Wildacres Aug 19-25

Beginning Casting
  with Bill Harr

This class will teach beginner silver casting for beginner and intermediate silversmithing. The emphasis will be on production centrifugal casting, meaning techniques for high reliability. The class will teach centrifugal and vacuum casting, wax modeling, sprueing, investing, burnout, casting, finishing and polishing, rubber mold making and wax injection.

​

Prerequisites:   No previous casting classes. This is an introductory course.

                           Previous students should not apply.

Lab Fees:           $100

Material Fees:   est. $100 - $ Wow

Wildacres Aug 19-25

Cold Connection

  with Morning Sherrod

This class will start with basic skills such as the proper use of a jewelers saw, hammering, patterns, doming with dapping blocks using a die cuter, and how to anneal metal. We will be using copper, brass, bronze, and silver to add color and character to your jewelry. Connections will be accomplished using rivets, jump rings, and wire. We will also learn about patinas and etching. 

​

Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $80

Material Fees:    est. $0 +

Wildacres Aug 19-25

SpecialProjects
   with Jeff Sheer

My class has been called by many names throughout the years but has always had the same intent: To make something you are proud of and have fun doing it. This class is “Advanced” in that I would prefer that students have a basic understanding of the craft. After taking one of the excellent beginning classes the Federation offers most people want to learn more but might not be sure what direction to go in. Most have a few unfinished projects in their tool box that need a technique or two in order to finish them. Finishing these pieces or starting something from scratch is where this class comes in.

 

Prerequisites:    Depends on projects selected

Lab Fees:            $55

Material Fees:    est. $0+

Wildacres Aug 19-25

Cabochons
   with Buddy Shotts

Students will learn the basics of making cabochons, this includes sawing, dopping stones, grinding, sanding and polishing finished cabochons. They will also learn to safely use and care for the equipment they use.

 

Prerequisites:    none

Lab Fees:            $10

Material Fees:    est. $0 - $50

Wildacres Aug 19-25

Wire Wrapping
   with Rowan Rose-Morgan

Students will enjoy a fun-filled week while learning the techniques and skills necessary to make their own wire wrapped jewelry. All that will be necessary to become a good wire artist after the class is over will be practice, practice, practice. Students will be making bracelets, pendants, rings, earrings, and other project as time allows using mostly square half-hard wire. Tools kits will be available for use in class for those who do not have tools.

​

Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $30

Material Fees:    est. $100 - $200

Wildacres Aug 19-25

Layered Colored Pencil Jewelry on Metal

   with Mary Karg

Using colored pencils, students will learn the process to apply and retain color on copper and brass. Emphasis will also be on forming and shaping metal to create multi-layered dimensional jewelry that is beautiful, interesting and unusual.

​

Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $325

Material Fees:    est. $0

Wildacres Aug 19-25

Chain Maille and fused Chain
   with Roy Deere

Beginning, Intermediate, and Fused Chain-Maillé classes will be offered at the same time in August. Your projects will match your experience. Beginning and Intermediate class information is located below. Fused Chain-Maillé descriptions are located in the August Fused Chain-Maillé class. The fused class is open to all levels.

​

Prerequisites:    Intermediate Solder Level

Lab Fees:            Beginning -           $50

                             Intermediate -     $40

                             Fused -                  $100

Material Fees:    Beginning -           est. $50 - $150

                             Intermediate -      est. $75 - $250

                             Fused -                  est. $100 - $300

Wildacres Sept 16-22

Advanced Casting
  with Bill Harr

This class will teach advanced silver casting for beginner and intermediate silversmithing. The emphasis will be on production centrifugal casting, meaning techniques for high reliability. The class will teach centrifugal and vacuum casting, wax modeling, sprueing, investing, burnout, casting, finishing and polishing, rubber mold making and wax injection. Steam casting will be covered if there is interest. Waxes will be available, and students will learn to inject their own. We will not spend much time on wax model making, but students will have that opportunity. Students will learn to make cast silver embellishments for their silversmith pieces. Students may bring items they wish to make molds of.

