JEWELRY CLASSES
**Minimum of 2-3 students to hold a class, depending on the class.
Please make sure to read our Cancellation/Refund Policy before registering. Cheers!
GOLDSMITHS APPRENTICE PROGRAM
During this comprehensive training program, equip yourself with the skills needed to enhance your jewelry techniques or if you are a beginner, start your journey in the jewelry trade.
With a focus on fine jewelry fabrication, GAP (Goldsmiths Apprentice Program) is designed to train the student as an apprentice, as it was throughout history when apprentices were taught the age-old practice of repetition to develop a skill while working under a master craftsperson.
GAP students will learn skills such as sawpiercing, filing, soldering, hand fabrication, stone setting, wax carving and casting, finishing, polishing and tool making, all with the focus being fine jewelry.Sharpen your skill set, strengthen your technique and level up your hand fabrication and finishing.
The Goldsmiths Apprentice Program is a 12 week program structured into 3 week sessions focusing on the fundamental skills of fine jewelry fabrication. Each apprentice is different so the program is designed to be flexible and move at each individuals pace. We meet you were you are at and we take you where you want to be.
Session #1 Fundamentals, Fire + Fabrication
Learn the fundamental basics of jewelry fabrication such as sawpiercing, filing, texturing, soldering, pouring ingots, rolling out metal, pulling wire, make a tool with precision measuring (learning to use dividers), prepare a bench pin. Simple fabrication such as making a bezel and bail for a cabochon stone pendant and setting it. Fabricate and solder a chain link bracelet with a toggle clasp.
Session #2 Practice, Set, Practice
Continue saw piercing practice with inlay and domed pieces. Fabricate three different forged tapered shanks with settings. Fabricate a four prong wire pendant setting with bail.
Beginning Stone Setting Fundamentals and Practice! The key word is PRACTICE. We provide ring blanks for the student to practice over and over until they are proficient to set the stones in the rings they will fabricate. Fabricate three forged tapered shank rings with three different settings.
Session #3 Ready, SET, Go
Flush setting, shared prong setting, channel setting…
Setting fancy shapes in prongs. Practice a channel and shared prong setting. Fabricate a channel band and set stones. More ring fabrication such as a bypass ring with three stones.
Session #4 Design, Carve, Cast + Finish
Practice wax carving and the skills needed to produce a finished wax to be cast. Learn the casting process and finishing work, which is emphasized. Finish work is IMPORTANT. No cutting corners. Set stones in the finished pieces. Multiple pieces are made to practice. Introduction to jewelry repair such as ring sizing, re-tipping, and chain repair.
Monday-Friday Program
Spring/Summer 2025
March 24-April 11 FULL
April 28-May 16 FULL
May 19-June 6 FULL
Summer 2025
July 7-25
Fall 2025
Sept 1-19
Nov 3-21
Session Tuition: $2250
Scholarships Available
For more information and to apply, contact [email protected]
*Dates are subject to change
OPEN STUDIO
Once you have taken a class at MAA, you can attend Open Studio on Fridays to work on projects, use the equipment and bend Michaels ear. Reserve a spot at the bench!
Fridays:
Morning Session 10am-12:30pm $30
Afternoon Session 1:30pm-4pm $30
All Day 10am-4pm $55
*Please check the calendar, sometimes we have a class scheduled on a Friday*
BEGINNING THROUGH ADVANCED JEWELRY CLASSES
Beginning Jewelry Fabrication 1 $390 3 Days
In this 3 day workshop, learn the basic skills of jewelry fabrication including sawpiercing, soldering, filing, forming, texturing, annealing, and polishing. Technical vocabulary, tool and equipment use and shop safety is taught. Students learn the properties of metals such as copper, brass and sterling silver. This is a beginners class for those who have never had any jewelry instructions and for those who have had some experience and want to further their skills.
*Materials and use of tools included*
......Email [email protected] to be put on the waitlist.....
10AM-5PM
July 12, 19, 26 Saturdays
Aug 19-21
Dec 9-11
Beginning Jewelry Fabrication 2 $490
4 Days
In this 4 day continuation of BJF1, learn more comprehensive skills in basic fabrication such as disk cutting and doming, then piercing out the piece, as well as an introduction to stone setting and making a bezel. The skill of fabricating and filing a half round ring is also taught.
Prerequisite: BFJ1 or equivalent experience with sawpiercing and silver soldering.
*Materials and use of tools included*
10AM-5PM
Aug 26-29
Wax Carving + Intro to Casting $620 4 Days
In this 4 day workshop, learn to create a wax model by layout, carving, sawing and wax build-up. An introduction to casting includes making a plaster mold, burn out and casting in sterling silver.
