I’ve been teaching people how to make their own jewelry for several years now and, with the expansion of my studio, can now teach there, with easy access to all of my tools and equipment. You can see a list of currently offered classes and sign up on my Online Shop. You can also see upcoming class dates on my Event Calendar.
That said, I offer the following classes:
Learn to Make Jewelry Findings
Learn basic silversmithing techniques by making a variety of jewelry findings to enhance the handmade appeal of your jewelry projects. In this class, we’ll make jump rings, headpins, and ear wires in a variety of sizes and styles. If there’s enough time left over at the end of the class, I’ll show you how to turn scrap copper sheet into stamped ear cuffs.
Class size is limited to 4 students. Fee includes up to 2 hours of class time, materials in silver and copper, and use of all tools.
Class Next Offered: April 3, 2026
Learn to Make Spiral Hoop Earrings
Learn basic silversmithing techniques by making a pair of spiral hoop earrings in copper. (Due to the volatility in silver prices, this class is priced to work with copper; sterling silver may be available for an upcharge to be determined at the time of the class.) We’ll work with three different gauges of jewelry wire and a wide range of tools to cut, shape, and texture a pair of earrings and ear wires. Students will leave with new jewelry making skills and their own pair of handmade earrings.
Class size is limited to 4 students. Fee includes up to 2 hours of class time, materials in copper, and use of all tools.
Class Next Offered: April 3, 2026
Learn to Make Air-Chased Copper Cuff Bracelets
Learn basic silversmithing techniques by making a copper cuff bracelet using air-chasing techniques. We’ll start with a regular copper pipe, anneal it, and use ball peen hammers on bench blocks to introduce ridges and valleys. More annealing before fine-tuning the texture and then filing rough edges and shaping to a cuff. Final steps include polishing or applying a patina. Students will leave with new jewelry making skills and their own copper cuff bracelet.
Class size is limited to 4 students. Fee includes up to 2 hours of class time, materials in copper, and use of all tools.
Class Next Offered: March 13, 2026
Learn to Make Patterned Copper Cuff Bracelet
Learn some basic silversmithing techniques by making a patterned copper cuff bracelet. We’ll start with a pre-stamped, patterned copper blank, cut it to size, and file rough edges. Then we’ll anneal it and use a hammer and mandrel to shape it into a cuff. Final steps include polishing or applying a patina. Students will leave with new jewelry making skills and their own copper cuff bracelet.
Class size is limited to 4 students. Class fee includes up to 2 hours of class time, materials in copper, and use of all tools.
Class Next Offered: March 13, 2026
Learn to Make Wire Framed Pendants
There’s wire wrap and then there’s wire framing. While wire wrap is often a heavy-handed technique popular for turning crystals into pendants, it often hides the stone from view, making the wire stand out more than the often beautiful stone it imprisons. Wire framing, in contrast, creates a custom frame out of square and half-round wire that fits the stone and holds it in place. The stone is the main attraction — as it should be!
Learn to Make Wire-Framed Cabochon Pendants remains, by far, my most popular class. I’ve taught it at gem and mineral shows in Quartzite AZ, at Gallery One in Ellensburg WA, and, of course, in my home studio before it was much of a studio. I stopped teaching it primarily because I’ve moved onto other techniques that involve soldering and bezel settings. But for folks who don’t want to use a torch, framing a cabochon is a great alternative.
In this class, you’ll start with a cabochon of your choice (or you can bring your own) and copper wire. (Due to the volatility of silver prices, this class is priced for copper wire; sterling silver is available for an upcharge to be determined at the time of the class.) With the use of hand tools, you’ll create a custom pendant. I’ll take you step by step through the process, creating my own pendant as you create yours. I’ll have plenty of examples to show you what’s possible.
Class size is limited to 4 students. Fee includes up to 3 hours of class time, choice of cabochon priced $15 or less, materials in copper, and use of all tools.
Class Next Offered: March 12, 2026
Learn to Make Stamped Split Bar Dangle Earrings
Learn basic silversmithing techniques by making a pair of split bar dangle earrings in copper. (Due to the volatility of silver prices, this class will use copper; silver will be available at an upcharge to be determined at the time of the class.) We’ll work with bezel strips of jewelry wire and a wide range of tools to cut, shape, and texture a pair of earrings and ear wires. Students will leave with new jewelry making skills and their own pair of handmade earrings.
Class size is limited to 4 students. Fee includes up to 2 hours of classroom time, materials in copper, choice of beads, and use of all tools.
Class Next Offered: March 12, 2026
Silversmithing 101
This two-day class covers all of the basic silversmithing skills you need to make custom jewelry from copper, silver, or gold. I’ll start by telling you what you need to know to work with metal, and then go right into exercises that teach and build skills. By the end of class, you should have a few handmade jewelry items to show off to friends and family members and enough know-how to make more on your own.
Over the course of two days, students will learn:
- Cutting techniques with shears, wire cutters, and jeweler’s saw
- Filing and sanding to smooth edges
- Annealing metal to soften it
- Texturing with texture hammers and rolling mill texture plates
- Stamping with metal stamps
- Shaping metal using mandrels and dapping blocks
- Riveting and soldering to join metal pieces
- Creating bezel settings for cabochons
- Making findings such as jump rings, ear wires, and head pins
- Polishing and applying patinas
Students will have access to the following tools:
- Bench pin, bench block, pliers and other hand tools, mandrels
- Hand shears, sheet metal shear, wire cutters, jeweler’s saws
- Files, sandpaper and sanding sticks
- Flex shaft with numerous tools for sanding and polishing
- Rolling mill with texture plates
- Stamps and hammers
- Complete soldering station including torches, blocks, annealing pan, quenching bowl, and pickle pot
- Tumblers with related supplies and equipment
- Grinder with polishing wheels
Students can complete a number of jewelry making projects or create something on their own. Projects include:
- Textured earrings
- Stamped bracelet
- Stack rings
- Bezel-set pendant
Includes: Two days of hands-on training in my jewelry studio, copper sheet metal and wire for practice and finished pieces, incidental supplies and materials, use of tools and equipment. Bottled water, pop, and a light lunch (sandwiches and salad) will be provided at break time. (There is no place to get lunch nearby, but you are welcome to bring your own.) Sterling silver and cabochons to set into a pendant or ring are available at an additional cost.
Class timing: Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM with 1 hour for lunch and two shorter breaks in the morning and afternoon.
Maximum Class Size: 2 people
Minimum age: 18 and older
Cancellation Policy: Once booked, you may cancel the class up to 7 days before the class start date. There is a $10 cancellation fee to cover the cost of refunding your payment. (My credit card processor, Square, will not refund the credit card fees I pay.) I cannot refund class fees if you cancel within 7 days of the class start date, so if you need to back out last minute, I highly recommend that you find someone to take your place. If I have to cancel the class for any reason, the full amount of your class fees will be refunded.
Class Next Offered: May 16-17, 2026
Open Studio Time
If you’ve taken a class with me in my studio, you can book time to use my studio on your own or with instruction. The rates are:
- Without instruction: $25/hour
- With instruction: $50/hour
The studio is booked in advance on a per party basis; if you book for yourself, it’ll just be you and me in the studio. Your party can be up to two people; both of you must have already attended one of my classes. You can bring your own materials or buy materials from me. When booking, you must prepay for 2 hours in advance.
Open studio time is normally on Wednesdays, but other dates may be available on request.
Studio Tour
If you’re curious about my studio, please take a look at the latest tour video on YouTube. (Since this video was made, I’ve invested in a Smith Little Torch setup with propane and oxygen.)