Not all classes or instructors in a subject area cover the same material or skills!
- basket making
- This course teaches you how to weave different baskets. See class description by week on baskets to be made.
- beading
- This course teaches you to string and knot a variety of materials, as well as design your own projects using techniques employed by a professional in the field. Bring your own materials if you choose. A wide variety of beads and supplies will be available from the instructor.
- beading, seed
- Learn various stitches in the art of seed beading, from brick to peyote, every technique, from knitting to weaving. If you're a beginner, you'll get the basics. To learn what is offered in the specific classes, see the class description by week.
- cabochons
- This course teaches you to shape slabs into cabs of various shapes and sizes for bolos, belt buckles or a cab for wire wrapping, beading or silversmithing. This is a good place to start your hobby or business. Neither nodules nor corundum are to be cut or ground. Slabs should be no thicker than 1/4".
- cabochons II
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Prerequisite: Cabochons
More advanced instruction and skill building in the art of making cabochons. - carving
- Our carving classes now cover several kinds of media, so check our schedule carefully. This season we are offering soapstone carving, jade carving, and wood carving.
- casting & wax modeling
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Prerequisite: Silver I
Teaches you to use carving, sheet & wire waxes. Cast your work and finish what you cast. Some instructors teach mold making and some will have pre-made waxes for you to cast. See class description by week. - chain making
- Using copper, silver and gold-filled wire, you will learn to create bracelets in at least three different patterns of chain. You can expect to complete several bracelets or long chains.
- channel work
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Prerequisite: Silver I
This is advanced silver work and you must be able to solder. You will also be fitting stones in small places, so knowledge of CABOCHONS is very important. You must bring your own tools for this class. - cold connections
- The art of combining metals (copper, silver, gold, tin, aluminum and others) by riveting, wiring, grommets and different ways of cold (no soldering) connecting into pieces of jewelry. Note: torches may be used in this class.
- enameling
- Enameling is the art of bonding glass to metal. The enamel itself consists of glass and other minerals that are crushed to a fine powder. There are several techniques that are used. Additional materials will be available for purchase.
- faceting I
- This course is designed for individuals with little or no faceting experience. The student is taught the basic fundamentals of faceting and should complete at least one round standard brilliant stone. You will need an optivisor/magnifier for this class.
- faceting II
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Prerequisite: Faceting I
This course is intended for intermediate and advanced students with the programs designed to meet the individual's needs. Intermediate students are introduced to new stone shapes and different methods of polishing. - gem identification
- This course will provide a background for individuals who want to know the essentials of what to look for, and what to avoid, in shopping for gemstones. It involves use of instruments such as microscope, refractometer, polariscope, dichroscope UV fluoroscope, etc.
- gem trees
- Using wire and gemstones you will create small and large trees. You will also learn to identify the different tumbled gemstones.
- glass fusing
- Students will learn about the compatibility of glasses and ways to combine dichroic and other glasses to produce jewelry using glass cabochons. This includes how to cut, arrange and stack glass, safe operation of a kiln and proper fusing techniques.
- glass fusing, advanced
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Prerequisite: at least 1 Glass Fusing I class
- gold smithing
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Prerequisite: Silver I and Silver II
Gold fabrication. You must bring your own tools for this class. - intarsia
- A variety of stones are accurately cut and precisely fitted to form intricate designs. This course teaches how to create Intarsia using a faceting or intarsia machine to cut, grind and polish the Intarsia pieces. It would be helpful to have had Cabochons or Faceting.
- lampwork beads
- Basic class with an introduction to working with either Hot Head torches or National torches using oxygen and propane. You will learn how to make beads using dichroic glass. Didymium glasses are necessary. Please wear 100% cotton clothing and closed toe shoes.
- lampwork beads II
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Prerequisite: prior, recent Lampwork Beads
Focus will be on advancing techniques and more elaborate decorations of beads. - mineral identification
- This course will help you to learn and identify the different minerals (rocks) you have found or would like to find. There are field trips for which you will need old clothes, boots or old shoes for wading in the water. There is also some hiking involved.
- opals
- This course teaches you to cut opals to find the best in the stone. Australian opals will be cut into solid stones, doublets and triplets. Boulder opals, Mexican and other types of opals will be covered.
- photography of jewelry
- This course covers the following: You and your digital camera, lighting and the use of a photographic tent.
- polymer clay
- In the beginner's class students will learn how to handle polymer clay for beads - millefiore cane-making and shaped beads primarily. Advanced students will learn faux stones, polishing and more involved bead making or "critters, folks & vessels".
- scrimshaw
- This course teaches you the art of scrimshaw as you progress from practice pieces to finished gift quality projects. You will lean the various techniques of line cut, stippling and tinting . In addition, you will learn the history of scrimshaw, how to identify and work with different types of ivory, and how to make and maintain your tools. Drawing skills are not a prerequisite though patience is a plus. All ivory used in the class is either antique or fossilized, and is completely legal for use as scrimshaw.
- silver I
- Create rings, pins, pendants, etc. by learning to cut, solder and finish silver and set cabochon stones. Basic jewelers tools are supplied. Silver and cabochon stones may be purchased from the instructor.
- silver II
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Prerequisite: 2 classes in Silver I
Continue to develop your skills and learn more advanced techniques of silversmithing by designing individual projects. You must bring your own tools for this class. - silver clay (pmc)
- This clay is composed of precious metal, ground into very fine powder and placed into an organic binder with water. Fired properly, the binder burns off and the metal powder fuses to become pure silver or 22 K gold. There are two class levels, basic and advanced. The basic level is open to all students.
- silver clay II, III (pmc)
- These are advanced certification classes. Students must have completed a basic certification class (either PMC or Art Clay) prior to taking our advanced classes.
- spool knitting
- In this class you will learn the art of "knitting" wire with a spool and crochet hook, making single knit, double knit and treble knit using fine silver or copper wire. Beads can be added to cords or chains. You could also put on cones and make hooks to finish the chain or cord. Kits of a spool, crochet hook, draw block (plate), 1 oz of fine silver wire and instructions will be furnished.
- stained glass
- Learn the basics of stained glass using the copper foil method of construction on projects of your own choosing. All tools will be provided in the classroom.
- stained glass, intermediate & advanced
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Prerequisite: prior Stained Glass, must be able to cut glass
More advanced techniques and projects will be the focus. - wirecraft I
- This course teaches you how to create bracelets, pendants, rings and earrings using gold-filled wire and/or sterling silver. There are tools available for your use.
- wirecraft II
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Prerequisite: Wirecraft I
In this course your instructor will work with the student at whatever level he/she has achieved. You must bring your own tools for this class. - wire sculpture
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Prerequisite: 2 classes in Wirecraft I
Freeform sculpture with wire to make mostly pendants and earrings. You will be using a dead soft wire in your choice of gold or silver. You must bring your own tools for this class.