Students will learn techniques and use of tools for creating their own jewelry with detailed step by step demonstrations, followed by lots of hands-on practice time. Skills covered will include: sawing, filing, drilling, doming, forging, forming, surface textures,soldering, and bezel set stones. This fun and interactive class will include a forged bracelet, a textured pendant and a ring with a cabochon stone setting.

 This class is for beginners with little or no experience.  A student must complete the Foundations 1 class session before being considered for advancement to Foundations II and Intermediate classes.

Intermediate students will be given the opportunity to work on projects to accommodate the  individual. The emphasis will be on developing skills that lead to new knowledge that can be developed into more complex understanding of metalsmithing.

Students must take the Foundation class and have a recommendation from instructor to advance to intermediate.

Intermediate/Advanced students will work on individual projects with an emphasis on technical problem solving and mastering new skills. Students advance at their own pace, instruction is individualized as you progress to more complex design and construction techniques. Ongoing processes taught are advanced soldering skills, marriage of metals, Hydraulic press, granulation, hollow construction, advanced stone setting design and product development.

In this class students will learn the techniques of jewelry wax carving including traditional carving methods for rings, earrings and pendants.  New students will begin with structured projects. Returning students are welcome to continue working on design development, or on their individual projects.  Separate workshops will be available for students wishing to cast their own pieces, or students can take their waxes to a local casting house to have them turned into finished pieces.

IteIn this class, students will continue to explore more advanced wax carving techniques and using the lost wax investment method, learn to take their finished wax models and cast their projects in gold/silver/bronze.  Finishing techniques for completed castings will also be taught.

Students should have a foundation of wax carving and metal fabrication, including the beginning wax carving class, as well as a beginning fabrication class.  

Students need to have permission from the instructor

Discover the ancient art of cloisonné enameling, where delicate metal wires (typically fine silver or gold) form intricate cells that are filled with vibrant powdered glass. Fired in a kiln, these create stunning, colorful, and durable artworks that glow with light—perfect for jewelry, pendants, earrings and brooches

Students will discover the magic of silver metal clay a revolutionary material made of fine silver particles suspended in a non-toxic binder. Shape it like ordinary clay, then fire it in a kiln or with a handheld kitchen torch to burn away the binder, leaving behind pure .999 fine silver pieces that can be polished to a brilliant shine.

These classes are designed for both the novice and the experienced beader, progressing from a basic string of beads to complex designs with a focus on color and composition. A variety of stitches are demonstrated and practiced such as peyote and other popular styles. Bead embroidery may be covered, depending on student interest.

For new students, instructions are provided so you can practice and work on your projects at home between classes allowing for a new project to be introduced and started each week. Experienced beaders can work on independent projects with guidance provided by an expert instructor.