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We will begin with great tips and tricks for cabochons, and go on to explore alternatives for faceted, free form stone, and found objects. Although the basic bezel is a great place to start, many other settings often work better for a particular stone or better highlight its unique qualities. Demonstrations will include bezel tips and tricks, some alternative bezels, a few wire setting solutions & tube setting. Students are encouraged to produce samples to learn the process. Time will be given allowing students to work on finished elements for jewelry applications.
Students are encouraged to practice in copper and brass which will be provided. Students are encouraged to bring sterling silver wire and sheet to create their final finished projects.
Details:
Your favorite tools (studio tools will be available for use)
Instructor: Jennifer Stenhouse’s a jewelry artist, sculptor and educator. She has made her home and studio in Seattle, Washington for the past 20 years. She has been teaching art and jewelry classes, workshops, lectured and exhibited throughout U.S. and Mexico for over 25 years. Jennifer is currently in the process of researching for a book she is writing on the History, Timeline, and Technology of Jewelry Casting, and is the current president of the Seattle Metals Guild.
Recognized as an outstanding educator and known expert in the arena of jewelry casting, Jennifer has more recently teaching at the college and adult continuing education levels. Currently, Jennifer works as a production jeweler for Baleen, teaches jewelry classes and workshops.
Education: MFA – University of Wisconsin – Madison, BFA – University of New Mexico 1989
Graduate Print making Internship – Tamarind Institute / UNM 1989
Contact: Jewelry.Lead@BainbridgeBARN.org
Do you want to cast outside of class?
Come be a part of Jewelry Studio Casting Club!!
This is an exciting opportunity to practice casting your own work in precious metals. This is a Hands-On experience. You'll have an opportunity to do every step in the casting process yourself. This isn't a class, but more like an open studio for casting. It will require some casting experience (see below) and teamwork. We've started this club to give our community a chance to cast on a regular basis. We plan on growing and evolving to include the casting of 3D printed pieces and mold making. If you're interested in participating, see requirements and specifics below.
Details
PREREQUISITES and Requirements for Casting Club:
What To Expect
On Thursday evening, we will be investing, so come with your pieces sprued, weighed (don't forget to record your wax weight & bring it) and attached to the sprue base, so we can jump right in. Don’t plan on there being time to sprue your work during this time. If you have any concerns or would like some advice on spruing, come to open studio on Monday or Friday. We have set aside a locker where you can leave your sprued flask if you so choose. During investing, we’ll have time to make some last minute adjustments and weigh our metals. When everyone's done investing we’ll clean up and figure out the pouring order for the next morning. You're welcome to stay to help load the kiln for its’ overnight burn.
On Friday evening, come with appropriate casting wear (& hair up). After a review of the evenings plan we will get everything ready for the pour. Teams of 2 people will take turns casting until we finish. When all of the flasks are poured everyone can help clean up and show off their work!!
This two-day class will cover torch-free fine metal joining. Multiple rivet and tab connections will be learned through demonstrations and student practice. Additional techniques covered in class are small scale forging, wire drawing, rivet styles, straight tabs and bent finger tabs for setting flat glass or stone slabs. Hydraulic press safety, roll-printing, basic sawing, filing and sanding are also covered so students will be able to make practice copies of selected class samples.
Metal Bead Project: Using the Hydraulic Press, roll-printing, and the spaced-tube rivet technique, students will demonstrate competency in cold connection techniques by make a no-solder copper bead.
Please wear closed-toe shoes. Wear hearing protectors when warranted and safety glasses; bring your own or use BARN's. Tie back long hair. Avoid loose-fitting clothing and jewelry; roll up sleeves.
Instructor: Nanz Aalund’s wide ranging career as a jewelry designer, goldsmith, and educator, began with high school shop classes. After serving as a fine jewelry designer and marketing consultant for Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Tiffany & Co., Aalund taught jewelry and metals classes at the University of Washington and at the Art Institute in Seattle. Earning a Masters of Fine Art (MFA/Metals) and a Masters of Education/College and Technical Teaching Curriculum (CTTC). Her work has been exhibited both national and international since the 1980s. She authored the book, "Masters Gold,” published by Lark Books in 2009 and her most recent publication, “A Jeweler’s Guide to Apprenticeship” published in 2017 for MJSA, received a Silver Medal in the national AM&P Excel Awards, in 2018.
