LAPIDARY, SILVERMITH & ARTISANJEWELRY CLASSES & WORKSHOPS |
All classes are offered through Green Valley Recreation (GVR). Click here to register for classes and to view the class schedules. Course catalogs can also be picked up at all GVR centers. Click here to jump to Workshops |
ClasseS
GETTING STARTED IN JEWELRY MAKING
These are beginner classes and prerequisites for intermediate and advanced classes. Click here to view and enroll in the current and future beginner classes. Basic Chain Maille BraceletBEGINNING LEVEL - Chain Maille is the art of adding links of a chain, or jump rings, together to make a pattern for jewelry. You will learn two patterns in forming bracelets. You will learn about wire gauge, hardness, and shapes used. Lapidary Club membership is required to use any of the club's equipment. Material fees may increase due to increased costs. Materials include: jump rings, and clasps. Students should bring at least 2 pliers (bent-nose and flat-nose preferably), or loaners will be available. Material fee of $40 paid to instructor at the first class. Material fees may increase due to increased costs. Basic Wire Wrapping for Jewelry BEGINNING LEVEL - This class is a prerequisite for more advanced wire wrap classes taught by the GVR Lapidary Club. You will learn basic wire wrapping techniques and complete three projects; pendants and earrings. Learn about metal gauges, types of wire, tools and supply sources. SUPPLIES: Bring jewelry pliers if you have them, and a fine-tip sharpie. Tools will be available for purchase. NOTE: Working with pliers may be difficult for arthritic hands. Magnifier lights are provided. Material fee of $25 paid to instructor. Material fees may increase due to increased costs. Dichroic Glass JewelryBEGINNING LEVEL - Students complete three pieces of fusible dichroic glass. Pieces may be used for pendants or earrings. Class gives a basic knowledge of glass fusion and dichroic glass capabilities. No prior experience necessary. Tools furnished for class. Two day class. Class includes cutting, design, fusing and finishing. Upon successfully completing this class and joining the Lapidary Club, students will have the opportunity to attend weekly workshops to further their knowledge and expand their skills. Material fee of $50 paid to instructor on the first day. Material fees may increase due to increased costs. Exploring More with PMCBEGINNER LEVEL - What jewelry you’ll make in class depends on how much you've worked with PMC! Teaching will be flexible according to participants' wishes -- the best possible 3 hours! Supplies, equipment, and tools will be available for use. We’ll torch fire for immediate results, or if you can leave your piece to be fired in the kiln. This class is required to enroll in "PMC Open Studio" Workshops. Material Fee of $75 may increase due to current market values. Kumihimo IBEGINNER LEVEL- students will learn to make a necklace using the Kongo Gumi pattern, a basic round or spiral braid. Students will receive a beginner's kit along with written instructions and materials purchasing information. Once you have mastered the steps offered in this class, you can create beautiful jewelry just by varying the size, color, and placement of cord on the disk. This class is a prerequisite to KUMIHIMO II. Materials fee of $35 will be paid to the teacher. Lapidary ClassBEGINNING LEVEL - Learn the steps to cut, grind, and polish stone slabs to make cabochons for jewelry. This class requires standing for most of the sessions and walking to work on the different equipment. SUPPLIES: Need to wear old clothes and close-toed shoes as water is used at most stations. This class and Lapidary Club membership are required in order to use the equipment independently. Material fee of $45 paid to the instructor on the first day. Material fees may increase due to increased costs. Learn to Use the Torch
BEGINNING LEVEL - Learn forging and annealing techniques (acetylene/air torch) to create a cuff bracelet and forged pendant. Foremost will be safety for this introduction to using the torch to anneal, or soften, the metal before forming. You will be inspired by other club members' examples of copper, brass, and silver jewelry. This class and club membership are prerequisites for intermediate classes and use of equipment offered by the GVR Lapidary & Silversmithing Club. Material fee of $25 paid to the instructor. Material fees may increase due to increased costs. Precious Metal Clay - BasicsBEGINNER LEVEL – Precious Metal Clay (PMC) consists of tiny particles of silver suspended in an organic binder. It can be molded, textured, and sculpted into a variety of shapes. This class will cover basic tools and techniques as you make a pair of dangling earrings, a pendant, or a couple of charms. Beginners and those wanting to refresh their PMC skills are welcome. This class is required to enroll in "PMC Open Studio" Workshops. Material Fees may increase due to current market values. Material fee: $75 to instructor. Intermediate and Advanced ClassesClick here to view and enroll in the current and future intermediate and advanced classes.
