- Please note: classes are subject to change or cancellation
- Our classes are limited to 9 students
- All tools and materials will be provided
NEW SCHEDULE! DECEMBER 2009 THROUGH JUNE 2010
Online registration is open; or call 310-581-4844 to register.
Use the "register now" link to sign up online.
View Classes on a calendar (opens on a new page) Class descriptions follow list
| Class | Dates | Times | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Metalsmithing: Metals A |
Saturday-Sunday April 17 and 18 |
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $290.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Introduction to Metalsmithing: Metals B |
Saturday-Sunday January 23 and 24 |
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $290.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Introduction to Metalsmithing: Metals C |
Saturday-Sunday May 22 and 23 |
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $290.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Introduction to Metalsmithing: Metals D |
Saturday-Sunday March 6 and 7 |
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $290.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Precision Wax Carving for Precious Metal: Wax A |
Saturday-Sunday |
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | 290.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Precision Wax Carving for Precious Metal: Wax B |
Saturday-Sunday February 20 and 21 |
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | 290.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Precision Wax Carving for Precious Metal: Wax C |
Saturday-Sunday |
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | 290.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Precision Wax Carving for Precious Metal: Wax D |
Saturday-Sunday March 20 and 21 |
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | 290.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
Easy Wax Designs for Precious Metal: |
TBA |
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | 190.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Easy Wax Designs for Precious Metal: Soft Wax B |
Sunday, February 7 | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | 190.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Easy Wax Designs for Precious Metal: Soft Wax C |
Sunday, April 25 | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | 190.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Evening Wax Workshop: Prong Settings |
Faceted Stones: TBA Cabochon Stones: TBA |
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 25.00 materials fee register now |
| New Class! Evening Metals Workshop Step Soldering |
Intermediate: Tuesday, April 20 Advanced: Tuesday, June 8 |
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 25.00 materials fee register now |
| New Class! Evening Metals Workshop Fabricated Earrings |
TBA | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 25.00 materials fee register now |
| Evening Wax Workshop: Prong Settings for Cabochon Stones |
TBA | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 25.00 materials fee register now |
| Evening Wax Workshop: Easy Earrings or Cufflinks* |
Tuesday, March 23 | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 25.00 materials fee register now(*Additional 25.00 materials fee for cuff links) |
| New Class! Precious Metal Clay: Easy Gifts in PMC |
TBA | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 50.00 materials fee (includes 28 gr. pmc) register now |
| Torch Enameling previous soldering experience required |
Tuesday, April 13 | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 25.00 materials fee register now |
| Riveting and Cold Connections: How To Connect Metal Without Soldering |
Tuesday, June 22 |
6:00 pm to 10:00 on |
170.00 plus 25.00 materials fee register now |
| Cuffs and Textures |
Tuesday, February 9 | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 50.00 materials fee register now |
| Precious Metal Clay: Introduction to PMC |
TBA | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 50.00 materials fee (includes 28 gr. pmc) register now |
| Practical Gemology |
Saturday, May 15 | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (1 hour break) | 175.00 register now |
Stone Setting: |
Prong Setting: Bezel Setting: |
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 25.00 materials fee register now |
Stone Setting: |
Bead Setting: Flush Setting: |
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 25.00 materials fee register now |
| Charms | Tuesday, January 19 | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 170.00 plus 25.00 materials fee (includes four castings) register now |
| Tutoring | ongoing 3 hour sessions |
Wednesdays
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm |
50.00 per hour scheduled with 2-5 students Please call 310-581-4844 to schedule |
| Semi-private and Private instruction |
Minumum 2 hour session | By appointment as available | Semi-private (2 people): 80.00 per hour Private (1 person): 100.00 per hour Please call 310-581-4844 to schedule |
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Introduction to Metalsmithing |
Pierce, solder, hammer, polish... the four class sections of this technique
based series will introduce you to all the basic concepts of working
in metal. Metals A will introduce you to piercing, sweat soldering, working with metals of different colors, various polishing techniques, and soldering a jump ring on to a pendant. Metals B features different projects using basic techniques, and includes making and embellishing a band, fabricating a series of "stackable" wire rings, and piercing a pair of "mirror image" earrings. Metals C focuses on bezel setting; projects include fabricating a bezel for a ring and a pendant, as well as exploring the use of pre manufactured bezels. Metals D offers an introduction to chain making, including a handmade clasp. Students will create a charm bracelet with pierced and stamped charms. The classes are designed to be completely independent and require no prior experience; students may take sections in any order, and are free to repeat the classes that are of particular interest to them at a discounted price. |
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Introduction to Wax Carving |
Did you know that most of the jewelry that you see started out as a
piece of wax? Lost
wax casting utilizes special jeweler’s waxes
to create a design, which can then be cast into gold, silver, or platinum.
From the first metal piece, a mold can be made to reproduce a few or
a few hundred more. We offer four sections of wax carving classes,
each one suitable for beginners; students should feel free to start
with any section. Wax A teaches basic techniques used to pierce, shape, and hollow, and includes a “stack” ring project carved from round wax tube. Students will also be introduced to using a wax pen for "build up" techniques. Wax B introduces a layered pendant and mirror image earrings, with the focus on build up and hollowing. Wax C explores the use of D shaped wax tube to create a "D-Blank", which will be continued to other ring designs. Students will also experiment with engraving and texturing techniques using cold carvers and the wax pen. Wax D will take students from a pre-made D-Blank to a gypsy ring for a faceted stone. This class does not include creating the actual D-Blank, which is covered in Wax C. Classes are completely independent and may be taken in any order; many students choose to repeat the sections that are of particular interest in their work. (This class does not include casting) |
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Soft Wax Workshop (six hours) |
Would you like to make “instant” jewelry? Then the incredibly
user friendly soft wax is for you. These workshops start with an
introduction to soft sculpting wax in it’s various forms, where
students create a pendant or ring using simple tools and techniques.