Nanz Aalund, certifications@bainbridgebarn.org
Jewelry Studio Orientation & Skills Assessment
This class is designed for participants who want to have access to open studio times and already have previous experience making jewelry. Participants will need to demonstrate basic tool use and studio safety. For BARN Guests and Members, successful completion of the short class will be allowed access to the Jewelry Studio for working on projects of your choosing during monitored Open Studio hours only. This class does not apply to personal use of the kiln or casting equipment. Please note that the general open studios times are free to Members. For guests/non-members there will be a $20 drop-in fee (please bring cash or check made out to BARN) to use Open Studio. To view the Open Studio times click here.
Areas generally covered for the skills class:
Questions? Contact jewelry.Lead@BainbridgeBARN.org
Add dynamic color to your jewelry with enamel! Fired glass can be added to fabricated, cast, or even metal clay jewelry. It's fun, easy, and the results are stunning!
This four session class will introduce you to the vast world of enameling. Each week you will learn different techniques that can be combined or used separately. Topics to be covered include: torch and kiln firing, painting and sifting techniques, surface textures, sgraffito, limoges, and multiple enameling techniques. All base materials will be provided.
In each session you will make several samples of different techniques and walk out with one or more completed pieces of enamel jewelry!
Instructor: Karin Lee Luvaas is a local Bainbridge Island artist and jeweler. With an art degree in encaustics, painting and metal sculpture, Karin has studied under acclaimed enameling jewelry masters Linda Darty, Keith Lewis, Heejoo Kim, and Aurélie Guillaume and achieved Graduate Jeweler status under Alan Revere of the world renowned Revere Academy of San Francisco, California. Karin is also a GIA certified Graduate Gemologist and holds a Jewelers of America Bench Jeweler Technician certificate.
Karin’s current work can be viewed on Instagram @karinluvaas.
In this class you will learn several techniques on how to polish a natural surface on a stone to preserve the unique organic shape and what setting best suits your stone. We will also learn how to cut stones and shape druzy on the lapidary equipment. We will be using sterling silver and accenting with gold fill wire.
You can choose to make a bracelet, ring, or pendant. We will discuss design ideas, look at examples, and, as a class, choose a few pieces for the instructor to demonstrate and create together.
Instructor: Karin Lee Luvaas is a local Bainbridge Island artist and jeweler. With an art degree in encaustics, painting and metal sculpture, Karin has studied under acclaimed jewelry masters Michael Boyd, Kent Raible, Petra Class, and Sarah Graham and achieved Graduate Jeweler status under Alan Revere of the world renowned Revere Academy of San Francisco, California. Karin is also a GIA certified Graduate Gemologist and holds a Jewelers of America Bench Jeweler Technician certificate.
Want to volunteer to be a Monitor in the Jewelry Studio? Sign up if you’re ready to take your Monitor Training tests for the Jewelry Studio. There will be a take home test, written test and a practical test. These are designed to show that you have all the information and experience needed to safely run an open studio. You must have taken the Safety Training class before you can take these tests.
See available Safety Training class here.
Instructor: Jody Lyle is a goldsmith with over 25 years of experience designing and making jewelry. She has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas where she studied with world-renowned enamel artist Harlan Butt. She has continued here education over the years with apprenticeships, trade school training, and skill building classes. She believes in learning by doing, and continues to home her skills, practicing and acquiring new techniques from other jewelers and is continually expanding the definition of her jewelry.
This two-day class participants will learn how to measure and mark the hard carving wax used in jewelry making with visible planning lines and precision cuts. We will practicing 3-dimensional planning and layout techniques for subtractive Wax Carving. We will begin with the preparation of Carving Wax for ring size and design layout for carving with a classic bypass ring design. Once the practice Wax is completed, participants will be able to apply these new skills to their own designs. Carving wax for stone setting and open work will be covered.
The different carving waxes designated by color will be discussed. Green, Blue, and Purple waxes will be available for practice carving. Specialized Wax Tools such as wax saws, miter boxes, rotary files, mini lathe, electric wax pens and scrappers will be demonstrated.
No casting will be part of this class, but students are encouraged to join the Casting Club at BARN.
