The Crucible

Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (A)
Entry-level class
This introduction to jewelry making begins with the simple skills of sawing, filing, sanding, soldering, texturing, annealing, stamping, polishing, safety, and design; you’ll also learn the properties of metals like copper, brass, and silver. You’ll make a sterling silver ring as well as technical samples you can use for future reference and will gain hands-on experience with techniques that can be applied to almost any kind of project—large or small.

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Also check out this class in our Youth Department and as part of a Family Fun Weekend!

Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (B)
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (A)
This continuing course in jewelry making and the metal arts will further develop the skills you learned in Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (A). You will also learn new techniques, such as bezel setting, piercing, drilling, riveting, flexible shaft techniques, safety, and design. In addition to technical reference samples, you’ll be creating an original piece of jewelry of your own design using a cabochon stone.

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Continuing Techniques in Jewelry (A): Jewelry Fabrication
Previous experience required.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Jewelry (A) & (B)
This continuing class gives students hands on experience manipulating and embellishing metal while sharpening soldering and fabrication skills by working on personal projects. Box and hollow form structures will be strongly emphasized using a hydraulic press.

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Continuing Techniques in Jewelry (B): Jewelry Casting
Previous experience required.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Jewelry (A) & (B)
In this class, you will learn practical, low-tech casting methods. You will melt and pour a silver ingot, roll out wire, and make models and molds of sand and/or carved plaster of Paris for pewter casting.

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Casting Wax to Silver Jewelry
Entry-level class
Learn the lost wax casting process, an age-old sculptural jewelry-casting process that involves creating a positive model out of wax, using that model to make a mold, then using the mold to cast a form in metal. You’ll carve, cast, and finish at least one pendant or ring in silver, and experiment with different types of wax and their working qualities as you learn the techniques and tools of this process. Bring a your sketches and ideas for jewelry.

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Also check out this class in our Youth Department.

Introduction to Polymer Clay (Rare Offering)
Entry-level class
Polymer clay is an amazingly versatile material that comes in a variety of colors. This oven-hardened modeling clay is pliable and plastic until cured. After curing, it can be carved, cut, drilled, painted, sanded, and buffed. This class is a hands-on overview of basic techniques for creating surface pattern and form in this material. You’ll learn techiques like millefiore caning and mokume gane to achieve a varity of designs. The class will also cover how to create and finish basic beads, jewelry, and vessel forms.

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Introduction to Art Clay Silver
Entry-level class
Art clay silver is 99.9 percent fine silver combined with a nontoxic binder and water. Because it is clay, it can be molded, modeled, draped, rolled, carved, stamped, and adorned with other elements to make unique and creative jewelry. The process is much easier than jewelry casting or fabrication, and you’ll create finished works in a fraction of the time. In this workshop, you’ll make up to three pieces of jewelry.

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Continuing Techniques in Art Clay Silver (Biannually)
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Introduction to Art Clay Silver
In this advanced workshop, you’ll make three pieces of jewelry, including a ring, earrings, and pendants. You’ll learn how to work with fused glass and metal clay, how to create a hollow pendant, and other techniques.

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Viking Knit with Art Clay Silver (Biannually)
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Introduction to Art Clay Silver
Form a silver wire bracelet using the ancient art of Viking Knit, a looping technique that preceded traditional knitting by centuries. Next add clasp and components made with Art Clay Silver, a new art form that uses pure silver clay, which can be molded, rolled, shaped, carved, stamped, draped and adorned with other elements to create beautiful jewelry. Finally embellish the bracelet with beads, wear and enjoy.

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Mixed Metal Silver and Copper: Art Clay
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Introduction to Art Clay Silver
Brand new and exciting Art Clay Copper is not available. It is a clay material that can be used to make a wide variety of pieces of art. It is easy to use and easy to fire. The resulting pieces are 100% pure copper. In this class we will combine Art Clay Copper and Silver to create one of a kind Mixed Metal jewelry. The student will learn techniques for using the new Art Clay Copper and several processes for combining the copper and silver.

