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Winter 2015-2016 Offerings

As usual, several completely new workshops are coming in the New Year!

I'm working out all the steps in detail, writing handouts, and taking photos!!!

And, though I hate to admit it, sometimes I just forget to come and update this website.
I am just much better (though still far from perfect...) at posting updates on my blog!

Some "old favorites" will be back on the schedule too.
If you are new to this site, do feel free to view some of the samples below.
That might give you an idea of the kinds of workshops I tend to offer ...

And I'm always happy to schedule additional sessions by-demand! Let me know what you would like to learn!

Also, pleast click on the link at my blog to let me know if you'd like to be added to my mailing list
so you can be among the first to know when I post my plans.
Otherwise, just keep checking back here: this page will contain the latest schedule,
once I'm sure what it is! (Or when I add extra items mid-season!)

• Fine Silver Workshops
• Other Silver Projects
• Bronze, Copper, & Steel Series
• Other sessions I'd like to offer soon, if there's demand!
• Sneak Peek at Some Future Classes
• Western PA Metal Clay Guild
• Further Options

Pre-registration is required for all classes
(so I can have adequate materials on hand,
plus a workstation set up for each participant!)

Studio Workshops in Fine Silver

Projects build over the season but beginners are welcome in all of these!
We'll start each session with a set of basics and then add techniques specific to that project.

Pre-registration is required,
Register for any one session at the price indicated.
Ask about discounts if you take several.

The materials fee depends (in part) on
the size and number of pieces you choose to make.
Typical amounts for each silver session below are $35 to $60.

Make a truly unique fine silver pendant (or focal bead to string later)
by learning how to roll and drape thin sheets of "metal clay" ...
and then decorate the other side for both added strength and reversibility.

Learn the basics of working with silver clay, including how to make a two-sided pendant or pair of earrings.

On one side, you will develop a collage / mosaic / quilt-like pattern. The other side can be plain, or it can display one overall texture that either complements or contrasts with the collage.

Great for beginners!
And those with some experience can learn new techniques.

Learn the basics of working with silver clay,
including how to texture, trim, and form it into twists and spiral shapes.

Make one to three beads in a closed swirl shape, and cap their ends so that, after class, you can string them onto a necklace, bracelet, or earrings.

Great for beginners!
And those with some experience can learn several new techniques.

Learn the basics of working with metal clay,
including how to form it into a domed shape.
You will attach two domes to make
an impressive hollow "lentil-shape" bead!

You'll have the choice of designing a piece
you'll be proud to wear on its own,
or one that you can later string as a focal point
in your own beaded creation.

This is another great project for beginners!
Those with some previous metal clay experience
will learn new techniques to add to their repertoire.

I offer a stone-setting session at least once each season. This is short enough that it can be held in the evening, though afternoons are also a possibility.

Bring a fired piece (e.g., from any of the above workshops) and learn to add a colorful semi-precious stone to it!

Pieces from other workshops, or ones you've made on your own, may also be ok, but let's verify that first.

Please let me know ASAP if this interests you!
The date can be set, or I may schedule another session too, to fit needs of interested folks.

Studio Series in Copper & Bronze & Steel

These metals are wonderful to work with!
The color-combinations you can achieve with these are superb!

They are as easy to work with as is fine silver,
although there are more and/or longer steps in each of the processes.
Though some instructors try to cram all that into one session,
I prefer to take enough time for everyone to relax and have fun.
This means that all of my base-metals lessons are offered as multi-part series!

In some, we just cover all the steps for a single piece across several sessions,
while in others, we'll keep several pieces going at once.

In the first one or several sessions we'll begin our pieces pieces and,
once they've been fired (and, if necessary, patched & re-fired)
in later sessions we can cover various techniques for finishing them.

This is a really unique project!

In our first session, we will start by exploring some basics of balance, and gravity, so each person can design a shape that both appeals to them and will hang well when worn. Then we'll use bronze metal clay to make our primary "bead shelf" element. This will be fired after class. If your piece should need any repairs, you'll be notified and we'll schedule a time for you to fix in time to be re-fired before our next official meeting date.

