Unlock your creativity in this beginner jewelry-making class! Learn to use essential tools while building foundational skills such as cutting, filing, hammering, texturing, soldering, cold connections, and bezel setting. Each week introduces a new technique as you complete 2–3 unique projects to take home. This hands-on 6-week course is perfect for adults and teens (16+) who are ready to explore jewelry design. Tools and safety equipment are provided—just bring a notepad.

Materials Fee (payable to instructor): $95
The materials fee includes brass, copper, nickel silver, and sterling silver wire and components used for class projects.

Due to rising silver costs, sterling silver sheet is no longer included in the materials fee, and most projects will use copper, brass, or nickel silver. Students who wish to work in sterling silver should purchase a 3" × 3", 24-gauge dead-soft sterling silver sheet prior to class (recommended: Rio Grande Item No. 100598). I will provide sterling silver wire and bezel wire as needed; however, the materials fee does not include sterling silver sheet.

Participants will see their skills advance as new techniques are added and old techniques are refined. Projects will change each semester. Students must have completed Beginning Jewelry Making.   

Supplies: Students should bring supplies and tools that they are used to working with to the first class in addition to sterling and fine silver bezel wire. Other supplies will be discussed on the first day. Students are responsible for providing their own solder.

In this multi-week class, students will learn how to combine enameled forms and even flat-backed stones or found objects with fabricated metal jewelry. This class will expand on introductory metalsmithing and fabrication techniques, so while acting as an advanced metals class, no prior enameling experience is required. Primary techniques demonstrated include introductions to fusing enamel, surface decoration, bezel setting, hydraulic forming, eutectic soldering, ear wires, ring making, brooches, and more. Students are expected to explore narrative and connections between the enameled forms and the jewelry created to house them, making planning and sketching an important part of the process.

Students are required to provide their own sterling silver (min 3" x3" 20ga sheet) and copper (min 6" x6" 20ga sheet) as well as a small unruled sketchbook. Additional materials may be available for purchase or added based on instructor discretion, student interest, or class progression.

This is an opportunity for students familiar with enameling to work independently in the studio. A monitor is present for safety and to help guide students with their projects. Completion of a beginner Enameling course or permission from a Museum instructor is required to attend.    

Supplies: Students provide their own supplies, including enamel. Some supplemental supplies are available for purchase in class.    

Students of any background or enameling level will be able to participate in this multi-week class. For beginners, this means basic fusing to introductory techniques such as graphite drawing, glass etching and wet-packing, among others. More advanced students will be able to continue building on their projects while techniques such as luster, overglazes, underglazes, and various other surface decoration techniques are incorporated.

Techniques covered: fusing, counter enameling, wet-packing graphite drawing, glass etching, under and overglazes, basse-taille, luster. 

Supplies:  

KN95 mask (bring first day)

Fine-point Sharpie markers 

Other enameling materials will be discussed on the first day.