SILVER II
INSTRUCTOR: HEIDI MANDICH
Our focus in Silver II will be to strengthen sawing and soldering skills as you develop your own design esthetic. This will be done through a series of projects that will build on techniques from your Silver I foundation. We will continue to explore some unique advantages of using Argentium Sterling Silver (940). For sawing, we will make a pair of matched earrings using a jeweler’s saw to create intricate pierced (interior cuts) designs. For Argentium we will learn the advantages of its fusing properties and clean finish to balls as design elements, creating a fused pendant. For soldering skills, we will construct a hollow form piece with multiple solder joins and see how variations can be incorporated into jewelry designs. Students will then design and create a personal project which incorporates these new skills and includes setting a stone beyond basic bezel setting. We will look at a prong or tab set, perhaps a combination, maybe including a unique or unusual stone shape. The class fee includes printed materials for techniques, step by step detailed instructions for class projects, along with consumables (fuel, flux, solder, patina, saw blades, drill bits, solder brick, sandpaper) plus use of tools and equipment, as well as specialty tools and equipment provided by the instructor. It will also include Argentium Sterling Silver for 2 projects. The estimated materials fee includes Argentium Sterling Silver (with the benefit of instructor’s discount) and can be exchanged for a new replacement piece of the same size if needed. Stones and some tools are also available for purchase. Closed-toed shoes are required, and long hair needs to be tied back. Please bring eye protection – glasses or readers are fine or safety glasses.
Class Fee: $195
Est Material Fee: $150-250
Prerequisite: Silver I (need to be comfortable sawing with a jewelers saw and soldering multiple solder joints)
Additional Class Offerings: 05/05/2024, 07/14/2024, 07/21/2024, 08/18/2024