• Weekly classes and open studios are listed first, followed by workshops

• Introductory classes are listed before intermediate or advanced classes
• Classes for teens are listed on the children's page
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CLASSES

INTRODUCTORY

METALSMITHING

CLASSES

These courses cover the basic metalsmithing techniques used to make jewelry and other small metal projects. They are suitable for people with no metal working experience and refreshers for those who have some experience.

Sculpture and Jewelry Inspired by Nature

Kerstin Nichols

Wednesdays, 6-9pm

April 30-June 18. 8 sessions, 24 hrs

Tuition: $265 ($255*)

Est. mat. fee payable to instructor: $40, 1/2 due at first class

Working with copper and silver, you will work on natural forms such as flowers, leaves, seed-pods, and shells, to gain a fundamental understanding of how to build 3-dimensional structures that can be applied to your sculpture or jewelry. You will leave with a solid understanding of using hammers and heat to explore the natural characteristics of these metals, as well as soldering techniques and basic heat patination (coloring).

Introduction to Sculpture

Skip Cady

Fridays, 10am-1pm

May 2-June 20. 8 sessions, 24 hrs

Tuition: $265 ($255*). Est. mat fee payable to instructor: $20

As a beginner or experienced metalworker you will be guided and supported as you develop your project by exploring various metalsmithing techniques. This unstructured course encourages experimentation and probing in the setting of a metals studio where you have the opportunity to use the tools and learn the skills of a metal smith. Start with a specific idea or wait to be inspired in class. You may bring any materials, images, writing, sketches, objects, and books that inspire you.

Chains and Charms

Jean Matray

a.

b.

Thursdays

July 10-31, 2-5pm. 4 sessions, 12 hrs

August 7-28, 6:30-9:30pm. 4 sessions, 12 hrs

Tuition: $135 ($125*)

Est. mat. fee payable to instructor: $40, 1/2 due at first class

Working in fine silver, sterling, and copper wire and sheet you will be introduced to a variety of chain and wire forms from ancient Greek to funky and contemporary. Regardless of whether you've taken metalsmithing or jewelry making classes, or if this is your first class, you will learn soldering and metal forming skills you will find fun and challenging.

Bracelets

Jean Matray

a.

b.

July 10-31, 6:30-9:30pm. 4 sessions, 12 hrs

August 7-28, 2-5pm. 4 sessions, 12 hrs

Tuition: $135 ($135*)

Est. mat. fee payable to instructor: $40, 1/2 due at first class

Working with copper, and possibly silver, you will make several different styles of bracelets that offer the challenge of using hammers, and working on a larger scale. You will leave with an understanding of how similar metal is to clay and other malleable materials. This class is a good starting point for students who are interested in pursuing metal sculpture.

INTERMEDIATE

AND ADVANCED

METALSMITHING

CLASSES

Put the techniques you have learned in classes and workshops into practice and/or learn new ones! We provide a well-equipped jewelry studio and Kerstin’s expert assistance. You provide the ideas, designs and labor!

To be eligible for these classes you need to have taken at least one introductory metalsmithing class here at CraftStudies (Hanover League).

Kerstin Nichols

Monday evenings, 6:30-9:30pm

April 28-June 16 (skip May 26). 7 sessions, 21 hrs

Tuition: $230 ($220*)

Designated Saturdays, 10am-3pm

April 19, May 10, 31, June 7, 14. 5 sessions, 25 hrs

Tuition: $300 ($290*)

Kerstin Nichols

Alternate Tuesdays, 10am-3pm

April 29-June 10. 4 sessions, 20 hrs

Tuition: $230 ($220*)

The Elements of

Design for Jewelry

Kerstin Nichols

Designated Tuesdays, 6-9pm

April 29, May 20, June 17. 3 sessions, 9 hrs

Tuition: $100 ($90*)

This class will focus on the fundamental elements of design in the context of jewelry and the body that wears it—important criteria in making your work distinctive. Whether you are a professional jeweler or metal smith, a committed hobbyist or somewhere between, this class will provide you with challenges beyond the learning of a “new technique”. We will meet once a month. Hand-outs and assignments will be provided. To make this course successful you will need to complete assignments between classes in your own studio or in the League’s Open Jewelry Studio classes.

Resin Inlay: Adding Color and Texture to Your Metal Work

Maria Gross

Monday, 6-9pm

June 30-July 28. 5 sessions, 15 hrs

Tuition: $165 ($155*). Est. mat. fee payable to instructor: $20

Explore the application of color and texture to your metal work using resin as the holding agent. An "inlay" is created by capturing items like herbs, spice powders, ground pastels, seed beads, sand, metal, postcards, and found objects in a bed of resin. The fun is how and what you combine, and the size and shape of the metal structure you use to hold the inlay. You will experiment with materials to create a sample board of inlays and then you can explore further by applying your new discoveries into your choice of jewelry (pendant/brooch, ring or earrings). There will be time for you to fabricate a simple form to hold the inlay. Beginning soldering skills highly recommended. The instructor will bring an assortment of materials to mix into the resin, you may also bring your own. You should bring your own materials for jewelry fabrication. Call the instructor with any questions.

