All That Glitters: Adding Sparkle with Tiny Diamonds

Course Description

About this course

It doesn’t have to be big to be BLING!  Small diamonds are an affordable way to add sparkle – and value – to your designs, and in this live, virtual workshop students will join master jeweler Kristin Mitsu Shiga to learn flush setting (aka “gypsy setting”) and easy tube setting for production. 

We’ll begin by creating our own custom tools specifically for these unique setting styles. Demonstrations and practice will utilize CZs, but the techniques covered can be used with any hard, round, faceted stones, including natural or synthetic diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. Beginning and advanced students can expect to pick up additional tips in this fun, fast-paced workshop, including alternative methods for holding your pieces and the proper preparation and use of rubberized abrasives in the jewelry studio.     

This course will consist of two sessions. There will be a no-class day between each session.

Class will be held live via Zoom during the designated time frame. A link to the Zoom room will be sent via email. 

Each session will be recorded and you will receive a password protected link to the recordings that expire after 30 days.

Please read the Materials & Tools tab! 

Meet the Instructor

Kristin Mitsu Shiga

Kristin Mitsu Shiga is a metalsmith and educator who has been tinkering together her life in the arts since 1991. In addition to showing internationally, her work is featured in numerous publications, including Art Jewelry Today, The Art of Enameling and several of Lark Books' "500" series.  From a long line of teachers, Kristin has build thriving metals programs in New York, Oregon, and in her current home on the Big Island of Hawai’i. You can learn more about Kristin’s work as a maker from her segment on Oregon Artbeat or on her studio’s retail website at okinajewelry.com.

Materials & Tools 

Kristin has arranged for the following items to be included in a $71 materials kit through West Coast Findings in Portland, Oregon - kit price includes tax and priority mail shipping. Unless you already own most of the items on the list, the kit is highly recommended, as you cannot order in the small quantities reflected below through other vendors.

To order, contact john@westcoastfindings.com or 503-227-4401. Ask for "Kristin Shiga's Metalwerx Workshop Kit."

  • 5 x 7/8" Damascus Separating Discs
  • 1 x 7/8" Dedeco Blue Polyurethane Square Edge wheel
  • 1 x 7/8" Dedeco Miracle Gold Square Edge wheel
  • 1 x 7/8" Dedeco White Flexie Square Edge wheel
  • 1 x 7/8" mounted hard felt square edge buff
  • 1 x 3/16" Heatless Aluminum Oxide Wheel
  • 3 x 3/32" reinforced screw mandrel
  • 1 x 3/32" reinforced wide top screw mandrel
  • 1 x 3/32" reinforced long screw mandrel
  • 1 x 1.5mm Uniform Shank Drill
  • 1 x 2.5mm Ball Bur
  • 1 x 2.5mm Setting Bur
  • 12 x 2.5mm Round Clear CZs
  • 3" x 3mm OD Heavy Wall Sterling Round Tubing
  • 3" x 5mm x 2mm Sterling Flat Sizing Wire
  • 6" x Sticky Wax
  • 1/2 bar x Dialux Gray Rouge
  • 1 x Prong Pusher
  • 1 x French Tool Holder with Bulb Handle & 3/32" collet
  • 1 x Dressing Stone
Students should bring 

In addition to the above items, you will need to have the following items available: 

The following items are optional:

Optional torch setup may utilize similar items as below - suggestions linked in red: 

  • 1 x fireproof torch area - steel baking sheet will work (Amazon)
  • 1 x Solderite™ pad or fire bricks (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x compressed charcoal block (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x #0 or #1 torch tip or similar may be useful (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x titanium soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x tungsten soldering pick (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x silver solder (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)
  • 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
  • pickle - for non-ferrous metals (Rio Grande)
  • crock pot or tempered glass container with lid - for pickle (Amazon)
  • tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing
  • small brush - for flux
  • Virtual Course

Tuition

$150.00

Instructor

Kristin Mitsu Shiga

Dates

January 19 -21, 2021

Time

4:00 PM -6:00 PM

Length

2 days

Level 
Basic and above
  • Jewelry 1 skills required

No Class Dates

January 20

Location 
Virtual - Eastern Time Zone
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