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Pearl Carving
Discover the innovative new art of carving freshwater pearls! This three-day class offers students the chance to learn pearl carving techniques by using dental-grade diamond drill bits with the flexshaft. Students will complete five to eight pearl carving projects including geometric and freeform designs. Students will create simple soldered mountings out of sterling silver wire and casting shot to make finished pieces. Students for this course must have beginning silversmithing skills and experience operating a flexible shaft and hand piece.
Meet the instructor
Lehndorff has been a silversmith for eight years, first learning the craft in the Colorado Rockies. She also hunts and cuts local gemstone materials. The pearl carving class is an extension of a step-by-step article she wrote for the national magazine, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. She is a native of Ann Arbor and a former Denver design reporter in association with HGTV.
Materials & Tools
There is a $100 materials fee for this course payable to the instructor. The kit includes 10 freshwater pearls, sterling silver ball chain and clasp, sterling silver wire and casting grain, an illustrated set of instructions and notes, as well as various flex-shaft attachments and materials to complete the projects.
Metalwerx has the following items to share, but students are encouraged to bring their own if they have them:
- Optivisor and/or safety glasses
- Pliers
- Cutters
- Files
- Soldering pick