| Jewelry Taster
Saturday Dec. 6th or Sunday Dec. 7th
10AM - 1PM or 2 - 5PM
If you’ve ever thought about working with fire, metal or glass but don’t want to spend a lot of time finding out if it’s for you, try our series of Holiday Taster Workshops. Structured for beginners twelve years and older, anyone can get a taste of creating with fire and light. These three-hour classes make great early holiday gifts for a do-it-yourselfer, or take a class together with family and friends to create hand-crafted gifts to give. Items you might learn to make in our different tasters are ornaments, bottle openers, trivets, sun catchers, bracelets, or candle holders.
Try two skills on the same day and get a deal! When you register for one morning and one afternoon Taster on the same day in separate disciplines, you’ll receive a $15 discount.
Other Skill Areas Available:
Blacksmithing, Glass Flameworking, Glass Fusing, MIG Welding, Resin Casting, and Sand Casting
Non-Members $80 - Members Pay $72.50
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Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (A)
Entry-level class
This introduction to jewelry making begins with the simple skills of sawing, filing, sanding, soldering, texturing, annealing, stamping, polishing, safety, and design; you’ll also learn the properties of metals like copper, brass, and silver. You’ll make a sterling silver ring as well as technical samples you can use for future reference and will gain hands-on experience with techniques that can be applied to almost any kind of project—large or small.
Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (B)
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (A)
This continuing course in jewelry making and the metal arts will further develop the skills you learned in Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (A). You will also learn new techniques, such as bezel setting, piercing, drilling, riveting, flexible shaft techniques, safety, and design. In addition to technical reference samples, you’ll be creating an original piece of jewelry of your own design.
Casting Wax to Silver Jewelry
Entry-level class
Learn the lost wax casting process, an age-old sculptural jewelry-casting process that involves creating a positive model out of wax, using that model to make a mold, then using the mold to cast a form in metal. You’ll carve, cast, and finish at least one pendant or ring in silver, and experiment with different types of wax and their working qualities as you learn the techniques and tools of this process. Bring a your sketches and ideas for jewelry.
Introduction to Rubber Mold Making for Jewelry
Entry-level class
Want to make multiple copies of your jewelry? With vulcanized rubber molds, you can make wax models for the reproduction of original jewelry. The class will explore the basics of two-part molds, including hot and cold molding methods. You will make at least one vulcanized silicone rubber mold. Bring at least two original small-scale metal pieces to reproduce.
Incorporating Found Objects into Your Jewelry
Entry-level class
Explore color, textures, fabrics, or a narrative by including found objects in your work. In this two-weekend class, you’ll learn how to connect objects with a variety of rivets, tabs, small screws and bolts, epoxies, and bezel settings. You will learn how to fabricate a variety of pin backs and hinges and how to work through design issues involving pre-existing materials. Bring objects and words that you would like to incorporate into a jewelry piece to the first class.
Exploration in Chainmaking
Entry-level class
This class teaches the classical skills needed to make woven and Etruscan chain. You’ll learn to manipulate wire through the selected use of hand tools, making jump rings, splicing wires together, and fusing jump rings shut. Your finished one-of-a-kind silver chain can accommodate an original pendant or be worn alone.
Bead Casting Weekend
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (A) or equivalent experience
Create cast metal beads of your own design. With history as your inspiration, you’ll make wax models using ancient and modern techniques to create hollow and semi-hollow bead shapes. These models will be cast and finished in silver and bronze. Bring your sketches, ideas, and natural objects for inspiration.
Introduction to Cast Resin & Silver Jewelry
Previous experience required
Prerequisite:At least one jewelry class
Easy-to-use, water-clear polyester resin is a versatile material that can mimic the characteristics of metal, glass, or stone and possesses many qualities that are lacking in its older counterparts. You’ll learn to make molds, mix and pour resin liquid, polish hardened resin, and create three unique pieces of jewelry that integrate silver with your completed resin pieces.
