Live, online class Rachel Morris, Eclectic Nature Jewelry & Design
Dates: November 17 - 19, 2023
Starting at: 8:30 am Pacific/9:30 am Mountain/10:30 am Central/11:30 am Eastern
Ending at: 4 pm Pacific/5 pm Mountain/6 pm Central/7 pm Eastern
So you’ve already leveled up your jewelry work and started making custom chains for your pendants, or perhaps you do a lot of bead and pearl stringing for your designs and want something custom to add. What’s next? The custom clasp, of course! By creating custom clasps, jewelers can elevate the overall look and perceived value of their hand-crafted designs over manufactured components.
This three-day hands-on virtual workshop begins with quick and easy enhancements for several wire-based clasps, such as hook-and-eye and toggle and then moves on to basic box clasps - more experienced students can focus on integrating them into larger hollow form objects. Day two concludes box clasps and demonstrates open keyhole clasps. Day three will cover enclosed, lentiform keyhole clasps. By the end of session, students will have fabricated several sample clasps while gaining an understanding of how each style best serves their designs.
We’ll delve into the form and function of these and numerous other types, with an emphasis on how the right clasp can make a piece and the wrong one can create problems for both the wearer and the jeweler down the road.
NOTE: This is a techniques and skill-building class! Students may not complete all demonstrated clasps in the course of the workshop, but should come away with the understanding to continue building their skills post-workshop.
Intermediate & Advanced (Advanced Beginners can contact Rachel (info@eclecticnaturejewelry.com) to discuss suitability before registering)
Students should have a solid foundation of sawing, filing, finishing, and soldering (able to create traditional large cabochon bezels or basic hollow forms). Projects will be presented with a variety of modifications for easier or more challenging work, so students can level set based on their own skills and interests.
What's Included:
This class has a minimum of 3 students to run and a 10 student cap.
PRICE: $425
Tools & Materials List - PENDING - NOTE: This is a materials-heavy workshop!
****
My Online Workshop Approach - The "Four T's" - These workshops are presented live via Zoom, from my multi-camera studio in Portland, Oregon, and follow a sequence of Talk (discussion of approaches, concepts, design and “gotchas”), Teach (live demoing of your next steps), Try It (you work at your own bench while I remain available for questions), and Touch Base, in which we circle back to address challenges and share discoveries and successes you’ve had, before starting another cycle. Multiple cycles will happen each day, according to the pacing needs of the class. To get a sense of it, check out this video intro.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
