-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
Jewelry 1
Are you a jewelry lover ready to break into making your own shining jewels?! This weekly class will introduce you to the fundamental metalsmithing skills you will need to let your creativity flow. Course curriculum will cover foundational level skill sets and techniques needed to get started, use of specialized tools and supplies, and will allow you to solidify your ideas through models and drawings, all while letting your hands get nice and dirty! Students will learn to saw and pierce metal, how to accurately and properly use varying files to efficiently remove stock, make cold connections such as rivets, basic soldering, and finishing techniques. Basic stone setting will also be introduced via bezel-set cabochon stones.
Materials will include various types of non-ferrous (non-iron baring) metal and numerous other jewelry-specific supplies. The course will focus on making samples as well as finished pieces such as pendants and rings. No experience is required for this beginner course, and students with some experience are also welcome to attend if they need help finishing pieces or reviewing and practicing basic techniques.
Due to popular demand, we have added this additional Jewelry 1 class to our Fall 2024 Weekly Class schedule. Registration for this class closes on Friday, October 4.
Meet the instructor
Cristina Hurley was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was strongly influenced by art and culture beginning at an early age by her parents, who were classical musicians. She was first introduced to metalsmithing when she attended a class in her senior year of high school. The instructor took Cristina on as an apprentice, which she did for 2 years. Cristina also attended Escuela de Artes Plasticas de San Juan during her apprenticeship, a visual arts university located in the heart of the old city in Puerto Rico. She successfully completed her freshman year there. When her mentor saw a strong natural talent, she suggested Cristina try to attend Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI. Cristina took the suggestion to apply, got accepted and made the big leap to move to New England in 1993. She graduated from the Jewelry Department there in 1996. After graduation she moved to New York and worked for a prestigious goldsmithing company, Reinstein/Ross, for six years, where she refined her technical skills making one of a kind pieces in high karat gold, platinum, and precious stones.
Cristina Moved to Massachusetts in 2002 with her family. She worked for various Jewelry companies and then had her own retail store in her hometown from 2010 to 2015. She currently works from her home studio designing and fabricating her own collection of sterling silver jewelry. She also works indepentantly for other various jewelry designers, assisting them in making one of a kind pieces and hand fabricated collections.
Cristina has been making jewelry for 25 years and continues to explore and refine her technique. She currently sells her collection of jewelry online and in stores around New England.
Materials & Tools
There is a $75 materials fee for this class that is payable upon registration. The materials kit includes 3"x6" copper and brass sheet metal, copper wire, 3"x2" sterling silver sheet (20g), sterling silver wire (16g), fine silver bezel strip (5mm), drill bits, heavy wall sterling silver tubing, cabochon and CZ gemstones, slotted mandrel, and other various tools needed to complete projects.
- closed-toe shoes - required for all Metalwerx classes
- apron
- any hand tools you already own
- a box to keep your materials and in-progress projects in
- notebook / pen or pencil
- any tools they already like to use