top of page
4 WEEKLY CLASSES
March/April 2019
Listed Chronologically

 -- Please sign up 1 week in advance to avoid cancellation --

 Mondays    March 18 - April 8

Alexander Calder Inspired Wire Jewelry                                         11:00 - 2:00

(Lisa Spiros)                                                                                                               Blue Room

Learn to make Calder inspired sculptural jewelry forms using hammering, forging, milling, and wrapping techniques to create beautiful necklaces, bracelets and rings. The class will help you invent your own clasps and closures or incorporate ideas from Calder's amazingly simple yet sophisticated mechanisms into your own pieces. 

Skill level: Basic skills including sawing, finishing & soldering

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: $20 (Optional Supply list available upon registration)

FullSizeRender.jpg

Bench Time                                                                                             2:00 - 5:00

(TBD)                                                                                                                          Blue Room

Finally, a chance to work independently at a jewelry bench in a fully equipped studio. Only available to current and former students of HVS. Sign up at least 24 hours in advance by emailing: hvsilverworks@gmail.com with “BTSU” in the subject line, along with your name, the date and time of attendance. Cash and checks accepted. For more information look under the “Other Opportunities” tab at the top of this page.

IMG_8825.jpg
Eliza polishing.jpg

Basic 2 - Cabochon Settings                                                                 5:30 - 8:30

(Raychel Wengenroth)                                                                                            Blue Room

Thirsting for more knowledge? This is the perfect class to expand upon the techniques you learned in Basic 101.  Cabochon stones can be added using a variety of bezel setting methods. The project of separate components that can be linked together allows each segment to be treated differently, enhancing the learning experience.

Project ideas: Linked together to make a bracelet, separate pendants, added to rings, bracelets  or belt buckles.

Skill Level: Basic 101

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: Students bring their own or purchase from HVS

_Basic 2 - Bezels.jpg

Independent Study                                                                               5:30 - 8:30

(Raychel Wengenroth)                                                                                          Blue Room

For students with a broad range of technical skills needing individual attention with more advanced projects, from planning and materials needed to step by step process planning and hand holding. This class is a flexible continuation of your skills enabling you to have one on one consultation with the instructor. New techniques will be explored as individual needs are addressed. Classmates can observe demonstrations as they see fit. 

Skill Level: Basic 2 and 3 (or the equivalent)

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: Students bring their own

IMG_1100.jpg
 Tuesdays    March 19 - April 9

Basic 3 - “Get Dimensional” - Hollow Rings                                     2:00 - 5:00

(Raychel Wengenroth)                                                                                            Blue Room

Let's shift towards a sculptural approach and explore more in depth knowledge of how to construct and solder with increased efficiency. Hollow rings are a great way to exercise your technical and fitting skills. Learn how to make the inner ring fit perfectly, then design anything you like for the outside shape with consideration to comfort and practicality...or not! These techniques are easily translated to containers and 3 dimensional components of all kinds. 

Skill Level: Basic 101 & Basic 2

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: Students bring their own or purchase from HVS 

Hollow Rings.jpg

Independent Study                                                                               2:00 - 5:00

(Raychel Wengenroth)                                                                                          Blue Room

For students with a broad range of technical skills needing individual attention with more advanced projects, from planning and materials needed to step by step process planning and hand holding. This class is a flexible continuation of your skills enabling you to have one on one consultation with the instructor. New techniques will be explored as individual needs are addressed. Classmates can observe demonstrations as they see fit. 

Skill Level: Basic 2 and 3 (or the equivalent)

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: Students bring their own

IMG_8914.jpg
IMG_8916.jpg

Filework Rings                                                                                        5:30 - 8:30

(Lissa Queeney)                                                                                                       Green Room

A technique used by some knife makers, filework can enhance your rings, bracelets, or thick walled bezels. Traditionally used on the spine of the blade of a folding knife, this technique adds interest and originality to an ordinary piece. We start out making a band out of square wire, and use filework to take away portions of metal. This technique can be symmetrical, or freeform depending on your whim. Using small files, sawing, and refining the design will open up a whole new world of ideas.

Skill level: Basic 101

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: Students may bring their own or purchase from the instructor

Filework rings class.jpg
Filework_Stone-on-stone.jpg

Basic 3 - “Get Dimensional” - Hollow Rings                                     5:30 - 8:30

(Raychel Wengenroth)                                                                                            Blue Room

Let's shift towards a sculptural approach and explore more in depth knowledge of how to construct and solder with increased efficiency. Hollow rings are a great way to exercise your technical and fitting skills. Learn how to make the inner ring fit perfectly, then design anything you like for the outside shape with consideration to comfort and practicality...or not! These techniques are easily translated to containers and 3 dimensional components of all kinds. 

