Create alluring surfaces and structures using woven metal techniques. This hands-on weekly class will introduce students to twining, braiding, weaving, knitting, and soumak weaving.

This weekly class presents students with the fundamentals of jewelry and metalsmithing skills. Among the many techniques we will cover, students will learn how to effectively shape, join, polish, texture, and patina metal. 

This introductory course focuses on developing fundamental hand skills, good studio habits, and an appreciation for quality craftsmanship. Students will learn essential fabrication techniques by designing and producing unique, handcrafted jewelry.

Forging is an ancient art of controlled hammering to change the shape of wire or thick sheet metal into certain shapes and patterns. Students will learn to transform wire into sculptural forms that can be used for jewelry, sculpture or holloware.

This wax working course will focus on introductory techniques used in creating wax models for jewelry and small metal ornamental pieces. Learn how to carve and sculpt a custom design, apply surface textures, and incorporate organic/natural elements to create a unique piece of jewelry. Student will being the class with carving and casting a ring (or two) in metal, then learning to sand and polish their work. Discover all the possibilities what you can create through wax carving and casting!

Take your jewelry skills to the next level! In Jewelry 2 you will perfect the skills you learned in Jewelry 1, and discover new techniques. Students can expect to make 3 main projects: tube set faceted earrings/ ring, an etching project, and make a hollow form such as a box with a lid/ or a hollow form ring.

In this three day workshop, students will explore the traditional techniques of fabricating basket settings and assembling them together to make a multi-stone necklace. Students will learn to create round basket settings, as well as learn how to fabricate basket settings for oval and pear shaped stones. In addition, we will cover how to attach chain to the pendant and make a few simple bails. Students will be taught proper hand positioning and bur control, how to cut the perfect seat, a variety of ways to shape the prong, and how to properly polish and finish the piece.  

 

This course is about pearls and all you need to know about nature's fantastic beauties — how to buy, care for, knot, and terminate the ends of necklaces — with pearl expert Mary Stachura.

In this class you will learn how to hold a stone using only wire and create a tear-dropped styled, silver pendant. We will be using a variety of wires and pliers to bend, tie, and form a pendant with a secure center stone. This will include learning different weaving, coil, and framing patterns. These are all cold-fusion techniques, no heat or glue involved, and no hammers necessary. These techniques can be applied to other areas of artistry to accentuate your work with wire. No previous experience required, but patience is a must! 

In this workshop students will explore the use of line to build three-dimensional forms. Using wire, simple design basics and soldering techniques we will create these forms. The class will look at different approaches to translating these components into wearable jewelry pieces such as earrings, rings and necklaces. The class will use Plasti-Dip to add color. Students should expect to take home a completed piece of jewelry or sample parts depending on the complexity of their design. All students with basic soldering skills are welcome.

Scale maille is an extension of chain maille.  Using jump rings, scales are woven together in a staggered pattern to form sheets with a surface that resembles fish scales.  Traditionally these sheets formed protective battle armor. Today, these sheets are often transformed into statement jewelry pieces such as cuffs and elaborate collars. 

Twisted wire elements have the potential to bring a lot to a piece of jewelry. Though the practice is deceptively simple at first glance (just get some square stock and twist it) there countless variations which, when applied, can fundamentally alter how the final product looks. In this workshop students will complete a series of samples utilize different methods and styles of twisting wire, leading to the creation of finished and wearable bangles, cuffs, and bracelets of their own design.

This one-day workshop shows students of any skill level how to make series of silver, stackable rings. Learn basic soldering, stone setting, texturing, and stamping to enhance each band for a one-of-a-kind look.

This introduction workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn the basics process of beginner small-scale one time use mold casting. Delft clay is a type of sand casting that allows you to make replicas of found objects or wax models. Unlike sand the delft clay is finer and more compactible making it a perfect reusable molding material that retains intricate details. During this workshop you will learn how to choose the right objects to cast, set up a successful mold, melt then pour molten bronze and silver as well as go through any trouble shooting if molds or pours fail.

This workshop will explore the potential of combining laser engraving with enameling on jewelry and small metal objects. Over the course of four days students will learn and apply basic and intermediate enameling techniques on copper. This includes metal prep, basic sifting, basic vocabulary, kiln use, limoges painting, press forming and alternative mark making. No enameling experience is required. After enameling students will mark the enamel using a laser engraver.

Learn how to integrate stone and metal as a whole, rather than as separate objects. Demonstrations include how to shape rough stones, drill through them, make perfect bezels for unique shapes, set stones on top of stones, add decorative rivets, and more.

Learn how to use files to add embellishments to their work through decorative filing techniques. In addition, we will explore this deceptively simple hand tool in depth, and students will learn about the various types of files out there, their applications, how they function, and how to use them to greater effect. This workshop is intended for students who have a basic understanding of the file and jewelry practices, and as such Jewelry 1 or equivalent are required to take this course.

The flexible shaft machine may be the most versatile tool at the bench, yet for many makers it’s also the most underutilized and least understood. Here’s your chance to gain a deeper understanding of this marvelous tool and expand your vocabulary of flexible shaft techniques and applications. 

The workshop will walk through introductory forging techniques to create a custom set of copper/silver chopsticks. We will practice how to taper, texture, and solder to create your personalized set of chopsticks to use at home. Time to heat up your metal and start hammering on the anvil. No experience necessary.

This Chain maille is a two thousand-year-old art form originally used to create garments worn for protection by warriors from Europe, the Middle East and the Orient. Modern approaches use these classical patterns of cold-connected jump rings for sculpture and jewelry. For these non-traditional applications, hundreds of new patterns have been invented.  Our chain maille classes and workshops teach students how to transform some of these classic patterns of connected rings into striking pieces of jewelry.

In this one-day workshop, students will learn a fun and fast way to make unique shaped links by soldering and forming them over shaped bezel mandrels. This workshop will help students fine tune their small-scale soldering techniques and will also show some quick, clean-ups tricks by using the flex shaft. Each student will come away with a handmade link necklace or pendant. For ambitious students who may finish early, there will be the opportunity to make a pair of earrings to match.

This one-day workshop shows students of any skill level how to make series of silver, stackable rings. Learn basic soldering, stone setting, texturing, and stamping to enhance each band for a one-of-a-kind look.

Low temperature brazing, (otherwise known as soldering) is one of the most important, fundamental, and at times tricky technique employed by the modern jeweler. In this workshop students will brush up on soldering techniques and learn strategies to hot join even the most perplexing solder joints.

If you are an experienced jeweler or metalsmith and have always wanted to explore the possibility of enameling, but weren't ready to take an intensive course, this workshop is the one you have been waiting for. Kelly will introduce students to both kiln-firing and torch-firing enamels, making this process completely accessible to anyone with a torch in their studio.

Discover the best ways to deal with customer relations, choose the right craft shows and galleries, speak about your work, and find a balance between making, marketing, and managing a business. This course is hands-on and fast paced with tons of handouts.

This course is about pearls and all you need to know about nature's fantastic beauties — how to buy, care for, knot, and terminate the ends of necklaces — with pearl expert Mary Stachura.