Wood Inlay

in a Bracelet

Maria Gross

Monday, 6-9pm

August 4-25. 4 sessions, 12 hrs

Tuition: $135 ($125*). Est. mat. fee payable to instructor: $20

You will begin by designing and fabricating a cuff bracelet with one or more long "cavities" into which you will insert small pieces of American hard wood—walnut, cherry, ash and maple. Some exotic hard wood can be used as accents. Depending on your design you might also add motifs in metal and include stone or epoxy resin inlay. Finishing the wood inlays will also be shown. The materials fee covers the wood. Bring your own sheet metal and square wire for bracelet fabrication. Call the instructor with any questions.

WORKSHOPS

Finding and Reconditioning

Cheap Tools

Ron Lippard

Sunday, 10.00am-5.00pm

March 23 . 1 session, 7 hrs

Tuition: $80 ($75*)

Est. mat. fee: $15 payable to instructor

Learn how to make something out of nothing. Finding valuable tools and raw materials at yard sales, second-hand shops and flea markets is an essential skill in developing a useful shop. Examples of “finds” and how to make them useful parts of your shop will be followed by a question and answer session. This workshop is based on techniques that have been all but lost in the present time.

Glass Engraving

Deb Meyer

Sundays, 10am-4pm

April 6 & 20. 2 sessions, 12 hrs

Tuition: $135 ($125*). Est. mat. fee payable to instructor: $30-$50

Learn to engrave your own design on glassware for a unique mother's day, graduation, or wedding gift. On the first day you will practice engraving letters and/or images on an inexpensive glass vessel using the flex shaft. You will review photographs of glass made by regional glassblowers as examples of types of glassware to bring to the second day. On day two, with Deb's assistance, you will use the tools and experience acquired to engrave unique designs on your own glassware. Materials fee includes the engraving tools and the practice glass.

Soldering Tips and Tricks

Joy Raskin

Sunday, 10am-5pm

April 13. 1 session 7 hrs

Tuition: $80 ($75*). Est. mat. fee payable to the instructor: $15

If you need more confidence in soldering this is the class for you. Bring current projects to work on as you increase your soldering skill and confidence. We will focus on trouble-shooting using your projects and Joy's. Although participants will most likely be using silver solder, gold soldering will also be discussed. The type of torch and fuel you might choose will also be addressed. This class is designed for intermediate students who have basic soldering experience.

Creating with Argentium Sterling Silver

Cynthia Eid

Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm

April 26 & 27. 2 sessions 14 hrs

Tuition: $300 ($295*). Est. mat. fees payable to instructor: TBA

This two-day workshop is for people who want to become comfortable working with Argentium® sterling silver sheet and wire. Demonstrations will include annealing, soldering and hardening. Fusing demonstrations will include: fusing granules to sheet, sheet to sheet, wire to wire, keum boo, and gold to Argentium® sterling. It is also possible to create three-dimensional sculptures, fusing the Argentium® silver wire as if it were welding rod. Following demonstrations, you will have time to make your own technical samples and/or finished jewelry projects. Students with basic jewelry and metalsmithing skills, as well as professionals are welcome.

Alchemy: An Introduction to Working with

Precious Metal Clay

Marcia Herson

Saturday, 9am-5pm

May 3. 1 session, 8 hrs

Tuition: $80 ($75*). Material fee payable to instructor: $40

Precious Metal Clay (PMC) is the most exciting innovation in jewelry making in years. Worked like a clay, when kiln-fired it is transformed into fine silver. In this one-day introduction you will learn the characteristics of the three forms of PMC and related products. With this knowledge you will design and execute your own pendant or earrings in the morning and a hollow bead in the afternoon. A list of recommended tools and supplies to bring will be sent at registration.

Further Explorations in

Precious Metal Clay

Marcia Herson

Sunday, 9am-5pm

May 4. 1 session, 8 hrs

Tuition: $80 ($75*). Material fee payable to instructor: $40

This workshop is designed for anyone who has had at least one day of PMC experience. In the morning after a short review, you will concentrate on adding glass or man-made stones to PMC. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to make either a hollow or a 3-D form. A list of recommended tools and supplies to bring will be sent at registration.

Exploring Your Personal Expression with

Faux Bone™

Robert Dancik

Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm

May 17 & 18. 2 sessions, 14 hrs

Tuition: $200 ($195*). Est. mat. fee payable to the instructor: $20

Come and explore this new, exciting and versatile material. Faux Bone™ is perfect for artwork as varied as jewelry and book making, sculpture, or printmaking. It can be easily embossed to make texture plates for PMC and basket makers can use it to simulate Scrimshaw on the top of Nantucket Baskets. In this workshop, we will explore these possibilities and more. During this hands-on workshop, you will use Faux Bone™ in lots of different ways and in conjunction with many other materials. The instructor will have the Faux Bone™ shaping tools for everyone to use during the workshop, as well as other tools and goodies.

Amber: An Easy Introduction To Gemstone Carving

Derek Levin

Sunday, 10am-5pm

June 8. 1session, 7 hrs

Tuition: $80 ($75*). Est. mat. and tool fee payable to instructor: $30-$50+

Shaping color, light and form is a fascination for gem carvers. The process of carving with hard stones is time consuming. For those people interested in learning to carve, but not quite ready to invest the time and money in a complex gem process, this one-day workshop using natural amber provides an introduction which should result in a lovely gem suitable for setting. Besides it’s own intrinsic beauty, an advantage to amber carving is that many of the tools are inexpensive and easily available. This takes the pressure off completing a work of art in one day because work unfinished in the class session can be easily completed at home with a fine polish and minimal investment. Derek will bring a variety of amber pieces to choose from.