This ring is the 2017 Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, 1st place in the Renewable and Sustainable Practices division of the Vision Awards.
Sketching and model-making are great ways to work out a design for a woodworking project, but at some point you also need a drawing with dimensions so you can figure out how much wood to buy and the sizes you need to cut. This class takes you through the steps from having a sketch to buying the wood — and knowing how to cut it in a way that makes efficient use of materials.
Yes, it's possible to do this on a computer screen with a program such as SketchUp — but paper and pencil work, too, and that's the approach this class will cover.
Taught by an architect who spent a career making models for challenging architectural projects, this class will cover:
Open to beginners, ages 14+.
During this course you will be introduced to manufacturing jewelry designs by utilizing the technique of lost wax casting. Using wax injected into rubber molds or hand carved by each participant, students will gain the basic skills of planning and executing a lost wax casting.
General information on the history and different methods of lost wax casting; from the creation of the wax model to the completion of the metal castings is covered. Waxes are then sprued, invested, and burnt-out overnight as part of the monthly Casting Club event. The techniques of clean-up and finishing of metal castings are covered. After you complete this class you will be able to custom make three dimensional jewelry objects in bronze, sterling silver or gold.
No stone setting will be taught in this class. Photos are for illustration purposes only.
No wax carving will happen in this class
This class has prerequisites. Please see details.
On Friday morning, come with appropriate casting wear (& hair up). After a review of the days plan we will get everything ready for the pour. Teams of 2 people will take turns casting until we finish. When all of the flasks are poured everyone can help clean up and show off their work!!
This 2-day weekend workshop will focus on an introduction to essential jewelry and metalsmithing techniques, tools, and design used to create jewelry using gold-filled wire and sheet. Students will learn by practicing the techniques demonstrated, by using wire to construct pieces that can be used for all kinds of jewelry & wearable art. The focus will be on the essentials of soldering, forming and construction of gold-filled wire. Also, the proper use of tools and equipment, studio safety, metals, tube stone setting, design, and finishing techniques specific the gold-fill. Project demos will include making gold-fill rings, making flux paste for gold & gold-fill, and using small tube settings.
Take your skills to the next level with Guided Studio Practice for Lapidary!
This is a great opportunity for students to work on independent projects with questions and guidance offered by an instructor. You can finally finish those projects you have set aside because you have questions on how to proceed or maybe you need a refresher on a particular skill. Get tips and tricks, advice and encouragement, as well as technical demonstrations during this class.
Instructor Bio:
Karin Lee Luvaas is a local Bainbridge Island artist and jeweler. With an art degree in encaustics, painting and metal sculpture, Karin has studied under acclaimed jewelry masters Michael Boyd, Kent Raible, Petra Class, and Sarah Graham and achieved Graduate Jeweler status under Alan Revere of the world renowned Revere Academy of San Francisco, California. Karin is also a GIA certified Graduate Gemologist and holds a Jewelers of America Bench Jeweler Technician certificate.
Kick the night off with wine and non-alcoholic beverages, plentiful appetizers, and live music in our beautiful commons area, and the rest of the evening will be spent learning new skills alongside old and new friends in our artisan studios. When you arrive, you'll be able to sign up for two of the three activities offered: Gemstone Bracelets in our Jewelry Studio, Japanese Sashiko Stitching in our Fiber Arts Studio, and Entertaining with Fall Bruschettas in our Kitchen Arts Studio.
Go ahead - treat yourself! You deserve it.
The Magic of Gemstone Bracelets
More than just a piece of jewelry, these are bracelets with meaning that have the potential to transform your life by manifesting miracles! Want to know which stones are best for new beginnings, focus, positive energy, confidence, or attracting wealth? We will discuss the healing properties of popular gemstones and choosing stones that combine the energy and intention to help you achieve your desired outcome. Each person will make one personalized bracelet during this session to keep for themselves or to give as a handmade gift. Additional kits will be available to purchase at the event.
Japanese Sashiko Stitching
“Sashiko” is Japanese embroidery that uses little running stitches (“Sashiko” literally means “little stabs”) to create designs from nature and rhythmic geometric patterns. You'll take home a simple 4” x 4” pattern in white thread on gold, red, or purple fabric and then put it in a small frame. You’ll end up with a small work of art for your home or give as a gift!
This is a 21+ only event.
