Jewelry   

In this three-hour class, students will create 2 pairs of earrings and ear wires.  Instruction will focus on accurate measurement and cutting, drilling holes in metal, finishing edges to a smooth surface.  In addition, students will learn how to make their own matching ear wires.  
Introduction to Tools: Students will learn to use basic metals smithing tools: various hammers and their purposes, Dividers, Files, Drills, Flex shaft, Shears, Stamps and Dapping block. Materials for your earrings: Sterling silver sheet, 20-gauge sterling silver wire, beads & ball pins. 

Making your earrings: Students will learn how to use measuring tools to easily mark their metal for cutting matching shapes and for accurate drilling. Various methods to add texture to metal will be demonstrated. How to finish and polish your final product with all be taught. A variety of beads in metal, glass, crystal or pearls will be available to embellish students' creation. Note: There is a $25 materials fee payable to the instructor the day of class.

Students will explore various aspects of traditional jewelry making: Sawing, filing, sanding, forging, surface design as well as various methods of joining layers of metals or objects to create various forms of jewelry. Create pendants, pins, rings, bracelets or earrings. Use you imagination to design it and  learn the skills to make it.   In addition, instruction will emphasize safe working habits.  

Traditional jewelers use many tools in the creation of their finished pieces:  Jewelers' saws,  torches, files and abrasives, hammers, drills, flex shafts, mandrels, pliers, etc.  Students in this class will have the opportunity to learn the correct usage of many of these tools while creating one or more pieces of jewelry or objects.  Everything that will be made will be joined without heat or solder by Cold Connections. 

Cold-Connections refers to mechanical ways to attach two materials together without the use of heat or solder.  Learn how to use metal tabs, washers or wires to hold a stone or other object or explore the use of wires or tubes to rivet objects together!   Cold connections allow you to incorporate leather, plastic, shells, stones, glass or found objects into your jewelry.  Many of these materials are temperature sensitive and would be precluded from inclusion in traditional jewelry.

In this introductory class, make a beautiful spinner ring of Sterling Silver. Explore some basic hand fabrication techniques such as soldering, texturing with hammers, sawing, disc cutting, forming with dapping block, filing, sanding and polishing. Materials fee includes enough silver to complete 1 ring with 1-3 spinning rings. Please wear cotton clothing (no flowing sleeves or loose clothing), closed toe shoes and remember long hair must be tied back. Open to all skill levels. New students welcome. Since two of the 3 days are from 9-4, there will be time off for lunch and some breaks built into the day. Feel free to bring a bag lunch, drinks and/or snacks.

Note: There is a $40 supply fee payable to the instructor the first day of class. Supplies: A small ruler, and a magnifying visor is helpful. Contact the instructor several weeks prior to the start of class, if you want recommendations on a visor/magnifier and to establish a student discount at a Jewelry Supply company. This student account will be good for six (6) months of Pro discounts from Rio Grande Jewelry Supply Company and will cover tools, raw materials, stones, etc.

In this 2-day workshop, students will create beautiful pieces of jewelry in amazing colors using electricity and an ionic bath. This process can easily be accomplished at home by students after class. Niobium is a reactive metal which allows you to create a beautiful oxide layer on its surface creating a rainbow of colors. It can be formed and shaped using simple tools. It is Hypoallergenic and is a perfect material for anyone who has metal sensitivities. Each student will be furnished with enough material to create several pairs of earrings or 1-2 pendants. Students should bring 10 (ten) 9-V batteries. These will be necessary for the anodizing process. Instructor will provide all other supplies and materials for a $25 materials fee.

Day One: Conceptualize then form and finish each piece. This is when the surfaces will be texturized, edges filed and sanded, and dimension will be created. All finishing must be completed before anodizing. Day Two: Create all necessary findings and connections. Finally, using electricity, anodize your pieces in the colors you choose.