Instructor Amy Reeves 

Beginning Jewelry/ Metalsmithing -Cuff bracelet, Ring and Bezel Setting - In this class you'll learn the basics techniques to create jewelry of your own design. Possible projects include a cuff bracelet, textured earrings and a ring or pendant with a bezel set cabochon stone. Techniques covered will include use of the rolling mill, hammers, jewelers saw and silver soldering.

Instructor Joni Joachims 

Introduction to Jewelry Casting - Learn to design and make jewelry using the lost wax casting method. You will design and learn to carve a model in wax, and then replicate your model in silver or bronze using centrifugal or vacuum casting. Students will be guided step by step in the process in order to make unique pieces of jewelry. The instructor will also cover making molds of your pieces and production options for making multiples.

Prerequisite: beginning jewelry or instructor permission. Students should know how to saw, solder, file and polish metal.

Open Studio is for independent use by students who have taken one or more classes at TMAC. In addition to regular open studio hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12 - 8, in May there will be a Saturday Session!

Open Studio Saturday May 19, 10 - 3 - By popular request! No need to RSVP, just drop by and pay $10 per hour or $30 for the whole day. Monthly users need not pay. Open studio fee does not include metals or solder. Materials available for sale at the studio.

Instructor Amy Reeves 

Beginning Jewelry Workshop -  Learn the secrets of working with copper, brass and silver on a jewelry scale. Techniques covered will include piercing, filing, stamping, hammering, texturing and soldering.  Students will be guided step by step in the use of studio equipment with access to a rolling mill and hydraulic press. No prior jewelry experience is necessary, but students of all levels are welcome.  Copper and brass provided for in class use, silver available for purchase.

Instructor Amy Reeves

Hand-stamped Charms Workshop - Discover how easy it is to make personal, meaningful, one-of-a-kind jewelry. You'll start by cutting a metal blank with the disc cutter or blanking dies. Then learn to use letter, number and punctuation stamps to spell out your name, your pet’s name, or even your favorite snippet of poetry…the possibilities are endless! Last, punch a hole, add a ring and it is ready to wear home. Finishing techniques such as oxidizing, sanding and tumble polishing will also be covered. No experience necessary. More advanced students may bring finished projects to embellish, such as cuff bracelets, rings, etc. All supplies included. Students wishing to work in silver can bring sheet in 24 gauge or thicker.

Instructor Amy Reeves 

Steel Jewelry -  Learn about different types of steel and ways to incorporate it into your jewelry pieces. This class will cover hot forging, cold forging, soldering, and more. Prerequisite: some metal working experience, such as beginning jewelry workshop, or experience sawing and soldering.

Instructor Jennifer Stenhouse

Argentium Sterling Filigree Workshop - Learn to create delicate wire structures using beautiful filigree! Filigree is ornamental fabrication technique where a frame is filled with fine threads of twisted and curled wire, and small balls of metal. Participants will learn how to create patterns for a frame and fill the frames using various techniques from around the world. Jennifer will demonstrate creating the frame, fill, and granulation; fusing and soldering for different styles; forming open wire work and closed back fret work with filigree on formed surfaces; and flash plating to hide solder seams. Demos will also include how to work with different metals including copper, fine silver and Argentium. To learn the techniques students will work primarily in fine gauge, round copper wire provided in the materials fee however they may also bring fine silver or Argentium wire to work on more elaborate finished pieces. Basic sawing and soldering or fusing skills required.

Argentium Sterling is a patented alloy of sterling silver and is a wonderful metal for fusing techniques. For that reason it is especially great for making filigree! If you are interested in learning more about argentium and its properties, this class is a great introduction.

Instructor Amy Reeves

Hinged Boxes and Lockets Workshop - Learn to add interest and movement to your metal jewelry creations with hinges! Learn the techniques to create a box or a locket in this one day class. First you'll create a hollow form using press forming or hollow construction. Then the instructor will show simple techniques to add a hinge and a catch. Copper and brass provided for class use, students may bring 22 gauge sheet silver or thicker if they wish.

