Wildacres Aug 17-23

Bench Making
  with Danny Griffin

We will start with the construction of your own jewelers’ workbench, with a removable/foldable lower leg section.  The removable leg section will make it portable enough that everyone should be able get it home in any size car (except the new minicars). Remember to leave room around your luggage for your bench! 

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Prerequisites:   None

Lab Fees:           $300

Material Fees:   est. $0

Wildacres Aug 17-23

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 17-23

Enameling

  with Ruth Prince

Enamels are basically finely ground glass that bonds with metal when heat is applied. This week we will be doing not only traditional kiln firing, but also free-wheeling torch firing. We will work with pre-cut copper shapes or design our own from sheet copper. During the week, you will explore different ways of applying enamel to create designs, including sifting, wet packing, sgraffito, and stencils.​

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Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $100

Material Fees:    est. $0+

Wildacres Aug 17-23

Metal Mania

  with Cindy Moore

We will explore a number of techniques using a variety of tools including one of my favorites the Rolling Mill and also several specialty tools I designed and created for metalsmithing. Spinner Rings, Air Chased bracelets and earrings, riveting and Wire Weaving are some of the things we will be covering. We will be covering tool and workshop safety. Time permitting, we may add more.

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Prerequisites:   Basic Metalsmithing is Helpful

Lab Fees:           $90

Material Fees:   est. $50 - $150

Wildacres Aug 17-23

SpecialProjects
   with Jeff Sheer

Class is full - Please contact Registrar to get on wait list.

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:            $65

Material Fees:    est. $0+

Wildacres Aug 17-23

Silver I and II
   with Pattie Appleby

NO previous experience required!  I’m here to help you learn, grow your skills and enjoy yourself!  You will learn basic techniques of jewelry fabrication and metalsmithing by making pieces such as rings, bracelets, earrings and/or pendants.  Students will learn soldering with a torch, piercing, forming, finishing and stone setting. A materials fee of $75 is payable at the beginning of the class and silver may be purchased from Pattie for each project at a total cost of from $100-$250 (according to how many pieces you may make!)​

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Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $75

Material Fees:    $100 - $200

Wildacres Sept 14-20

Casting
  with Bill Harr

This class will teach 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.

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Prerequisites:   None

Lab Fees:           $100

Material Fees:   est. $100 - $ Wow

Wildacres Sept 14-20

Chain Maille

  with Marilou Hillenbrand

Beginning and Intermediate Chain Maille

Chain Maille is a two thousand-year-old art form originally used to create garments worn for protection by warriors from Europe, the Middle East and the Orient. Modern approaches use these classical patterns of cold-connected jump rings for sculpture and jewelry.

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In this class you will learn the basics of how jump rings are made and how to open and close jump rings properly. Jump rings and tools are supplied as part of the cost of the class. The cost will depend on the number of completed projects and what tools are purchased.  You are welcome to bring your own.

 

Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $25

Material Fees:    est. $200 - $300

Wildacres Sept 14-20

Layered Colored Pencil Jewelry on Metal

  with Mary Karg

Layer It Up: Colored Pencils, Frames and Overlays

Discover the fun and unusual process of creating durable colored pencil drawings to copper.  In this workshop, students will experiment with my process for colored pencil application as well as assembling multiple layers of metal by riveting.  We will also spend time embracing our jewelers saw to add depth, dimension and interest to our drawings.

 

Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $350

Material Fees:    None

Wildacres Sept 14-20

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 14-20

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.

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Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $20

Material Fees:    est. $0

Wildacres Sept 14-20

Loop-in-Loop

   with Chuck Bruce

In this class, students will learn how to coil, form, cut and fuse/solder fine or sterling silver rings, to make loops, then form and weave the loops to make simple and complex chains. We will explore 4 different patterns - Roman Foldover, Single Fold-over (Foxtail), Double Fold-over (Foxtail) and Sailers Knot, students should be able finish a bracelet and pair of earrings in each. (These ancient beautiful designs are quite different from chain maille). There should also be time for additional projects or necklace versions of these chains. Tools will be provided for use, if you have your own tools, your welcome to bring them.

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Prerequisites:    Previous Silver I Class skills are helpful, but not mandatory.

Lab Fees:            $150

Material Fees:    est. $100 - $300

Wildacres Sept 14-20

Metal Mania

  with Cindy Moore

We will explore a number of techniques using a variety of tools including one of my favorites the Rolling Mill and also several specialty tools I designed and created for metalsmithing. Spinner Rings, Air Chased bracelets and earrings, riveting and Wire Weaving are some of the things we will be covering. We will be covering tool and workshop safety. Time permitting, we may add more.

​

Prerequisites:   Basic Metalsmithing is Helpful

Lab Fees:           $90

Material Fees:   est. $50 - $150

Wildacres Sept 14-20

Silver I and II

  with Pattie Applbyy

NO previous experience required!  I’m here to help you learn, grow your skills and enjoy yourself!  You will learn basic techniques of jewelry fabrication and metalsmithing by making pieces such as rings, bracelets, earrings and/or pendants.  Students will learn soldering with a torch, piercing, forming, finishing and stone setting. A materials fee of $75 is payable at the beginning of the class and silver may be purchased from Pattie for each project at a total cost of from $100-$250 (according to how many pieces you may make!)​

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Prerequisites:    None

Lab Fees:            $75

Material Fees:    $100 - $200