Skill Level: Basic 101 & Basic 2

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: Students bring their own or purchase from HVS 

IMG_7351_edited.jpg
IMG_7354.jpg
Hollow ring_side 1_.jpg

Independent Study                                                                               5:30 - 8:30

(Raychel Wengenroth)                                                                                          Blue Room

For students with a broad range of technical skills needing individual attention with more advanced projects, from planning and materials needed to step by step process planning and hand holding. This class is a flexible continuation of your skills enabling you to have one on one consultation with the instructor. New techniques will be explored as individual needs are addressed. Classmates can observe demonstrations as they see fit. 

Skill Level: Basic 2 and 3 (or the equivalent)

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: Students bring their own

IMG_7314.JPG
 Wednesdays    March 20 - April 10

Cold & Soldered Connections                                                         11:00 - 2:00

(Lisa Spiros)                                                                                                             Blue Room

Learn how to design and construct mechanical systems using cold connections and soldering techniques to make components for tension fittings, hinges, rivets, linkage systems, clasps and closures. Create necklaces, chains, bracelets, cuffs and earrings, which move ergonomically with the wearer’s body. These techniques also can be applied to jewelry designs which incorporate alternative materials such as plastic, paper, fabric, found objects, memorabilia or just on their own.

Skill Level: Basic 101 & Basic 2

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: Students bring their own or purchase from HVS

 Cold Connections image copy.jpeg
_Connections-complete.jpg

Bench Time                                                                                             2:00 - 5:00

(Caleb)                                                                                                                          Blue Room

Finally, a chance to work independently at a jewelry bench in a fully equipped studio. Only available to current and former students of HVS. Sign up at least 24 hours in advance by emailing: hvsilverworks@gmail.com with “BTSU” in the subject line, along with your name, the date and time of attendance. Cash and checks accepted. For more information look under the “Other Opportunities” tab at the top of this page.

Simple Rings.jpg
IMG_9203.jpg

Basic 101 - Jewelry Foundations                                                           5:30 - 8:30

(Raychel Wengenroth)                                                                                              Blue Room

Start here if you want a clear, concise and in-depth knowledge of basic jewelry making techniques. Learn how to use hand tools to cut, texture and file and machines to drill, sand and polish. There will be a number of demonstrations with hands-on bench-time to cement the knowledge. The wide range of topics covered will give you a solid foundation to set you out on your educational path with confidence. Learn how to recognize quality craftsmanship in the pieces you currently own or want to buy. The skills acquired in jewelry making come in handy on many levels, even fixing and altering things!

The riveting project will introduce beginners to multiple techniques including sawing, drilling, texturing, filing, sanding, finishing and riveting. 

Skill Level: Absolutely No Experience Necessary

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: $20

IMG_1136.jpg
 Thursdays    March 21 - April 11

Advanced Stone Setting                                                                          2:00 - 5:00

(Lissa Queeney)                                                                                                        Green Room

Add to your stone setting repertoire.  In this class you will learn how to use more complex settings to add bold and dramatic emphasis to your designs. We will be covering an assortment of advanced setting  methods (to be determined by group interest) including flush, tube and castle settings, making your own prong setting,  thick walled bezels and Stone-on-Stone setting techniques. These techniques are versatile and can be used with either cabochons or faceted stones. Learn the tools and tricks for using these varied processes. This class focuses on the techniques of setting, not necessarily on finished products. Basic knowledge of bezel settings is a plus. 

Skill Level: Basic 101 & Basic 2

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: $20

Faceted settings-Lissa Matthews.jpg
Princess-LQM.jpg
Thick s_s bezel ring-LQM.jpg

Finishing Techniques                                                                              5:30 - 8:30

(Raychel Wengenroth)                                                                                              Blue Room

Learn a variety of techniques (both hand & machine) to de-sprue, grind, file, sand, tumble, satin finish, texture and polish to bring your design to life. Clean up can make or break a piece; a beautiful design can lose it’s appeal if careless craftsmanship is applied, a plain design can be exquisite with fine attention to deal. Dimistify the range of finishing options by hand, use of the belt sander, polishing machine, tumbler and the incredible versatility of the flexible shaft. This is a perfect class for finishing castings for production or one of a kind objects de art.

Skill Level: No experience necessary

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: Bring your castings &/or unfinished pieces

Filing Ring Edges
GalleryWide_Flexi.jpg
 Fridays    March 22 - April 12

Hone Your Skills                                                                                  1:00 - 4:00

(Raychel Wengenroth)                                                                                          Blue Room

This class is designed for people who have a fair amount of technical skill but lack the sleek craftsmanship that can make or break a design. Careful planning of a piece can make your life a lot easier and your work much cleaner. Knowing where to place the solder, when to trim excess material and how to achieve a pristine polish will be the focus of this session. Students will work on projects of their own choice while the instructor assists them with a logical, step by step approach.

Skill Level: Basic 2 and 3

Tuition: $200

Lab Fee: $10

Materials: Students bring their own

IMG_4045.JPG
bottom of page