Autumn Class Schedule
October, November & December, 2009
Unique Settings for Faceted Stones and Found Objects New!
- Instructor: Jennifer Stenhouse
- Six Monday nights:
- October 5, 12, 19, 26, November 9, 16 (no class Nov 2)
- 6:30pm-9:30pm
- Class Fee: $225 | Materials list
Break out of the ordinary bezel and common stone setting! Learn to create unusual holding systems for cabochons, faceted stones, enamels and found objects using different shaped wire and sheet to construct settings. Soldering, construction tricks, proper use of burs and the introduction of special stone setting tools will be demonstrated. Basic metal working experience necessary. Read the full class description.
Polymer Bracelets, Bangles and Beads New!
- Instructor: Cynthia Toops
- Five Wednesday nights: October 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4
- 6:30pm-9:30pm
- Class Fee: $225 | Materials list
Explore a variety of polymer clay techniques with the exceptionally talented local artist, Cynthia Toops! While creating bracelets and/or components for jewelry, students will learn to make sculptural forms, beads and other dangly elements. Carving, cane work and thin sheet elements are among some of the processes that will be explored. All levels. Read the full class description.
Introduction to Designing and Silversmithing Jewelry
- Instructor: Dana Cassara Weekend workshop: October 10 and 11
- Saturday 10:30am-5:30pm and Sunday 10:30am-3:30pm
- Class Fee: $225 | Materials included
This workshop is an ideal introduction to fundamental aspects of fabricating silver jewelry. Explore jewelry design while learning to saw, file, texture, and form precious metals like copper and silver and develop a basic understanding of soldering and bezel stone setting. Students will complete two pieces of jewelry and gain an excellent foundation for future learning. No experience necessary. Read the full class description.
Rings for Beginners
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- Four Wednesday nights: Nov 11, 18, Dec 2, 9 (no class Nov 25)
- 6:30pm-9:30pm
- Class Fee: $225 | Materials included
Become familiar with some of the three-dimensional possibilities of metal while focusing on the basic construction of fabricated rings, both with and without stones. Students will design and create a simple band ring as well as a ring with a bezel-set stone. Gain foundation skills for future learning and leave with a couple of totally unique rings! No experience necessary. Read the full class description.
Enameling Techniques for Jewelry New!
- Instructor: Aran Galligan
- Weekend workshop: October 24 and 25
- Saturday and Sunday 10:30am-5:30pm
- Class Fee: $265 | Materials included
Discover the brilliance and color of enamel! Students will be introduced to a variety of techniques during this two day workshop including torch firing, kiln firing, stenciling, and cloisonné, giving them an excellent basis for working with enamel. Each student will create several components that can later be set like a cabochon, or made into earrings or a pendant. All levels. Read the full class description.
Granulation
- Instructor: Molly Epstein
- Weekend workshop: November 7 and 8
- Saturday 10:30am-5:30pm and Sunday 10:30am-3:30pm
- Class Fee: $265 | Materials included
Gain the knowledge to practice the ancient and scrumptiously beautiful technique of granulation. The process is repetitive and requires a great deal of skill and accuracy. Students will begin with a delicate fused chain to get accustomed to the fusing process necessary for granulation. This class will focused on the technique rather than on producing a finished piece however students will leave with fine granulated samples that can be used in finished pieces. No experience necessary. Read the full class description
“QUICKIES”
Always one day or less.
Using the "Smith Little-Torch"
- Instructor: Micki Lippe
- Saturday, October 3, 10:30am-3:30pm
- Class Fee: $95 | Materials list
Pick up some soldering tricks from Micki Lippe, a seasoned professional! Micki will demonstrate the versatility and precision of the oxy-propane, Smith "little-torch". Set up and basic maintenance will be covered and students are encourage to bring their "soldering problems" to class! Basic soldering experience is necessary. This class is a prerequisite for using our shop's "little torch". Read the full class description.
Explore and Expand New!