Bundle Wrap CabochonINTERMEDIATE LEVEL- Prerequisite: Completion of Basic Wire Wrapping Class or equivalent experience AND Lapidary Club membership. We will use square and half-round wire to create a mounting for a cabochon pendant. Polished cabochons provided. Bring jewelry-making tools (pliers, flush-cutter, ruler and fine-tip Sharpie). Tools available for purchase. NOTE: Requires working with pliers and can be difficult for arthritic hands. Material Fees may increase due to current market values. Material fee: $30 to instructor. Die-Cutting Bracelet LinksINTERMEDIATE LEVEL- Prerequisite: Learn the Torch class or equivalent experience AND Lapidary Club membership. Learn to use die-cutting equipment to punch many shapes to make bracelet links: circles, hearts, ovals, rectangles and teardrops. Learn to safely use the 20-ton hydraulic press and other forming tools. Have fun experimenting with textures to create a fun-to-wear bracelet. Materials are copper, red brass, and sterling silver. This class is required for club members to use this equipment independently. Material Fees may increase due to current market values. Material fee: $25 to instructor. Kumihimo IIINTERMEDIATE LEVEL- Prerequisites: Kumihimo I class or prior Kumihimo experience AND Lapidary Club membership. Students will learn to load 8mm seed beads onto size 18 nylon thread and place it on the disk they received in Kumihimo I to make a beaded rope. Supplies must be purchased before attending this class. Supplies list will be available from the CSRs. Using the same disk movements learned in Kumihimo I will now allow students to create unique and varied necklaces and bracelets using a variety of beads and styles. Material fee of $20 to be paid to teacher. Material fees may increase due to increased costs. Learn to SolderINTERMEDIATE LEVEL- Prerequisite: Learn the Torch OR previous annealing experience AND club membership. Please note: This class is a prerequisite for more advanced silversmith classes. Students will learn the basics of torch soldering to make jewelry. Begin developing skills and confidence needed to fabricate jewelry from silver and other metals. Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. Optivizor (magnifier) provided. Bring lunch. Material Fees may increase due to current market values. Materials charge: $40 to instructor. Lost Wax CastingINTERMEDIATE LEVEL- Prerequisites: Learn the Torch class or verified experience AND Lapidary Club membership. This is an introduction to Lost Wax Casting to create jewelry. The process of casting by this method allows for the reproduction of multiple copies of an original piece of jewelry. The process: Creating or producing object to be cast, spruing the wax object to be cast, investing object into casting flask, oven burnout, casting the metal, cleaning the object after casting. Material Fees may increase due to current market values. Material fee: $40 to instructor. Metalsmith Tools - Design and FormINTERMEDIATE LEVEL - Prerequisite: Learn the Torch class OR recent jewelry torch experience AND GVR Lapidary Club membership. Use hammers and forming tools to make a forged copper heavy wire bracelet, flower pendant, and silver earrings by annealing and shaping. Give your jewelry interest using the Lapidary Club specialized tools and equipment. Have fun making your own creative jewelry to wear or give as gifts. Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. Material Fees may increase due to current market values. Materials Fee: $30. Saw and Rivet Cool EarringsINTERMEDIATE LEVEL - Learn the basic jewelry makers’ skills of using a jewelers’ hand saw and easy riveting to hold component parts together. Both brass and copper will be used, and you’ll have a unique earring design that you’ll be able to replicate in various creative shapes. You will learn to use Lapidary Club tools including a drill press, bench pin, texture & riveting hammers, files, patina solution, and polishing tools. All materials and tools are provided. Wear close-toed shoes, apron, and tie long hair back. Material fees may increase due to current market values. Material fee: $20. Silversmith 1 - Bezel Set StoneINTERMEDIATE LEVEL - Prerequisites: Club Membership AND Learn to Solder or equivalent experience soldering silver. Tools and materials will be furnished to make a bezel cup for a pendant. Wear old clothes, closed-toe shoes. Tie long hair back. Please indicate special physical needs when registering. Optivisor magnification is provided. Open flames will be used, so oxygen tanks cannot be allowed. Strong magnets in some equipment may affect a pacemaker; concerned individuals seek advice from your physician. Material Fees may increase due to current market values. Material fee: $50 to instructor. Three Easy RingsINTERMEDIATE LEVEL/CLUB MEMBERS ONLY:- Prerequisite: Learn the Torch class or equivalent Metalsmith/Annealing skills AND Lapidary Club membership. Learn to Solder class may be helpful. You will practice safely using Lapidary Club equipment while learning to size and make three styles of rings in sheet metal and wire. Choose to solder rings or form styles without soldering. Copper and sterling are provided. Upon class completion you will have the option of attending a future workshop to add a stone to a soldered, wedding-band style ring that you have made. Note: Pacemaker wearers- Club equipment may have strong magnets; consult your physician. Bring lunch. Material fee: $30 to instructor Workshops provide the opportunity for you to work on your projects with the support of instructors and/or experienced assistants. Bring your materials and tools with you. Depending on the workshop, tools may be provided and materials may be available for purchase. All participants must be a member of the GVR Lapidary and Silversmith Club. Dichroic Glass Workshop Prerequisite: Open to all members who have completed the GVR Dichroic Jewelry class. Work on your own projects with help available if you need it. Learn new skills from experienced instructors. Tools are provided; there is a small fee for firing. Materials such as fusible glass, dichroic glass and findings are available for purchase.
Tuesdays: Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Location: East Center Studio
Metal Forming Workshop Prerequisite: Open to all members who have completed the GVR Learn to Use the Torch class. Join us for this free open workshop - enjoy an evening of sharing ideas, using the wonderful metal forming tools and equipment, and have fun! Just bring your own supplies and ideas! Location: Desert Hills Lapidary Center Check the GVR Lapidary Club Calendar for days when the workshop is offered.Metal Clay Workshop You can sign up for this open-studio workshop once you take "Metal Clay Jewelry" or another metal-clay class. Bring your project to life using the studio and tools with the hands-on instructor. You can learn how to join clay pieces to give your creation depth, roll the perfect texture, add a bail, embellish your work with syringe clay, and include CZs or dichroic elements. You can sign up without a particular project to observe, learn, and be inspired. |
Promoting interest and education in lapidary, silversmith and other jewelry crafts for GVR members. |
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