About Us

The Biz...

Andris Cowboy Expressions to Mandy Andris Silver

Silversmithing has been part of our family for over 20 years.   The last few years we have made big changes to our business and are loving the craft as much as we did years ago.  So who are we? In 2003 we officially started Andris Cowboy Expressions and both worked full time in the silver shop.  My husband, Tim, did all of the hand-engraving and I did most of the sawing (YUK!)  I drew many of the designs and we tag teamed most everything that went out the door. In 2006 opportunities arose and life changed for us.  The silver shop became more of a part-time job.  Then kids came along and I stepped away from the shop except for a few design projects here and there.  Insert several years, a job in the oil and gas business,  a successful photography business, and many other fun and exciting adventures and now we are back at it. Tim's part time for benefits job turned full time and does not give him much time home.  So tables have now turned and Tim has basically handed the business over to me therefore, I have changed the name to Mandy Andris Silver.  I am doing things a bit different and putting more of my flare into it.  The shop is still a part-time business for now, but I hope to use this website to share pieces I have available for purchase.   

 Life is good, God is great, and I am very blessed to be doing what I love!  

Thank you for stopping by!   -Mandy

We are located near Bluejacket, Oklahoma

The Artist...

A little introduction to who I am.  

Short version for those of you that hate rambling (good luck with that- get comfy): 

Welcome, my name is Mandy Andris,  I have loved design my whole life, I love the rural life but need the glamour of city once in a while-(not so much anymore :) ).  I am married to a wonderful, hard working man who got me into this biz. He supports me and deals with my madness.  We have 3 wonderful and perfect children. They never fight, they eat everything I cook, go to bed on time and do their own laundry (not really, but it sounds good right?). I also have a love of sarcasm. We homeschool so  I am one of those moms...  Not JUST a  homeschool mom though, I am the mom that strives for crazy and wants to keep my  kids guessing what I might do. If I see the opportunity to dress crazy and maybe embarrass them, DONE deal!  They love me, I love them, we both get a good laugh. Music!  Oh how I love music of all kinds!  My family gets to also experience me singing or possibly dancing regularly! This is a must when Journey comes on! Throw me a wooden spoon and lets rock!  For those taking notes, this is also a good method of embarrassment especially if you have teens.

And last but definitely not least,  I love the Lord!  He has blessed me with this wonderful life and has given me so much to be thankful for. He challenges me daily but I have to trust Him and His plans.  My friends, if you do not have a relationship with Jesus I highly encourage you to build one.  He will welcome you with open arms!

If you have survived this far you might as well read on and learn how well I really can ramble...

Long, rambling version: 

Bless you for reading on! As stated above, my name is Mandy Andris and I was blessed to grow up in rural,  America.  My family farmed and my grandfather ran cattle and raised horses. It was a life I have grown to appreciate the older I get. 

 I can't say I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, but as a youngster, I was often the interior designer for my brother and cousin's Hot Wheels city. Sharpie markers were a big requirement for this position but I also required the rights to drive the red Ferrari and orange Jeep, which were parked in the garage I designed on my square of refrigerator box.  Design and art have always been part of my life.  There is a long lineage of artists on my mother's side of the family.  She, herself, is a very talented artist, who pays attention to so much detail in her drawings and paintings.  I quickly learned,  along with my art teacher in school, that I did not inherit her patience or the same talent in that type of  art!  Design and layout is where my brain has found happiness over the years.  My art teacher, Mr. Smittle, gave us such insight to different areas of art and I so thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in his class.  He still amazes me with his talent and enthusiasm to this day!   When it came time to take the next leap after high school, it was him that suggested interior design or architecture.   It fit the bill and I went off to Kansas State University.  Go Wildcats!  I loved the design classes and learned so many things that I have used throughout the years of silversmithing and design.

 I wish I could tell you I finished with a degree in architecture, but then again I wouldn't be rambling on here to see how far you would read... :)       During that time, I met this ruggedly handsome cowboy (he will kill me for writing that) who swept me off my feet.  After graduation, my plans of staying north changed to moving south.  This Kansas farm girl turned Okie.  There are many signs and symptoms of turning Okie.  My vocabulary now includes "fir", "fixin", and many other words I cringe when they fly out of my mouth. We tend to draw things out and one word blends into another.  This is not ideal when you try to homeschool your kids.  For instance,  my middle child explained to me after using the word "dived" that "it's okay mom, they know I am from Oklahoma".  (insert face slap-myself not him)  You see, I did you a favor there, I skipped several years of early marriage and various jobs to homeschooling.   Back to where I was,  we homeschool.  I never dreamed I would be the stay at home mom that homeschools.  We tried public school but it wasn't a good fit for us.  We were introduced to the classical method of education and absolutely love it.  My dreams of a corner office years ago changed and I am thankful they did.  I get to spend the days interacting with and teaching my kids, then off to the shop I go.    

  I have grown to realize how much I love God's creations all around us.  I love living "in the middle of nowhere" and seeing cattle through my windows.  So I will wrap things up there.  We are just a family doing what we need to do.  The silver biz flows with our homeschool days.  

I have tried to add humor to all of this and I do have a degree in rambling,  but I thank you for visiting my website and taking the time to get to know a little about me.  I do have a very full plate, I try to be in my shop as much as I can but life is busy.  Homeschooling, church, and family time take up a lot of time.  I appreciate each one of you and your patience as I get this website going!

God bless,

Mandy