​

Prerequisites:   Must have taken a previous casting class at SFMS,

                            preferably from Bill Harr

Lab Fees:           $100

Material Fees:   est. $100 - $ Wow

Wildacres Sept 16-22

Cold Connection

  with Morning Sherrod

This class will start with basic skills such as the proper use of a jewelers saw, hammering, patterns, doming with dapping blocks using a die cuter, and how to anneal metal. We will be using copper, brass, bronze, and silver to add color and character to your jewelry. Connections will be accomplished using rivets, jump rings, and wire. We will also learn about patinas and etching. 

​

Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $80

Material Fees:    est. $0 +

Wildacres Sept 16-22

Silver I

  with Pattie Appleby

NO previous experience required!  You will learn basic techniques of jewelry fabrication and metalsmithing by making pieces such as rings, bracelets, and pendants.  Students will learn soldering with a torch, piercing, forming, finishing and stone setting. A materials fee of $65 is payable at the beginning of the class and silver and/or copper may be purchased from Pattie for each project at a total cost of from $50-$150 (according to how many pieces you may make!)

​

Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $65

Material Fees:    est. $50 - $150

Wildacres Sept 16-22

Electro Etching
   with Micah Kirby

Learn a design driven approach to Electro Etching. Gain knowledge using multiple masking techniques oil based marker, vinyl, P-n-P, as resists on metal. Acquire experience with two, non caustic and non gas producing electrolyte solutions salt and cupric nitrate.  Low voltage power supplies will be our power source to initiate etching.

 

Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $150

Material Fees:    est. $0+

Wildacres Sept 16-22

Stone Inlay
   with Chuck Bruce

Beginning Inlay Jewelry – Students will construct an inlay pendant (project 1), ) and student choice after. Suggestions for project, Large Inlay pendant, inlay bead, Inlay Ring, Belt Buckle, and Cuff links. Students can bring basic silver tools, pocketknife or scribe, will have most tools needed. Students need to bring or purchase 2-3 slabs of rock that are similar hardness, Woods, Fossil Ivory and can be combined for inlay. Pattern stones do very well with plain colored stone. Expect waste rock.

 

Prerequisites:    Cabochons & Silver I are both Very Helpful

Lab Fees:            $150

Material Fees:    est. $100 - $300

Wildacres Sept 16-22

Metal Clay
   with Judi Talley

In this class, I will introduce you to the fascinating medium of metal clay and demonstrate how every day moments in nature can be captured permanently in metal. While all levels of metal clay interest is welcome, I will be concentrating on capturing natural forms. Using gathered plant materials, we will make one fine-silver pendant, then expand into the alloy clays of bronze and brass, to experience the differences (and understand the challenges) between working with different alloys. We will also experience the wonder—and joy—of capturing leaf and vine into fine clays and finally into functional and beautiful pieces of jewelry. All levels of expertise are welcome to attend. You may bring your own tools if you wish, but don’t feel like you have to bring anything but yourself!

​

Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $75

Material Fees:    est. $0

Wildacres Sept 16-22

Gem Identification

   with Teresa Polly

The course will be an Introduction to Gem ID.  We will cover how to use a microscope, loupe, refractometer, polariscope, dicroscope, spectrascope and specific gravity set up to help identify stones.  We will start with basic mineral identification.  We will cover typical stone inclusions and how to tell natural stones from lab created stones.  I will have a set of tools and stones to share but please feel free to bring your own.  If you have stones you would like to ID we can work on those for show and tell.

​

Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $10

Material Fees:    est. $0

Wildacres Sept 16-22

Chain Maille and fused Chain
   with Roy Deere

Beginning, Intermediate, and Fused Chain-Maillé classes will be offered at the same time in August. Your projects will match your experience. Beginning and Intermediate class information is located below. Fused Chain-Maillé descriptions are located in the August Fused Chain-Maillé class. The fused class is open to all levels.

​

Prerequisites:    Intermediate Solder Level

Lab Fees:            Beginning -           $50

                             Intermediate -     $40

                             Fused -                  $100

Material Fees:    Beginning -           est. $50 - $150

                             Intermediate -      est. $75 - $250

                             Fused -                  est. $100 - $300