Prerequisite: BFJ1 or equivalent experience with sawpiercing and silver soldering.
*Materials and use of tools included*
10AM-5PM
TBA
Stone Setting 1 $415 3 Days
Learn the basic skills of stone setting, including prong, flush and tube setting in this 3 day class. Also set a solitaire in a 4 prong setting.
Prerequisite: BFJ1 and BJF2 or equivalent experience with sawpiercing and silver soldering.
*Materials and use of tools included*
10AM-5PM
Oct 16-18
*Bundle this class with SS2 and spend a week with us! 🙂
Stone Setting 2 $515 4 Days
Continue to learn new skills in setting shared prong stones and channel round stones in this 4 day class. Also set a square V prong setting.
Prerequisite: BJF1 and 2 and Stone Setting 1 or equivalent experience.
*Materials and use of tools included*
10AM-5PM
Oct 19-22
*Take this class along with SS1 and spend a week with us 🙂
Introduction to Bead Setting $595 4 Days
Introduction to Bead Setting including how to shape and sharpen your graver, stone layout, setting in a flat plate, setting in a ring, and finish work.
*Tuition is $595 for the class and Tool Kit. Kit Includes 6 gravers, 6 handles and a beading tool.
Prerequisite: Stone Setting 1 or 2 or equivalent experience.
10AM-5PM
TBA
Soldering 101
Learn the basics of silver soldering! This is a three day intensive class. Tackle and learn how to solve different soldering situations that may arise. Learn how to solder wire to wire, end to end, wire to plate, sweat soldering, etc. Instruction of when and why to use different solder is covered. Practical soldering knowledge and technique being the focus. Silver soldering, using propane/oxygen torches.
*Materials and use of tools included
Tuition: $325
10AM-5PM
WAITLISTS AVAILABLE: If a class is full, please email [email protected] to be put on the waitlist. Thank you!
Aug 6-8
Keum Boo with Alexandra Hart $290 One Day Workshop
TBA
Includes materials for two small pendants. Extra materials may be purchased.
Intro to Chasing: Jewelry 3 Days $325
In this 3 day introduction to the small scale of jewelry chasing, we will be using die struck jewelry as our canvas. Topics include an introduction to the tools needed to chase and techniques of chasing to bring your piece to life. The skills learned can be applied to hand fabricated pieces, cast pieces, and CAD alike.
Prerequisite: Bench skills required (saw piercing and filing)
Materials and tools needed are included in the tuition.
Tuition for the class: $325
June 24-26 SOLD OUT
Nov 18-20
Beginning Hand Engraving
$950 4 Days
In this 4 day class of beginning hand engraving for jewelry and precious metals, you will learn the different pneumatic systems, proper workbench set up, graver preparation, microscope set up, work holding, how to make burnishers, scribes, transfers, cutting straight lines to curves, how to properly use you vice, lettering and scrolls. This class will introduce a strong foundation to you for working in the jewelry trade. Taught by Paul Lowe (@sp_hand_engraving) Class is 10am-5pm
Dates:
April 23-26, 2025 SOLD OUT
June 30-July 3
Beginning Hand Engraving Jewelry Class
CRAFT JEWELRY CLASSES
WIRE WRAPPING CLASSES
3 HOUR CLASS
TUITION: $75-$85
BEGINNING WIRE WRAPPING
This craft class introduces the student to the basic skills in the art of wire wrapping jewelry. Join Lacey Buell, a local jeweler, for a 3 hour class where she will introduce you to this creative art form! Stones and wire are all included. There is an additional cost of $20 to use Sterling Silver wire. Leave with a beautiful piece, or two, or three.... made by YOU! $75 Tuition
ADVANCED WIRE WRAPPING
In this 4 hour class, learn more advanced skills such as the "Tree of Life". All materials included. There is an additional cost of $20 to use Sterling Silver wire. $75 Tuition
March 16 10am-1pm
COPPER CRAFT JEWELRY CLASS
Copper has begun to see a revival! Join us for this 3 hour craft jewelry class where you will be learning skills such as cutting, forming, filing, texturing, making earring wire, forging bracelets, hammering, stamping and using a foredom flex shaft to do clean up. All materials are included. Metals used are copper and brass. There is an additional cost of $20 to use Sterling Silver. Everyone will leave with a completed project, focused on earrings, pendants, OR bracelets. $75 Tuition
May 25 10am-1pm
METAL ARTS CLASSES
Pewtersmithing and the Hydraulic Press 101 3 day Workshop
Pewter & Hydraulic Press!!