Continuing Techniques in Jewelry (A): Jewelry Fabrication
Previous experience required.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Jewelry (A) & (B)
This continuing class gives students hands on experience manipulating and embellishing metal while sharpening soldering and fabrication skills by working on personal projects. Box and hollow form structures will be strongly emphasized
Introduction to Kuem-Boo: Korean Metalsmithing
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Jewelry-making experience
Keum Boo is an ancient Korean metalsmithing technique used to apply 24-karat-gold foil to surfaces of silver and other precious metals. This simple decorative technique allows you to easily and inexpensively add rich gold color to your work. You will learn this technique step by step as you apply gold to a pillow pendant.
Making Your Own Jewelry Stamping Tools
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: At least one jewelry class
Learn the art, process, and science of hardening and tempering tool steel for making decorative stamps for jewelry. You will leave the weekend with at least one center punch and one decorative stamp–maybe more.
Home Jewelry Studio Design
Entry-level class
Create a work area in your home that is worthy of the projects you have in mind. This class covers torch selection and gas systems, ventilation and respiration requirements, plus safety and organization tips. On the first day of class, we’ll take a field trip to working studios to research equipment. During the second class, you’ll design and lay out your plans for a home workspace that will fit all of your jewelry production needs.
Gemology
Entry-level class
If you want to learn the all the critical steps to becoming a jeweler, this intensive class introduces you to gemology, gemstone properties, and testing methods. You will learn how to identify different types of gems and stones, and how to use testing equipment to identify unknown stones. Class discussion includes synthetics, imitations, treatments, and enhancements; bring in your favorite jewelry pieces or gems to discuss.
Introduction to Art Silver Clay
Entry-level class
Art silver clay is 99.9 percent fine silver combined with a nontoxic binder and water. Because it is clay, it can be molded, modeled, draped, rolled, carved, stamped, and adorned with other elements to make unique and creative jewelry. The process is much easier than jewelry casting or fabrication, and you’ll create finished works in a fraction of the time. In this workshop, you’ll make up to three pieces of jewelry.
Continuing Techniques in Art Silver Clay
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Introduction to Art Silver Clay
In this advanced workshop, you’ll make three pieces of jewelry, including a ring, earrings, and pendants. You’ll learn how to work with fused glass and metal clay, how to create a hollow pendant, and other techniques.
Lab: Jewelry
Taking a lab is a great way to practice and perfect the skills you learn in class. In labs, you can work on class assignments or your own projects. Lab time is supervised but does not include instruction, materials or specialized tools.
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Glass Beads (Glass)
Entry-level class
Learn how to make colorful glass beads from Effettre glass rods (a soft glass), using an oxy-propane torch. This class will teach you how to make a variety of bead shapes, to form and alter surface patterns, and to make stringers and twisters.
Continuing Techniques in Glass Beads (Glass)
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Glass Beads
Improve your bead making skills! This weekend class explores the many uses of individual techniques, such as dots, lines, twisters, raking, and encasing. We will choose up to four areas of concentration and devote two to three hours to each topic.
Introduction to Enameling (Enameling)
Entry-level class
This class provides you with an overview of the ancient art of fusing glass to metal. You'll learn about metal preparation and fabrication for enameling, kiln properties and methods for firing, properties of enamel, and dry and wet application techniques. As part of the learning process, you will create a one-of-a-kind enameled copper light switch cover. No previous jewelry making, enameling, or metalworking experience necessary.
Youth Jewelry (Youth)
Entry-level class
Ages 12 - 18
Using copper, silver, and other nonferrous metals, you’ll learn basic jewelry techniques and the science behind them. You will leave this class wearing a project of your own design.
Youth Jewelry/Polymer Clay Bracelets (Youth)
Entry-level class
This class is open to younger students, ages 8 - 12.
This class introduces children to the exciting possibilities of making art with polymer clay. Students will learn the basics of preparing, shaping, adding sparkles, and baking the clay. Students will make charms, attach them to bracelets, and leave wearing their self-made creations with pride.
Youth Jewelry/Wire Work (Youth)
Entry-level class
This class is open to younger students, ages 8 - 12.
This class shows youth how to use wire and beads to make fun and funky jewelry. Students learn the basics of wire working, including shaping, coiling, twisting, and linking. They also combine simple shapes creatively to create bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and earrings.
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