Spring Class Schedule
April, May & June 2010
Classes and Workshops
Intermediate Stone Setting
- Instructor: Jennifer Stenhouse
- April 5, 12, 19, 26 May 3, 10
- Six Monday nights, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
- Class Fee: $245 | Materials list
This 6 week hands-on course will cover the basics of several stone setting techniques beyond a basic bezel. Expand your repertoire of stone setting skills with pedestal settings, prong construction and setting, tube, post, & bar setting for multiple stones as well flush, capture sets, and a few unique settings for unusual shapes & found objects. See details...
Needle Felting Jewelry Forms New!
- Instructor: Cynthia Toops
- Weekend workshop: April 17 and 18
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am-5:00pm
- Class Fee: $220 | Materials included
Want to make large jewelry with a distinctive look that is practically weightless? Felting is an excellent way to do it. Spend the weekend learning to shape a ball of soft wool into an amazing cuff bracelet or a 3-dimensional object using a felting needle. See details...
Chasing and Repousse: Beginning & Intermediate New!
- Instructor: Nancy Megan Corwin
- April 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2
- Six Wednesday nights, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
- Class Fee: $295 | Some materials included
The term repoussé refers to punching sheet metal from the backside to create raised areas or relief on the front side. Chasing refers to detailing the front side, using a variety of tools to texture and refine the surface. Since the Bronze Age, these techniques have been used to create refined and expressive detail to all kinds of objects including the outside of vessels or containers and cast metal objects. See details...
Precious Metal Clay+: Beginning & Intermediate
- Instructor: Suzette O'Dell
- June 9, 16, 23, 30
- Four Wednesday nights: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
- Class Fee: $220 | $60 fee payable to instructor
PMC+ is silver clay that can be rolled and molded, pressed and carved that results in pure silver pieces! This comprehensive workshop presents students with numerous fundamental techniques for working with PMC+. See details...
Intermediate Jewelry Making: Total Immersion Part Two New!
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- Five days: June 21-25
- Monday thru Friday, 10:30am - 5:00pm
- Class Fee: $475 | Materials list
What could be more fun than making jewelry for an entire week? Nothing! Join me on this five day journey aimed at increasing your confidence and knowledge at the jeweler's bench. We will focus heavily on construction and soldering tricks as well as finishing techniques to create desired surfaces. See details...
Anticlastic Forming
- Instructor: Bill Dawson
- Three days: June 26 thru 28
- Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am - 5:00pm
- Monday 10:00am - 3:30pm
- Class Fee: $325 | Materials included
Anticlastic Raising allows you to create exceptionally strong, flexible, lightweight, and organic-looking forms. A new focus on this early Iron Age technique has yielded some of the most interesting forms in contemporary metalwork. In anticlastic raising a flat sheet of metal is shaped by compressing its center to deform and stretch the edges so that the surface develops two curves at right angles to each other like a horse saddle. See details...
Introduction to Classic Chain Making *Canceled*
- Instructor: Sandra Caldwell
- May 29 and June 12
- Two Saturday mornings: 10:30am - 3:30pm
- Class Fee: $170 | Materials included
Learn two types of chain, one woven (Viking Knit) and one made with links (Byzantine). Neither requires soldering and both will give you and excellent foundation for more chain making. You will leave the class with two completed pieces of jewelry, one necklace and one bracelet. See details...
Beginning Series Classes:
The Beginner's Series allows you to learn everything normally covered in a beginning jewelry design class. However we give you the option to commit to smaller chunks of time. It's like the old adage, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer is, "One bite at a time!" If you feel up to it, take the whole series and save $20!
Introduction to Designing and Silversmithing Jewelry
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- Weekend workshop: April 10 and 11
- Saturday 10:30am - 5:30pm and Sunday 10:30am - 3:30pm
- Class Fee: $225 | Materials included
First in the Beginner's Series, this workshop is an ideal introduction to the fundamental aspects of silversmithing. Explore jewelry design while learning to saw, file, texture, and form nonferrous metals like copper, brass, and silver. See details...
Nifty Links and Hollow Silver Forms for Jewelry *Canceled*
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- Weekend workshop: May 29 and 30
- Saturday 10:30am - 5:30pm and Sunday 10:30am - 3:30pm
- Class Fee: $225 | Materials included
Vastly improve your soldering skills while focusing on small hollow forms and linked elements. In this installment of the Beginner's Series, students will be introduced to roll-printing, a technique for creating elaborate and organic textures in metal among other exciting processes. See details...