This is too good to be true!
Learn the exciting world of both Pewtersmithing and Hydraulic Press in the same three-day workshop with Lisa Slovis Mandel. Learn how to utilize the malleability of pewter to create fluid forms quickly and easily. You will learn how to fuse hiding any parts and creating one unique piece.
For the hydraulic press, learn the ins and outs of die making. How to make your forms on a press, and how to alter pressed forms to make your pieces more unique. Both of these techniques are fast, fun and worth a try- you may love it!
Tuition including materials: $525
June 20-22
10am-5pm
Pewtersmithing and the Hydraulic Press 101
Intro to Chasing with Douglas Pryor 3 Days $525
3 Day Chasing Workshop
Chasing is a style of relief work in sheet metal that can be applied to almost anything. From tea pots to battle armour it is used to create sculptural narrative in metal now and throughout human history.
For me the art of chasing is a beautiful fusion between illustration and sculpture. The ability to transform any drawing into a three dimensional form is one of the most exciting and challenging aspects of relief work.
In this 3 day chasing course we will focus on building a knowledge base of different chasing techniques, material control, pitch management, and how to use illustration and design to compliment relief work in sheet metal.
Participants will work on up to two projects in 18ga (approx 1mm) copper. The first project is a structured follow along design matched to the individual's skill level. If there is time the second project will be assigned on an individual basis to best complement their growth and interests.
Participants can be expected to draw, it is not a prerequisite as there are many projects that can be traced but drawing is highly encouraged. As sheet metal is shaped it distorts and changes in volume requiring the maker to redraw elements of the design by hand. Certain intermediate to advanced designs can only be made this way, but not to worry if drawing is a newer skill set as we have many available projects that only require tracing.
Participants can expect to swing a hammer in this 3 day chasing workshop for 7-8 hours a day, the hammers are not very heavy but it should be kept in mind that it is very physical work.
All Skill Levels Welcome!
8:30am-5:00pm
$525
August 12-14
Sculptural Metalsmithing Workshop $385
Two Day Workshop with Alexandra Hart
September 6-7, 2025
Click on the link to Register:
ANTICLASTIC BRACELETS $350
Two day workshop with Alexandra Hart
DATES: Dec 13-14
From the instructor:
Learn the basic concepts and techniques developed in the Bronze Age in Ireland-“rediscovered” by Hekki Seppä, Michael Good and Brian Clarke-of shell structures and anti-clastic hammering to create bracelets. Get to know and control the movement of the metal using the most fundamental and direct techniques of a few hammers and stake forms.
Beginners can learn every step in the process-there is no soldering in this class, and intermediate and advanced level students can expand the projects to their own levels. In this class the first project will be a fold formed anticlastic cuff bracelet, learning how to preserve the raised seam while forming the bracelet’s opposing curves with attention to design.The second project will be forming a tightly spiraled anticlastic piece over specialized stakes and unraveling it to reveal undulations created by the compression and expansion of the metal.
Experienced students can use these techniques to create more variations and individualized projects with instruction as class time permits. As with most projects, preparation of the material takes time to create a useful and comfortable piece. After that you will be working with steel and plastic hammers for much of the two days, with coaching on proper position and grip. For class we will work with 19 ga and 24 ga copper sheet, but sterling silver and other metals are welcome (it is advised to avoid argentium sterling due to the lack of spring and risk of cracking when annealing)
10AM-5PM
For more information about the instructor and to see more work, visit www.alexandrahart.com
Introduction to Fold Forming with Alexandra Hart
May 24, 2025
10AM-5PM
Coppersmithing Workshop $150
Copper Rose Class $175
"Copper is one of the most important metals mentioned by ancient historians. It was known before the time of Tubal Cain, who was an educator in its works as well as brass and iron. Historians say that Cadmus discovered it and taught its application to his countrymen. It was noticed on the island of Euboea, near the city of Chalcis and this may be why the Grecian's called it 'chalcos', which is the name that Homer and other authors called it. The Romans knew copper as 'aes cyprum' and 'cyprum', names from the island of Cyprus, where some believe the art of working it was discovered. In the mystic nomenclature of alchemists, copper is known as Venus, the sacred goddess of Cyprus." We will start with a square of copper, and then circle the square to begin the process of raising the copper into a vessel or bowl. This project is difficult yet rewarding and fun, we learn through the experience with copper that rhythm does indeed replace power.
- Keith Gelber, Instructor
10AM-5PM
TBA
