Guest Instructor Workshops

Taking Shape: An Introduction to Chasing & Repousse’

Call to register for this workshop (919) 732-9702 or register online.

In this 3-day workshop, you will learn the beautiful and ancient process of chasing and repousse’.

This technique involves chiseling out a design on the front of flat metal, raising the metal from the back of the piece to create volume and definition, and lastly, working on the front of the metal for refining details and adding texture.

The repetitive hammering while moving the punches into and along the metal, while pushing—sculpting slowly— is ritualistic in itself, becoming purposeful and sacred.

With every hammer strike, every mark in metal becomes the essence of expression of that which is intimate and revealing.

Call to register for this workshop (919) 732-9702 or register online.

From the simple to the complex, who doesn’t want to add a little color to their jewelry, or maybe your own patterns and images?

This class focuses on my technique for drawing on metal with colored pencils. Learn to add color and excitement to your work with my special technique.

In this 3-day class, you should finish at least one pendant and several sample pieces. Fabrication techniques will be covered as time allows.

All levels are welcome. If you have taken Drawing on Metal in the past, we will build on those skills and talk more about design.

Call to register for this workshop (919) 732-9702 or register online.

Painting Enamels and Experimental Enameling

Students will explore the timeless process of painting enamels. Starting with an opaque white background sifted on copper, students will add line drawings with graphite pencils. They can also transfer images to the etched white prepared surface.

Painting enamels are then added in delicate opaque patterns and designs. Turning copper into a domed shape plus annealing and cleaning metal surfaces will also be covered.

The teacher will demonstrate sifting enamels and proper firing techniques. Finally, students will finish the jewelry piece and make a basic sterling silver setting.

Call to register for this workshop (919) 732-9702 or register online.

Take your jewelry skills to the next level with this Faceted Gemstone Setting Workshop.

This weekend class will teach faceted round and fancy shape stone setting into prongs, v-prongs, flush set and hammered bezel. You will also learn how to create and set prong and bezel settings to hold unique shape stones such as marquis and pear shape.

Students will be working with sterling silver. Other metals are optional. All tools and materials will be provided. Extra materials and gemstones available for purchase.

Students must have taken Tools and Skill: The Fundamentals of Metalsmith class or have prior experience in soldering, sawing and filing.

Call to register for this workshop (919) 732-9702 or register online.

Call to register for this workshop (919) 732-9702 or register online.

This workshop will teach you how to develop patterns for many of the engineering concepts that Jayne Redman works with in her jewelry. Jayne will take you through the design process from initial drawings to final prototypes and finished pieces. You will learn the principles behind centrally radiating forms, properly nested forms, spacing for slotted forms, using faux hinging, and tab construction.

Self registering, one piece blanking dies will give you the ability to quickly create multiples in metal sheet of the shapes you conceive, affording you the time to get lost in the design process and experiment with forming and assembling.

When you learn the method of sawing blanking dies from flat stock tool steel you will be amazed at how quickly you can go from original idea to duplicated shape as you make and use your own dies during class.

Call to schedule your bench time (954) 270-4493 or register online.

Create sculptural “vessel” pendants that have volume and dimension. By holding something meaningful, these pendants can play a powerful role in making us feel connected to others and in telling the story of who we are.

In this 3-day workshop you will be exploring how the Bonny Doon hydraulic press can be used to create a small scale, three-dimensional vessel.

Call to schedule your bench time (954) 270-4493 or register online.

This workshop will allow you to explore the versatility and playfulness of wearable hollow forms. You will learn how to integrate elements such as dapping, layering/fabrication, depth, texture, and tube setting. 

Students will work in copper to practice with. Students can make finished pieces both in copper and sterling silver. All material is included as well as a 4mm faceted stones.

Call to register for this workshop (919) 732-9702 or register online.

In the 2-day class, students will be introduced to the etching process using electricity. They will learn how to take a drawing, photograph or copyright-free image and convert it into a black and white drawing that can be etched onto silver.

We will be using a scanner, laser printer, vellum (similar to tracing paper), and photo editing software to create our images and print them on PnP film. Students will then etch their drawings onto silver.

There will be time for students to fabricate their etchings into finished pieces of jewelry if they so desire. All levels are welcome.

Call to register for this workshop (919) 732-9702 or register online.

Students will complete finished jewelry with EZ960 Sterling Silver Clay. Techniques covered may include:

• texturing the clay
• building a shadow box pendant or a perfume pendant
• setting small stones in the clay
• keum boo (adding 24k gold foil to sterling metal clay)
• proper firing steps
• finishing fired silver clay
• riveting
• adding patinas

Ring construction will also be explored.

Call to register for this workshop (919) 732-9702 or register online.

Fine-tune your skills in stone-setting by learning how to cut seats for round, oval, and marquise-shaped stones in heavy-wall bezels!

We will also go over shared prongs, and flush-setting fancy-shaped stones. With every technique, we will focus on finishing and pre-finishing settings for finer outcomes.

We will cover tips and tricks that apply to many other stone-setting situations, and build confidence by honing skills you already have.