Rings for Beginners
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- Weekend workshop: June 12 and 13
- Saturday 10:30am - 5:30pm and Sunday 10:30am - 3:30pm
- Class Fee: $225 | Materials included
This Beginner's Series class focuses on the basic construction of fabricated rings, both with and without stones. Each student will construct a simple band ring as well as a ring with a bezel-set stone. See details...
"QUICKIES"
Always one day or less, "quickies" give you the opportunity to gain new skills quickly!
Soldering Basics
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- Saturday, April 3, 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. See details...
Precious Metal Clay Basics
- Instructor: Suz O'Dell
- Saturday, April 24, 10:30am - 5:00pm
- Class Fee: $95
- Supply Fee: $60 payable to instructor
Discover what can be made with Precious Metal Clay+ (PMC+), a marvelous material that can be worked just like clay yet when fired results in pure silver. See details...
Keum-Boo: Attached Gold
- Instructor: Suz O'Dell
- Sunday, April 25, 10:30am - 3:30pm
- Class Fee: $85
- Supply Fee: $60 payable to instructor
Add the luster of gold to your silver fabrications! In this workshop students will learn to apply 24K gold foil to fine silver. The result is dramatic, creating rich color and beautiful textural possibilities. See details...
Back by popular demand!
It Ain't Just a Drill: Getting the Most From Your Flexible Shaft
- Instructor: Andy Cooperman
- Saturday, May 1, 10:00am - 5:00pm
- Class Fee: $125 | Materials included
The flexible shaft machine is one of the most versatile and important tools on the jeweler's and metalsmith's workbench yet many people use it for only a few basic jobs. Gain a deeper understanding of this marvelous tool and expand your vocabulary of flexible shaft techniques and applications. See details...
Classic Chain Making Quickie: Helm's Chain and Square Maile
- Instructor: Sandra Caldwell
- Saturday, May 8, 10:30am - 4:30pm
- Class Fee: $135 | Materials included
Make two bracelets just in time for mother's day! The Helm's chain is a beautiful, flat, feminine chain that always draws attention. The Square Maille is a deceptive chain because of its flexibility. See details...
Fantastic Fold Forming!
- Instructor: Bill Dawson
- Saturday, May 15, 10:30am - 5:30pm
- Class Fee: $125 | Materials included
Fold forming is an exciting technique wherein sheet metal is manipulated and hammered to create fabulously textured, 3-dimensional, organic forms. Students will have the opportunity to create a variety of basic and more complex forms. See details...
Tailor-Make a Decorative Stamp
- Instructor: Bill Dawson
- Sunday, May 16, 10:00am - 3:30pm
- Class Fee: $115 | Materials included
Add distinction to your design repertoire with an individualized mark for your metalwork. It is simpler than you might think! Learning to custom-make steel tools is a priceless skill and creating a personalized decorative punch is a great first project. See details...
Basic Bead and Wire Jewelry
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- Saturday, June 5, 10:00am - 1:00pm
- Class Fee: $65 | Materials included
Using basic hand tools, we will explore linkage systems for making earrings, bracelets and necklaces with beads and wire. See details...
Using the "Smith Little-Torch"
- Instructor: Micki Lippe
- Saturday, June 19, 10:00am - 3:30pm
- Class Fee: $95 | Materials list
When it comes to silver soldering there are several torch options. One of the most popular among bench jewelers is a mixed fuel, oxy-propane, "little-torch". Micki Lippe will demonstrate the versatility and precision of this well loved tool. See details...
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. Demos for this class are tailored specifically to current projects, (whatever they may be) and so vary greatly. Class time will also be used to game-plan projects from beginning to end. This is a great opportunity to tackle a challenging project that you may need a little support to execute or to learn a new skill! *Students are expected to provide consumable materials. Instructor permission is required to participate. Each section runs for five weeks or on a drop-in basis. Classes offered both mornings and evenings! See details....
- Evenings:
- Tuesday, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
- Instructor: Juan Reyes
- Two five week sections:
- April 6, 13, 20, 27 May 4
- May 18, 25 June 1, 8, 15
- Mornings:
- Thursday 10:00am - 1:00pm
- Instructor: Dana Cassara
- Two five week sections:
- April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
- May 27 June 3, 10, 17 (only four - reduced rate)
- 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.