WEEKLY SESSIONS
July - August 2024
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-- Sign up 1 week in advance to avoid cancellation --
"2 Week" TUESDAYS
Listed Chronologically
Forging for Jewelry
7/9 & 16 6:00 - 9:00
(Raychel Wengenroth)
Explore the possibilities of hammering wire to form three-dimensional components for jewelry using controlled hammer blows against an anvil or mandrel with specifically shaped hammerheads. Students will sample a variety of techniques to provide an understanding of the properties of non-ferrous metals, work hardening and annealing, types of hammers, when to use them and how to make the metal move where you want it to.
A cuff bracelet or jewelry components are perfect projects for this 2 week session.
This class is loud and primarily uses hammers and torches - it's a blast!
Skill level: No experience necessary
Tuition: 125.
Lab Fee: 5.
Materials: 15.
Beginning Loop-in-Loop Chain Making
7/23 & 30 6:00 - 9:00
(Raychel Wengenroth)
Byzantine style Etruscan chains date back to antiquity and are still made by hand to this day. Students will learn the basics of taking fine silver wire and wrapping it around a dowel to make a coil, cutting it into individual links that are fused closed using a torch, shaping and then assembling a variety of different chains. We will focus on learning the various “stitches” allowing students to continue their studies at home. This technique requires very minimal equipment and the results are professional quality chains that impress everyone and are truly a labor of love. Caution: Extremely addictive!
Skill level: No experience necessary, Good eyesight is!
Tuition: 125.
Lab Fee: 5.
Materials: Students may purchase their own 20’ Fine Silver Wire - 20 gauge, (approximately $40-50 depending on the market price) Also available in class.
Wax Carving Basics
8/6 &13 6:00 - 9:00
(Raychel Wengenroth)
Learn how to carve, file, melt and manipulate wax to create your own design that will be cast into a metal of your choice (gold of any karat, silver, platinum etc). The methods of centrifugal and vacuum casting will be discussed, however we will not be doing the actual casting in class. (The waxes can be sent out to a list of casters provided.) This workshop will give you an overview of the technical knowledge and resources to make waxes for your own jewelry at home. It takes very little tooling and a lot of playing!
Skill Level: No experience necessary.
Tuition: 125.
Lab Fee: 5.
Materials: 15.
"3 Week" WEDNESDAYS
Listed Chronologically
Basic 101 - Jewelry Foundations
7/10 , 17 & 24 6:00 - 9:00
(Raychel Wengenroth)
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 "Get to Know your Sheet" project will introduce beginners to multiple techniques including sawing, drilling, texturing, filing, sanding, and finishing.
Skill Level: Absolutely No Experience Necessary
Tuition: 187.50
Lab Fee: 10.
Materials: 10.
Basic 2 - Soldering & Stone Setting
7/31, 8/7 &14 6:00 - 9:00
(Raychel Wengenroth)
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 a plain bezel cup incorporated into a pendant, pin or ring introduces soldering techniques in a logical step by step process. It also allows for individual design elements with the bail or ring shank. This is where the fun really begins!
Skill Level: Basic 101
Tuition: 187.50
Lab Fee: 15.
Materials: 35.
6 Week THURSDAYS
Independent Study 12:00 - 3:00
7/11 - 8/15
(Raychel Wengenroth)
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 101, 2 and 3 (or the equivalent)
Tuition: 375.
Lab Fee: 20.
Materials: Students bring their own
