.leah meleski.
metalsmith
This exciting two-day workshop shows students of any skill level how to make a series of silver, stackable rings. Participants will start with wire, sheet metal, and loose stones and turn them into as many as 6 coordinating rings to wear together or alone. Throughout the class, students will be introduced to basic skills that are essential to metalsmithing; including sawing, soldering, sizing, texturing, and polishing metal. We will utilize premade bezel settings for cabochons. Students will leave the class confident with their soldering skills and a handful of rings!
Stackable Rings
September 29 & 30
Earrings, Pendant & Ring
October 20-22
This 3-day workshop introduces the basics of bezel-setting cabochon gemstones. A cabochon is a gemstone that has been shaped and polished, usually with a rounded top and a flat reverse. Jewelers will use a bezel setting as means to connect a cabochon to a piece of metal. Bezel settings involve a thin band of fine silver that is formed around the gemstone to hold it in place. Techniques covered in class will include utilizing both pre-made bezel cups as well as fine silver tubing to create a setting for small round stones. Students are introduced to basic skills that are essential to metalsmithing, including sawing, soldering, setting stones, and finishing metal. Students will leave class with a finished pendant, earrings, and ring.
This is a beginning class that will reinforce and build upon the stone-setting skills learned in Metalsmithing & Jewelry 1.
Have you ever wondered how to create stunning one-of-a-kind jewelry? If so, this beginning jewelry class series is for you. It is the perfect introductory class that will help you to develop fundamental metalsmithing skills, good studio habits, and an appreciation for handcrafted jewelry.
Throughout this class series, you will learn essential processes and techniques that create the foundation for good studio practice. Class time will be spent learning a variety of processes that include piercing shapes from metal with a jeweler’s saw, adding texture to metal, soldering, and annealing metal with a torch. As well as how to bezel set a cabochon gemstone and create a stunning sterling silver ring. While a majority of these processes are reinforced through the creation of samples, you will also leave class with several finished original pieces of jewelry including a ring and a pendant.
Metalsmithing & Jewelry 1
Wednesdays November 1-December 20
Mentored Open Studio
Tuesdays, November 21-December 19
Do you have a project that you have been struggling with or maybe have dying to make but have no idea how to start?
Join Leah in the jewelry studio and work on a personal project that you need help with. Students are asked to come to class with a project that may be unfinished or several sketches of project(s) that you want to work on. The class will include a discussion of fabrication techniques and specific demonstrations on techniques tailored to assist you in completing your own project.
This class will encourage independence and foster confidence in the Jewelry Studio while preparing you for our independent Open Studio time.
Earrings 101
Tuesdays, October 24-November 14
During this class, students of any skill level will learn a variety of metalsmithing techniques and create 3 sets of original earrings. Participants start with wire, sheet metal and turn their materials into either stud or dangle earrings. On the 1st day of class, students will learn how to use the rolling mill and make simple textured earrings and ear wires. On the 2nd day of class, students will learn how to shape their earrings using hammers, dapping sets, and more. On the 3rd day of class, students will learn to bend simple shapes out of wire and solder them together making a pair of stud earrings. On the 4th day of class, students have the opportunity to finish earrings and make an additional pair of their own designs.
Students will leave class with at least 3 pairs of earrings that they can easily turn into beautiful holiday gifts and a solid appreciation of basic skills that are essential to metalsmithing.