Upcoming 2024 Workshops & Classes
I’ve been a hands-on object making, technique, and foundation skills workshops instructor for jewelry and metalwork plus a public/private school classroom instructor in traditional 2D fine art for more than a decade.
For host information about the workshop offerings listed below, click the signup links. Updates are constantly added both here and at the host sites, so check back often for the most up-to-the-minute details!
Play Within Structure: Mixed Media Assemblage for Jewelry
Join me at Snow Farm, The New England Craft Program for a week-long mixed media workshop where will will explore combining assemblage with traditional art media, found objects and using cold connection jewelry joining all in a small-scale format. Our target format will be a 2 x 2-inch(ish) square, and we will choose 3 favorites produced during the course to mount in a containment structure. Use a constructed sheet metal (or other type) of box, a wire form or a found object of some type to make a wearable work of art. All media are encouraged, so bring your favorite stuff and most-used tools, and I will guide you in the many ways you can securely mount and protect your works. Fiber, paper, pigments, stone, plastic, shell, glass, wood and other materials are all welcome.
Signup and details here: Play Within Structure
Stacked Up! Using Stone, Shell & Glass in Jewelry
Join me at Snow Farm, The New England Craft Program for a combination Lapidary/Metals workshop using the technique of stone on stone (or glass, or pottery, or shell) . Our target object will be a ring or pendant and you will learn how to drill hard materials, stack small bezels and stones securely on other surfaces, and create a one of a kind jewelry object using these techniques.
Signup and details here: Stacked Up!
Stack It Up! Stone, Glass & Shell in Jewelry
Join me for three days at CharmTree Jewelry Studios for my second workshop! Stack it Up! is a two day workshop that will teach you how to easily combine shell, stone, ceramic and glass using lapidary techniques that don’t require full-sized stone cutting equipment. You will learn how to wet drill hard materials with a flex shaft and to create small bezels that can be layered onto other stones and then set into a larger bezel setting. We will make a ring or pendant and learn many useful techniques for creating one of a kind jewelry you’ll love to wear.
Signup here: https://www.charmtreejewelry.com/service-page/stone-on-stone?referral=service_list_widget
Make the Most of Your Flex Shaft
Join me for three days at CharmTree Jewelry Studios and take my most popular intensive technique class – a comprehensive overview of what you can do with your flex shaft, troubleshooting strategies, plus how to choose appropriate attachments for creating texture, various finishes and making choices for polishing attachments and compounds.
Learn proper sanding, pre-and finish polishing for jewelry metal with several surface textures – one of the most difficult challenges there is! We’ll cover how to create custom sanding sticks, proper filing, scraping and burnishing for metal edges, and when to use Tripoli and rouge compounds with several textile attachments to bring a shine to jewelry metals.
Experiment with a useful kit, get tons of knowledge, and by the end of the day, you’ll know what to use when for many different materials and gain the confidence to fearlessly use your flex shaft with ease. Bring your in-progress work and pieces you want finish and/or polish to class so you can wear them home!
Signup here: https://www.charmtreejewelry.com/service-page/make-the-most-of-your-flexshaft?referral=service_list_widget
Metal Shop: Know Your Hand Tools
This one-day workshop, held at the Tuscarora Lapidary Society Learning Center is for New/Beginner students, looking to add metalwork to their skill set. In this one-day workshop, you will learn the basic processes and tools used in metalsmithing, and practice using the 12 universally basic jewelry making hand tools essential for most fabrication processes. Please do not bring any tools to class, as the workshop fee includes a rental toolbox and practice materials. We will also review the safe use of classroom tools like the disc cutter and other equipment.
Signups here: https://www.lapidary.org/classes-winter-2024/