We continue the day exploring more complex applications: Soft Wax A includes a sculpted wax pendant and faceted stone ring. Soft Wax B includes a flat wax pendant and a cabochon stone ring. Soft Wax C includes a cap for a stone or crystal and a wax wire ring. The class fee includes having 2 of your pieces lost wax cast into sterling silver, pre-polished, and having one stone set for you. Alternatively, students may choose to learn to polish the piece and set the stone themselves in three hour tutoring sessions. (Pieces may be cast in gold or platinum for an additional charge.) A two hour version of this class is available for those looking to just "get their feet wet" in these techniques. The short class features an intro to the materials and the creation of a simple pendant design, which will be cast into sterling silver. |
Cold Connections |
We love playing with fire. But we also realize that not everyone can or should be lighting up a torch in their home or studio. Or maybe you found that perfect color of plexiglass and you're just dying to make it into jewelry. There's a whole host of scenarios where you need to connect two pieces and you need an answer that won't toast your components; join us for a class that explores "cold connections" and promises to be truly riveting!
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Torch Enameling |
Yeah, we know. EVERYONE wants to learn enameling. That is, until they actually LEARN enameling and how many hours in front of a hot kiln it takes to create that masterpiece.
Peter's solution? Hit it with a torch and see what happens. Torch enameling has it's limitations, but also offers a fast, fun way to incorporate this ancient art into your pieces. If your creativity is greater than your attention span, this class is for you!
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Cuff Bracelets and Textures | How many times have we heard it? "I saw this great gold cuff at Barney's and it was a kajillion dollars." There are good reasons for that...but it doesn't mean you have to sell the farm to get one. This class will introduce you to the basics of creating a cuff bracelet and utilizing a variety of metal textures to make it really interesting. Where you go from there is totally up to you... |
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| Charms | This fun evening workshop uses wax techniques to create a variety of
small charms, limited only by your imagination. Use these to start a line,
create a special gift, or jazz up your beaded designs. The class fee includes
casting 4 of your designs in sterling silver.
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| Stone Setting Workshops: |
Stone setting is an art unto itself, one that experts spend years of their
lives perfecting. But if you're willing to practice, these introductory
workshops will have you well on your way to setting a variety of accent
stones in your own designs. |
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Precious Metal Clay |
Introduction to PMC
PMC is a space age compound of organic binders infused with particles of pure silver, that fuses into solid metal when fired in a kiln. This workshop will cover basic techniques of working with the clay, a sculpy “practice session” to formulate a design, and creating a variety of pieces from the 28 grams of PMC provided. Students will have a chance to participate in firing at least one of their pieces, as well as learn techniques for incorporating a small faceted stone. PMC for Enamel Because Precious Metal Clay fires to 99.9% pure silver, it is especially well suited to creating designs for glass enameling. PMC for Enamel is a special version of our introductory class; students will learn basic techniques, as well as have the option to explore ideas for designs that are particularly suited to the enameling process. |
| Polishing, Finishing, and Textures | This 4 hour workshop teaches all the steps to take a raw casting or
fabrication to a professional finish. Techniques include removing sprues,
filing and sanding, hammer and satin finishes, antiquing, and more.
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| Practical Gemology | Everyone knows that gemstones add beauty and value to your creations. But how do
you know what questions to ask when purchasing stones or beads? This informative
one day seminar will walk you through the basic factors that can help you determine
which gems are best suited to your designs and your budget. Students will have the
opportunity to examine a variety of beautiful stones using both a microscope and a 10X
loupe. Topics will include rarity, quality, durability, and common treatments, as well as
the 4 C's (Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight) of both diamonds and colored stones.
You won't leave a gemologist, but we promise you will be more comfortable with your
future design and purchasing decisions.
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Creative Wirework | Ready to bring your beaded jewelry to the next level?
This workshop offers fast, simple steps to professional wire wrapping,
earring designs, making your own ear wires, and a streamlined technique
for one of today's hottest items- chandelier earrings.
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| Soldering Workshop; Tips and Tricks |
Are you a fire person? Have you become master of the flame? If you are comfortable soldering metal but are ready for a bigger challenge, this class is for you. Join us as we explore the kind of soldering that makes most people sweat...with Peter's favorite tips and tricks to keep you cool. Feel free to bring your own "EXTREME Soldering Challenge" to the bench! |
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Silver Treasure Boxes |
A long time ago in the early days of Precious Metal Arts, a group of fledgling jewelers chanted "we want boxes". Well, it's been ten years, and 2007 inspired us to bring back one of the most charming and challenging of jewelry projects. Peter promises to make the complex simple, the obscure attainable, and that everyone will have a really good time. Oh, and you will actually make a box. |
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| Introduction to Enameling with guest instructor Cathie Bagwell |
Enameling is the art of fusing powdered glass to metal. In addition
to being beautiful, it can also be one of the most intimidating and
frustrating techniques to learn. But not on our watch! Join us for
this fast paced one day introduction as Cathie Bagwell demystifies
and simplifies basic enameling techniques like sifting, wet packing,
cloisonne, and successful firing. A broad range of enamel powders as
well as fine silver "blanks" will
be provided for your designs. Students who completed the PMC for Enamel class can use this opportunity to add some vibrant colors to their own designs. |