Prerequisite: students should be able to saw, file, solder and polish metal.

Instructor Amy Reeves 

Soldering Tips and Tricks -  Whether you are brand new to silver soldering or just want to brush up on your skills, this class will demystify the art of soldering.  With detailed demonstrations and plenty of one on one coaching you’ll leave this workshop with the confidence to continue on your own. Amy will also give advice to help you decide which torches are appropriate for your home studio set-up.

Instructor Amy Reeves

Titanium and Niobium Workshop -Add amazing color to your metal creations! This class will explore the color possibilities of anodizing titanium and niobium. These metals are initially gray in color, but when treated with heat or electricity a stunning color palette can be produced. Working from color charts and samples developed in class, you will learn the process hands on. Topics covered will include: safety, anodizing, masking, selective removal, graphics, and cold connections (these metals cannot be soldered). Titanium is included in the cost of the class, niobium will be available for purchase in the studio, or can be purchased from Reactive Metals Studio Inc in Arizona. Prerequisite: beginning jewelry or equivalent.

Instructor Julia Lowther

Chain Making Workshops - 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 experience necessary.  Moderate patience and hand-eye coordination is necessary. Please bring reading glasses if you need help to see clearly within 8"-10" of your nose.

Open Chain Maille Bracelet - No experience necessary! Learn to link sterling silver jump-rings into an Open Maille chain bracelet. The open lattice of this versatile silver linked bracelet looks equally well on the wrist of a man or a woman. Once started, you will be amazed at how quickly this bracelet grows. You will also learn to make an “S” hook clasp, so you can leave with either a great gift or a fabulous addition to your personal cache of adornments!

The instructor will provide kits of precisely made sterling silver rings in 18 gauge -$60- price subject to change due to silver market. Please bring cash or check.

Instructor Amy Reeves 

Etching and Patinas - This class will cover many ways to etch your designs on to copper and brass. We will cover chemical etching, electro-etching and using photocopy transfer resists. A home studio set-up, safety, proper disposal and ways to etch silver will also be discussed. Students may bring an image of their choice to work with or use some of the images provided in class. Images must be high contrast black and white, with no gray tones and crisp lines, printed on white paper. If you have any questions please contact the instructor by email: info@tacomametalarts.com

Instructor Amy Reeves 

Ring Making Workshop -  Learn to shape, solder, texture and patina silver to create beautiful rings of your own design. No prior jewelry experience is necessary.   Copper and brass are provided for in class use, silver will be available for purchase from the instructor. Students should bring about $5 - $10 to spend on silver projects.

Instructor Amy Reeves

Stone Setting Workshop-  Learn to set round faceted stones in tube and flush mounts. Learn the tricks that professional jewelers use to set stones quickly. We will practice with 3 mm faceted round stones. Price includes silver tube, copper sheet, stone setting bur and cubic zirconium stones. Additional silver available for purchase. Prerequisite: Beginning Jewelry or previous metalworking experience. Take it with the Ring Making Workshop and set a stone in the ring you make!

Instructor Amy Reeves 

Recycle Workshop -  Learn to re-use all your precious metal scraps or broken sterling silver and karat gold jewelry. Bring in your old pieces and you'll learn how to identify the karat or purity of the precious metal, melt it with a torch and make it into wire or sheet, ready to turn into a new piece of jewelry. The instructor will also demonstrate direct casting methods such as water casting, broom casting and salt casting. Metal scrap and broken pieces should be pre-cleaned and ready to go.

Instructor Micki Lippe 

Step into the past - Learn Niello - Niello is a deep black alloy, used to fill recesses as decoration on gold, silver and bronze. This process was used chiefly for silver work, because of the stark contrast between the silver and the Niello. Since the finest engraved line or stamped design can be filled with the Niello, very complex designs can be produced creating a black design against the metal base. This workshop will focus on learning the basic Niello technique. While similar in appearance to black enamel, it is metal, not glass. The earliest Niello pieces are from Ancient Egypt, the practice continued through the middle ages and right up to the present. Since there are health risks associated with making Niello we will use prepared Niello powder to work with in class. The hazard lies in making the Niello, not in it's application. Students should bring 24 gauge silver or thicker to work with, or small pieces will be available for purchase. Basic soldering, sawing/cutting and filing skills suggested.