All materials, food and beverages are included in the registration fee.
Electro-etching is a fabulous low-tech and low-cost way to add design and dimension to a flat sheet of metal. You'll choose a design from a selection provided, transfer it to copper sheet, etch the metal (re-purposed phone chargers are involved - very cool!), cut out your earrings or pendant, and dome your pieces before finishing them. Side effects will almost certainly include: many compliments on your new jewelry, and addiction to the art of electro-etching! Beginners welcome.
Instructor: Julia Lowther Growing up in Monteverde, Costa Rica, my hands were always busy with embroidery, crochet, weaving, and other fiber arts. I moved to Seattle in 1996, discovered metal, and quickly gravitated to chains -- an appealing transformation of stiff, unruly wire into flexible structures of satisfying weight. The manual dexterity gained from decades of needlework translated neatly to working at a jewelry scale. I believe the craft arts have immense value. They are the best and finest expressions of the alliance between our big brains and our opposable thumbs. Fine craft is living art, coming down off the walls, taking to the streets, making every day artful and special, and inviting people to join the community and become makers themselves.
This two-day class participants will learn to create different finishes on copper and brass while learning multiple ways to clean and polish other jewelry metals. Flex-shaft and burr use for creating finishes will be demonstrated. The importance of pre-polishing parts to get uniform finishing after assembly will be covered. Polishing compounds and cleaning processes will be explained.
The safety procedures for use of tools to create textured finishes such as Roll-printing, Magnetic pin finishing and bright polishing with Buffing wheels are all covered and will be tested in this class. Participants may bring current projects and their own material to experiment on. No chemical finishing (patinas) will be covered in this class.
BARN will be closed and the front and back doors locked down to both Members and Non-Members beginning at 7:00 PM on Friday night as we begin preparations for the Bazaar at BARN.
Doors will reopen to all on Saturday, at 8:00 AM.
If you have questions, please contact Carla our Membership Coordinator at Membership@bainbridgebarn.org.
BARN members wishing to participate in this event must be a member for a minimum of 3 months (must join by August 31st) to participate. You can contact Carla Mackey at membership@bainbridgebarn.org for an application which will be available Monday, October 21.
This is a staff holiday.
This two session class will introduce you to the vast world of enameling. Each session you will learn different techniques that can be combined or used separately. Topics to be covered include: torch and kiln firing, painting and sifting techniques, surface textures, sgraffito, limoges, and multiple enameling techniques. All base materials will be provided.
In this 2-session workshop you will learn to repair the hand tools, which have been damaged in the jewelry studio. Hammer faces and dapping punches will be resurfaced and polished. Side cutters will be sharpened and pliers will have rust and nicks removed so they will no longer scar soft metals during use. Tools like dividers and brass slide gauges will be modified for easier use. Soldering tweezers will be straightened, strengthened, and repaired.
If some of the names of these tools baffle you, then this class will help you identify the tools you're using and help you to know how to fix your own tools when needed. The class will learn safety practices for the use of the Grinder and the Buffing Machines. Polishing compounds for mirror finishes on steel hammer faces will be covered.
Link sterling silver jump-rings into a pair of unique earrings in the striking and popular Byzantine chain pattern. Learn simple wire-wrapping to adorn your earrings with pearls. Freshwater pearls, in a choice of colors, are included in the materials kit. Spend a convivial afternoon with friends new and old, and leave with fabulous new jewelry to enjoy yourself or delight a gift recipient.
Because such a short list of simple hand tools is required to make a very diverse selection of patterns, chain making is an ideal, and relatively portable, activity to continue enjoying long beyond the close of the class. Students are encouraged to bring favorite beads to incorporate into their work. No torch work is required for this class.
Link sterling silver jump-rings into a pair of richly textured earrings in the appealing Square Maille chain pattern. Learn simple wire-wrapping to adorn your earrings with pearls or beads. A choice of various bead or pearl colors are included in the materials kit. Spend a convivial afternoon with friends new and old, and leave with fabulous new jewelry to enjoy for yourself or to delight a gift recipient.
Holiday inspired enamel earrings:
Make for yourself or a gift for someone.
This three hour class will give you a taste of how fun and easy enameling can be! You will experiment with stamping, stencils, and decals. All base materials will be provided including gift boxes.
