Jewelry Classes
Jewelry Making Videos
and fine jewelry gallery


2007 jewelry class schedule

Class descriptions follow schedule
Class Dates Times Price
Introduction to Metalsmithing:
Metals A
Saturday-Sunday
January 20 and 21 or
May 19 and 20
10:00 am to 5:00 pm $290.00
plus 25.00 materials fee
Introduction to Metalsmithing:
Metals B
Saturday-Sunday
March 24 and 25
10:00 am to 5:00 pm $290.00
plus 25.00 materials fee
Introduction to Metalsmithing:
Metals C
Saturday-Sunday
February 24-25
10:00 am to 5:00 pm $290.00
plus 25.00 materials fee
Introduction to Wax Carving:
Wax A
Saturday-Sunday
June 23 and 24
10:00 am to 5:00 pm 290.00
plus 25.00 materials fee
Introduction to Wax Carving:
Wax B
Saturday-Sunday
March 3 and 4
10:00 am to 5:00 pm $290.00
plus 25.00 materials fee
Introduction to Wax Carving:
Wax C
Saturday-Sunday
April 21and 22
10:00 am to 5:00 pm 290.00
plus 25.00 materials fee
Introduction to Soft Wax morning workshop
Sunday, February 17,
Sunday, April 1or
Sunday, May 6
10:00 am to 12:00 pm 70.00
(includes one casting)
Soft Wax Workshop:
Soft Wax A
one Sunday
April 1
10:00 am to 5:00 pm 185.00
(includes two castings)
Soft Wax Workshop:
Soft Wax B
one Sunday
February 17 or May 6
10:00 am to 5:00 pm 185.00
(includes two castings)
Intro to Enamel one Sunday
June 3
10:00 am to 5:00 pm 170.00
(includes materials)
Precious Metal Clay:
Introduction to PMC
Thursday evening
March 22
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm 170.00
(includes 28 gr. pmc)
Precious Metal Clay:
PMC for Enamel
one Saturday
June 2
10:00 am to 5:00 pm 190.00
(includes 28 gr. pmc)
Charms evening class
Thursday, April 19
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm 170.00
(includes four castings)

Creative Wirework

evening class
coming soon
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm 145.00
Polishing, Finishing, and Textures No workshop scheduled;
available in Tutoring
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm 170.00
Market Your Jewelry evening workshop
coming soon
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm 125.00
Stone Setting Workshop:
Bezel Setting Cab Stones
No workshop scheduled;
available in Tutoring
Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm 190.00
(includes materials)
Stone Setting Workshop:
Bezel Setting Faceted Stones
No workshop scheduled;
available in Tutoring
Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm 190.00
(includes materials)
Other Stone Setting Techniques:
Flush/Bead Setting
Channel Setting
Pavé
No workshop scheduled;
available in Tutoring
Thursday 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm 170.00
(includes materials)
Tutoring ongoing 3 hour sessions
Wednesdays 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Thursdays 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Saturdays (without class) 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
40.00 per hour
scheduled with 2-5 students


Class Descriptions
photo of a ring being soldered Introduction to
Metalsmithing
Pierce, solder, hammer, polish... the three 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, soldering, and polishing a pendant, adding jump rings, and simple chainmaking. 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 premanufactured bezels. 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.
photo of a wax carving project 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 any precious metal. We offer three 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. 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)
photo Introduction to
Soft Wax
(two hours)
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 a two-hour introduction to soft sculpting wax in it’s various forms where students create a pendant using simple tools and techniques. The full six hour workshop will continue to explore more complex applications; creating a setting for a faceted stone in class A, and creating a setting for a cab in Class B. The class fee includes having your pieces cast into sterling silver.
photo of a silver clay project

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. The morning will cover basic techniques of working with the clay, a sculpy “practice session” to formulate a design, and creating 2 pieces that will fire during the lunch break. The afternoon will feature basic finishing and creating additional designs using a small faceted stone. Includes tips on using PMC to create pieces for use in our enameling class.

PMC for Enamel

Because Precious Metal Clay fires to 99.9% pure silver, it is especially well suited to createing designs for glass enamelling. 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 particular suited to the enamelling process. This is a Saturday class, followed on Sunday by Introduction to Enamel with guest instructor Cathie Bagwell. We encourage you to take both classes and see how well these materials can work together!
photo of wirewrapped earrings 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 earwires, and a streamlined technique for one of todays hottest items- chandelier earrings.
  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 copper and fine silver "blanks" will be provided for your designs, and students who participate in the PMC for Enamel class are encouraged to bring their fired PMC pieces to this class.
  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.
  Market Your Jewelry You’ve developed a line of fabulous designs...now what? This evening workshop will provide valuable insight and practical approaches to getting your jewelry into shops and galleries.
Come ready to participate!
  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.
  Stone Setting Workshops
These evening or Sunday workshops are scheduled at various times throughout the year. Topics include:

Bezels for faceted stones
Bead
Flush and Gypsy
Pavé
Channel

Prongs When no workshops are scheduled, students are encouraged to pursue their stone setting skills through small group tutoring.
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