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    Wells.silver container with ring inside
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    Wells.silver contaner closed
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    Wells.silver container with ring outside
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    Wells.silver container with all parts detached
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    Wells.silver lidded containers
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    Wells.silver container with gold leaf inside

Friction & Bayonet Lids for Containers - Part 2

This weekly class will be part 2 of a 2-part series! Part 1 can be found by clicking HERE.

The bayonet is a perfect segue from the friction fit and it can be modified to fit into your jewelry work as a clasp as well! Working on a round pre-made container, copper tubing from the hardware store, we’ll go through the bayonet step by step so students can easily grasp the inner workings, whys, and hows behind the fabrication process for this slightly more advanced closure method. A smaller application of how the bayonet may be incorpoerate into jewelry will also be demonstrated. Remember- leftie loosie, rightie tightie. By the end of the course, students will have a lovely box to hold their jewelry keep sakes or other small treasures.

Meet the instructor

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Jennifer Wells is a studio artist and educator originally from the U.S but currently living in Italy. She holds an MFA, in Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design and has completed artist-in- residencies at: Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN, Pocosin Arts in Columbia, NC and the Jentel Foundation near Banner, WY. She has worked for several U.S based Craft Schools, in a variety of roles.

As an educator, Jennifer has taught for and been a visiting Artist at Universities throughout the U.S and for study abroad programs based in Italy. She serves on the Board of Vita Institute and teaches short workshops on various enameling and metalsmithing techniques throughout Europe and the U.S. In recent years she has curated multiple international exhibitions focused on jewelry and enameling.

Her works are in the collections of the Enamel Arts Foundation, Racine Museum, All Russian Museum of Decorative Arts, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Yale University Art Gallery, Crocker Art Museum and Private Collections.

Materials & Tools

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name to be redirected to a page where you can view the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is not required - observers are welcome.

 

Metal/raw materials (NOTE one 6"x6" is enough for roughly one conainer): 

  • 6"x6" x copper sheet - 20g (Rio Grande)

  • 1"x1" scrap piece of copper sheet 

  • 2 x copper end caps - 1/2" to 2" (Home Depot)

  • 3" x heavy wall sterling tubing - 2.5mm (Rio Grande)

  • 3" x sterling silver round wire - 16g (Rio Grande)

  • 2mm faceted or cabochon stones - optional

  • 2mm ball bur - optional

 

Torch setup:

 

Hand tools:

 

Other/miscellaneous items: 

  • hard work surface
  • fan and open window - or ventilation system
  • safety glasses 
  • pencil, Sharpie, notebook
  • rags/towels
 

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