Instructor Matthew Cote

Marriage of Metals Workshop -  Created by cutting out a shape in one color sheet metal, then replacing that same shape with a different colored metal, Marriage of Metals is a soldering technique similar to the way a puzzle fits together. The pieces are cut out of sheet then soldered together to create one flat sheet with a multi-colored design.  A patina can be added for a more dramatic effect.  The class will cover cutting metal with the disc cutters, and tin snips, filing and soldering. More experienced students may bring ideas that involve sawing for more intricate designs. Copper and brass provided for in class use, students wishing to work with silver should bring 20 gauge sheet or various gauges of sheet and wire.  No experience necessary. 

Instructor Amy Reeves

The Hydraulic Press Workshop - The hydraulic press is often referred to as the biggest hammer in the shop. Learn some of the time saving tips and amazing forming possibilities associated with the hydraulic press. You'll use blanking dies, silhouette dies and the free-form bracelet former. Leave with amazing pieces you never thought possible and a whole new arsenal in your tool box. Prerequisite: a beginning jewelry class or metalworking experience.

Instructor Micki Lippe

The Final Finish- When is a finished piece not finished? Do you feel that there is a gap between your finished pieces and what you see in galleries, stores, and online. With twenty plus years as a professional jewelry maker, Micki Lippe will show you how to make your work have a professional look. In this class you will get technical information, design/production tips and the skills needed to achieve whatever finish you desire.

Specific topics covered will include: whether to hand make or use ready made clasps and ear wires, choosing a finish, including mirror finish, satin or matte finish, brass brushing, flex shaft textures, file finishing, buffing and tumbling. Micki will also cover patination techniques like chemical oxidation, heat patinas, and deciding whether or not to seal your patinas. Students are encouraged to bring pieces in progress for design advice.

Instructor Amy Reeves 

Beginning Jewelry Workshop -  Learn the secrets of working with copper, brass and silver on a jewelry scale. Techniques covered will include piercing, filing, stamping, hammering, texturing and soldering.  Students will be guided step by step in the use of studio equipment with access to a rolling mill and hydraulic press. No prior jewelry experience is necessary, but students of all levels are welcome.  Copper and brass provided for in class use, silver available for purchase.

Instructor Amy Reeves 

Bezel Setting Workshop  -  Learn how to create settings for flat backed objects and cabochon cut stones. Bezel setting will also work to set beach glass, coins, buttons, almost anything!  In this class we will cover selecting appropriate bezel wire, silver soldering, fitting irregular and freeform objects, making a ring band or pendant bail, polishing and stone setting. Students will be able to finish a ring or pendant. No experience necessary! Bring a stone to set or use one from our assortment. Students should bring $5-$10 to cover the cost of silver and stones.

Instructor Jennifer Stenhouse

Prong Setting Workshop-  Learn to fabricate your own custom prong settings! Sheet and wire construction, for a variety of stone shapes and sizes, will be the focus of this class. Learn to make 2, 4, and 6 prong settings. The instructor will demonstrate with faceted stones, but these designs can be easily adapted for cabs and freeform shapes. Copper will be provided, students wishing to work in sterling should bring 20-16 gauge round wire and sheet. Basic jewelry hand tools, and fine saw blades (4/0,) the flex shaft and the use of setting burs will be covered. Prerequisite: soldering and basic jewelry skills needed.

Instructor Ruth Greening

Introduction to Precious Metal Clay - You have heard about PMC for so long, well now is the time to find out what the excitement is all about! This mini-intro will let you get your fingers on the most amazing silver in the world: Precious Metal Clay! You will learn how to form, texture, dry and torch fire your piece. Go home with beautiful fine silver earrings and pendant or two pendants that you designed and made. It will be the start of a love affair! This class is designed for beginners but continuing students are welcome too!

Required Supplies: Silver Clay available from instructor: $40 1 PMC3 16g clay.