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    Edwin
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Soldering Intensive

In this course, students will concentrate on and hone their soldering skills. Numerous soldering techniques will be practiced intensively while working towards building up samples with varying degrees of joinery, intricacy, and methodology. Copper, brass, and sterling silver properties will all be discussed and utilized extensively. Working in gold, which is optional for this course, will also be discussed. Gold material, including solder, must be provided by the student.

This class will focus heavily on techniques and samples, with the objective of building up high levels of soldering proficiency as the instructor leads students with industry level expertise. Wearable pieces of jewelry may be worked on throughout the course, when time permits. Feel more confident at the torch while elevating your soldering aptitude, through this intensive weekly class. 

Meet the instructor

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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 $120 materials fee for this class that is payable upon registration. The materials kit includes large sheets of copper and brass, access to copper and brass wire, large sheet of sterling silver, multiple gauges of sterling silver wire, and several feet of solder in easy, medium, and hard.

Students should bring
  • writing utensil and notebook
  • 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
 

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