In our second session, we will explore the basics of doing wire-work with beads; then we'll set some beads atop each shelf, while dangling others below.

~~~~~~~~~~

Note: a one-session version of this class, where we'll make silver buttons instead of bronze ones, will be offered at Indie Knit and Spin on February 6, 2016.

How many ways can you use a button!?

In our first session, we will start by exploring some basics of button-making, so each person can design some that will be best suited to their needs. Then we'll use bronze metal clay to make some buttons! These will be fired after class. If your piece should need any repairs, you'll be notified and we'll schedule a time for you to fix in time to be re-fired before our next official meeting date.

In our second session, we will explore several intersting beading projects that use buttons, and participants will be guided through the design of their choice.

I recently spent a year (March, 2013 - March, 2014) with a group of other teachers from around the world, under the guidance of Hadar Jacobson, where we are exploring a range of ways to work with various copper, bronze, and steel metal clay powders. a variety of techniques for creating projects, a number of different firing protocols, and more.

Each of us also developed a workshop series we will use in teaching others to create with these materials.

I developed a total of sixteen projecs (four groups of four projects each), so that I can offer my series repeatedly. Participants will thus be able to sign up for multiple rounds and learn new skills and produce different projects each time.

I'm continually re-making sample pieces, trying still-newer techniques and products, and taking new photos. I post many results on my blog.

For this page (for who knows how long, until I get around to a proper update...) the photos in this block show some of my own "homework" pieces for the program, plus a few of the "samples" I've used in classes I'd developed and offered on my own prior to joining that group.

Some of these are re-workings of some favorite fine silver projects, while other are completely new, to take advatage of the different properties of these metals.

You can sign up for the series now, on my promise that it will be great; or you can contact me to let me know that you want to be notified as soon as I have any more details ready!

2016 dates:

UNKNOWN!

Too many people said they were interested (so we organized events) but then said they were too busy to show up! So this group is on hiatus at least for the moment. Please let us know if you want us to bring it back, because we'd love to do so!

These may be offered on weekdays, at either

1 to 4 pm
or
6 to 9 pm

(depending on demand
so just check with me!)

Three hours sessions are
$35 (in advance)
plus materials (due in class)

• Quick! I need new earrings for tonight!
  Learn to use metal clay as you make small, simple earring dangles and fire them with a creme brulee torch!
  
  
• Quick! Dress up the table!
  Learn to use metal clay as you make Hashi Oki (chopstick rests), or Dohgu Oki (tool rests; see photo, left), or other small table "adornments."
  
  
• Quick! Holiday or Special-Occasion Gifts!
  Learn to use fine silver metal clay in a shorter, simpler version of what we'll do in my regular weekend workshops. (Projects will focus on a theme: love, gardening, graduation, a specific season, etc.).
  
  
• Using Electronic Die Cutters
  I love my die cutters from Silhouette America and I hope you will too! I'll provide some pre-class notes becasue you'll need to bring a laptop with their Silhouette Studio loaded onto it and working. Then I'll teach you how to use the software so we can use my machines (or yours, if you have one to bring along!) to produce a whole range of projects: paper-crafting, glass etching, vinyl signs, even cutting out metal lay pieces, and more!
  
  Note #1: They are releasing a version of the software that will run on mobile devices too; you can use that if you don't have a laptop, though the software has some limitations that will restrict what you can do in the class.
  
  Note #2: though not Quick (because it involves coming in for several sessions), this is designed for Silhouette-beginners.
  
  
• Textures (*)
  Learn to use 2-part molding compounds to make your own textures from a variety found objects.
  
  (Though I call this a session for advanced beginners and beyond, it's really for anyone who has used a texture with either metal or polymer clays ... simply because that experience helps you to understand the point of them!)
  
  

Any of these can be offered at:

Convergent Series Studio
Wilkins School Community Center
7604 Charleston Street
Swissvale, PA 15218

(Or feel free to contact me if you'd like me to offer any of these at another site.)

Have you heard about the Artsmiths of Pittsburgh?

I taught my first metal clay classes at Koolkat Designs, a gallery/shop in Mt. Lebanon, shortly after they opened. As they began to represent more local artists (the count got up around 200), their display space filled up. There was no longer room for workshops.... But the good news is that, in fall of 2015, they relocated to the iconic big red barn (though it's now green!) where Banksville Road becomes McFarland Road in Mt. Lebanon, reopening as the Artsmiths of Pittsburgh, with space for workshops once again!

For 2015, their focus has been on getting both their 'Smiths Shop and Koolkat Cafe up and running smoothly.

And I'm really looking forward to returning to teaching there once they start offering classes in 2016..

Other Locations

I am happy to offer workshops at other locations:

• If you know of another suitable site, please let them know about me!
• If you manage such a site, please let me know!

Pick YOUR Date!

Often when I schedule workshops, people say, "I'd like to take that one, but can't make it on that date..."

So here's another option: you pick the date!

• Because the schedule at my studio can be fairly flexible, let me know if there's something you'd like to learn!
• I'm always happy to schedule a private lesson (just you) or semi-private session (you and a friend or two).
• Once I have several people interested in a particular project or technique, we can sort out a date and time that will work for all!
• Or, we can talk about options for meeting at one of my other occasional sites, or even at one that you can arrange.

Have Metals — Will Travel!

I also offer private lessons and home parties at your site
where you can learn about metal clays ...
or just relax and shop from my many creations!

If you can't wait for a regular class or sales event, do get in touch and let's see what can be worked out.

Feel free to check out my page that samples recent class offerings
to see if there's something there already that might suit you.
Other topics or themes are possible too, of course: I'm happy to discuss a range of options with you!

I also maintain a blog. Its intended audience is students of mine and fellow-creators who use powder metallurgy / metal clay techniques. Whether you read the content in detail, or just browse the sample photos I try to include with each item, do feel free to leave comments there! (I also list upcoming events in the right sidebar, often sooner than I get them up here.)

Also, of course, if you know of another venue (e.g., gallery or shop) that might be interested in carrying my work or hosting any of my workshops, do let me know. Thanks!

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