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    Lawton.three rings with stones
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    Lawton.cab pendant
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    Lawton.three rings with cabs

Jewelry 1

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 one-of-a-kind, handcrafted jewelry!

Over the semester, students will learn to cut through metal with a jeweler's saw, pierce out shapes, solder (connect) and anneal (soften) metal with a torch, texture surfaces with hammers, roller print a pattern onto metal, and bezel-set cabochon stones. Time will be spent practicing on sample pieces, as well as applying these skills to making a textured ring and a pendant with a set stone.

Meet the instructor

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Diane received her BFA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1983. She has continued to expand her skills and artistic horizons at her studio in Woburn, Massachusetts. She has also taken advanced jewelry and silversmithing classes at the DeCordova Museum School, Metalwerx and Haystack School of Craft. Diane has been an instructor at Metalwerx for more than 25 years. Some of her favorite techniques include forming, raising, roller printing, hot twisting, hydraulic press, and soldering appliqué.

 

Materials & Tools

The $65 materials fee for this workshop that is payable upon registration. The materials kit includes sheet metal of multiple gauges in copper, brass, and sterling silver, sterling silver wire, fine silver bezel wire, cabochon stone, and other basic supplies needed to complete projects. 

Students should bring

All items below should be available at a local hardware store. If you can't find something, don't worry. We can discuss the items on this list further at the first class. Metalwerx does have many of these items for communal use, but recommends you bring your own if you are able or do not wish to wait for them to become available during class.

  • closed-toe shoes - required for all Metalwerx classes

  • sanding sticks (paint stirring sticks are perfect)

  • small hand towel

  • tool box (shoe box, plastic tackle box, etc.)

  • old tooth brush (for cleaning)

  • metal metric ruler (150mm)

  • needle file set (small files usually sold in 5 - 8 file sets)

  • ultra fine-point Sharpie permanent marker

  • 8-inch long mill bastard file

  • small ball peen hammer (used and beat up is OK!)

  • safety glasses

  • sketchbook, pen and pencil for design ideas and taking notes

 

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