classical, etc etc etc etc.
Listening to these albums, and every time working with clay while I did - I got pretty good by record #43, really good by #67 and by the time I got to #103, I had so many freakin’ earrings I had to figure out what the hell to do with them. So, I decided to pick up the ol’ family trade and sign up for a festival.
I couldn’t believe it - people actually were buying them. Things I made with my own hands! To wear on their body!
They kept buying, I kept making, and now it seems I have a little business called Jazz House.
I like to showcase jazz history, artists and educate folks on the masterminds of yesteryear. I hope you’ll join our Instagram community and follow the jazz appreciation journey with all of us!