- Instructor: Micki Lippe
- Sunday, October 4, 10:30am-3:30pm
- Class Fee: $85
Challenge yourself out of your comfort zone. Move into new creative territory through a series of creative exercises involving paper, metal, and found objects. In the afternoon class will focus on the individual needs of each participant applying a revitalized vision to projects students bring to class. No soldering will be done class. All levels. Read the full class description.
Soldering Basics
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- Sunday, October 4, 10:30am-4:00pm
- Class Fee: $95 | Materials included
Whether you've had a soldering class, attempted to learn from a book, or never even tried, if you are looking to learn to silver-solder or just get better at it, this class is for you. Detailed demonstration will be presented followed by lots of hands-on time at the soldering table. We will discuss different torches including acetylene/air, butane, and propane/oxygen, as well as safety concerns. No experience necessary. Read the full class description.
The Big Ring
- Instructor: Juan Reyes
- Sunday, October 18, 9:30am-3:30pm
- Class Fee: $85 | Material list
Hollow rings can be big, bold, and strong while at the same time maintaining a relatively light weight. Explore building such a ring in this quick workshop, designed for intermediate students. Participants must be comfortable with a jeweler's saw, file, basic soldering, and of course like big rings! Intermediate level, basic metal working skills required. Read the full class description.
Fantastic Fold Forming!
- Instructor: Bill Dawson
- Saturday, November 14, 10:30-5:30
- Class Fee: $105 | Materials included
Using very basic metal working techniques students will learn to create fabulously textured, 3-dimensional, and organic forms. Explore a variety of exciting fold formed patterns and develop a very fundamental understanding of how to use a jeweler's hammer for future learning. All levels. Read the full class description.
Hollow Fold Forms and Decking New!
- Instructor: Bill Dawson
- Sunday, November 15, 10:30am-3:30pm
- Class Fee: $105 | Materials included
Expand on your basic knowledge of fold forming with more complex patterns including wire scoring and hollow fold-forms. Fold forming can create incredibly beautiful shapes but hollow folded forms can be too flexible for practical purposes. Learn to "deck" your forms to create rigidity, turning these fantastic organic shapes into more functional vessels. Like the deck of a large ship deck, "decking" makes open forms stronger and can be used to fortify any hollow metal shape making it a very transferable skill. Some advanced soldering techniques will be demonstrated as soldering a deck onto a hollow form is no easy task. Basic fold forming and soldering skills required. Read the full class description.
Etching Metal
- Instructor: Jessie Wylie
- Sunday, November 22, 9:30am-3:30pm
- Class Fee: $115 | Materials included
See an image or pattern come to life in brass and copper through an acid etching process! This technique is excellent for creating rolling mill templates, photo transfers and embossing precious metal and paper. This workshop is appropriate for beginners, however experienced jewelry artists will find it very exciting as well. Read the full class description.
Basic Bead and Wire Jewelry
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- Thursday, December 3, 10:00am-1:00pm
- Class Fee: $65 | Materials included
Learn the simple tricks to working with wire to create unique gifts for the holidays and beyond! Projects will include one or two pairs of earrings and a bracelet. Student will make their own clasps and ear-wires, and learn basic small scale forging to add distinctive accents to their pieces. No experience necessary. Read the full class description.
Alternative Study
Mentored Independent Study
Join the mentored independent study group! With instructor guidance, these on-going workshops allow independent study students to develop and execute a wide range of projects, growing their skills in a consistent and supportive environment. Permission is required to participate. *Students are expected to provide consumable materials. Each section runs five weeks or on a drop-in basis. Classes offered both mornings and evenings! Read the full class description.
- Monday Night:
- Instructor: Juan Reyes
- One section only:
- November 23, 30 December 7, 14, 21 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm
- Tuesday Night:
- Instructor: Juan Reyes
- Two sections:
- October 6, 13, 20, 27 November 3 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm
- November 17, 24 December 1, 8, 15 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm
- Thursday Morning:
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- One section only:
- October 8, 15, 29 November 5, 12 | 10:00am - 1:00pm (No class 10/22)
- Each section $180 or $45 per class to drop-in, section "subscribers" will have space priority.
- *Materials are not included. Students are required to bring project materials such as metal, saw blades, drill bits, sandpaper, and solder. Flux is provided.