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Introduction to Rubber Mold Making for Jewelry (Biannually)
Entry-level class
Want to make multiple copies of your jewelry? With vulcanized rubber molds, you can make wax models for the reproduction of original jewelry. The class will explore the basics of two-part molds, including hot and cold molding methods. You will make at least one vulcanized silicone rubber mold. Bring at least two original small-scale metal pieces to reproduce.

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Incorporating Found Objects into Your Jewelry (Biannually)
Entry-level class
Explore color, textures, fabrics, or a narrative by including found objects in your work. In this two-weekend class, you’ll learn how to connect objects with a variety of rivets, tabs, small screws and bolts, epoxies, and bezel settings. You will learn how to fabricate a variety of pin backs and hinges and how to work through design issues involving pre-existing materials. Bring objects and words that you would like to incorporate into a jewelry piece to the first class.

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Exploration in Chainmaking (Biannually)
Entry-level class
This class teaches the classical skills needed to make woven and Etruscan chain. You’ll learn to manipulate wire through the selected use of hand tools, making jump rings, splicing wires together, and fusing jump rings shut. Your finished one-of-a-kind silver chain can accommodate an original pendant or be worn alone.

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Silver Bracelet and Chain Mail (Biannually)
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Introduction to Art Clay Silver
Two dynamic processes come together to create a beautiful bracelet. Students will craft a bracelet centerpiece of Art Clay Silver and finish the work by creating chain mail side bands using jump rings. Both techniques will be taught in class.

Bead Casting Weekend (Yearly)
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (A) or equivalent experience
Create cast metal beads of your own design. With history as your inspiration, you’ll make wax models using ancient and modern techniques to create hollow and semi-hollow bead shapes. These models will be cast and finished in silver and bronze. Bring your sketches, ideas, and natural objects for inspiration.

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Introduction to Cast Resin & Silver Jewelry (Biannually)
Previous experience required
Prerequisite:Any jewelry class
Easy-to-use, water-clear polyester resin is a versatile material that can mimic the characteristics of metal, glass, or stone and possesses many qualities that are lacking in its older counterparts. You’ll learn to make molds, mix and pour resin liquid, polish hardened resin, and create three unique pieces of jewelry that integrate silver with your completed resin pieces.

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Introduction to Keum-Boo: Korean Metalsmithing (Biannually)
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Jewelry-making experience
Keum Boo is an ancient Korean metalsmithing technique used to apply 24-karat-gold foil to surfaces of silver and other precious metals. This simple decorative technique allows you to easily and inexpensively add rich gold color to your work. You will learn this technique step by step as you apply gold to a pillow pendant.

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Making Your Own Jewelry Stamping Tools (Biannually)
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: At least one jewelry class
Learn the art, process, and science of hardening and tempering tool steel for making decorative stamps for jewelry. You will leave the weekend with at least one center punch and one decorative stamp–maybe more.

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Home Jewelry Studio Design (Biannually)
Entry-level class
Create a work area in your home that is worthy of the projects you have in mind. This class covers torch selection and gas systems, ventilation and respiration requirements, plus safety and organization tips. You’ll design and lay out your plans for a home workspace that will fit all of your jewelry production needs.

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Gemology
Entry-level class
If you want to learn all the critical steps to becoming a jeweler, this intensive class introduces you to gemology, gemstone properties, and testing methods. You will learn how to identify different types of gems and stones, and how to use testing equipment to identify unknown stones. Class discussion includes synthetics, imitations, treatments, and enhancements; bring in your favorite jewelry pieces or gems to discuss.

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Exploration in Stone Setting
Previous experience required
Prerequisite: Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (A) & (B)
In this 2-day intensive class students are exposed to three kinds of stone settings: prong, bezel and flush settings. The first day includes a demonstration of how settings are put together; during the second session students will set their desired stones (or objects) into settings they have created. Sterling silver settings and some stones will be supplied (included in the materials fee).