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Fine Metals

Register now for summer classes and workshops. Learn the basics, or hone your metalsmithing skills in small classes with personal attention from our skilled instructors. Enrolled students can join us for open studio time, and groups of 3 or more are welcome to design their own class. Contact the Registrar at the link above to add your name to our "I'm Interested" list.

Click here to view PAST FINE METALS CLASSES

Open Studio Access

Intermediate (Current Students, Experienced Artists)
Prerequisite: Completion of beginner level BCC jewelry class or demonstrated knowledge of the studio/equipment

Monitors: Rachel Morris + Suzanne Schwartz

JO0412 (Jewelry Studio, Mill Building)
Every Tuesday morning 10am-1pm
Every Wednesday evening 7-10 pm
All day Friday 5/11 10a-7p
All day Friday 6/8 10a-7p

Members of Brookfield Craft Center are welcome to join the Open Studio Program in the Jewelry/Fine Metals Studio. (Not a Member? Click here to learn more or sign up.) BCC fine metal students and local skilled jewelry artists can purchase time as low as $10/hr to use BCC's well equipped jewelry studio to work independently on projects. Open Studio sessions are monitored by a jewelry artist, are 3 hours in length, and are held Tuesdays 10am-1pm, Wednesday evenings 7-10pm, and from 10am-7pm one Friday per month. Purchase an Open Studio Card to participate in the program.

- Open Studio Card to attend 4 monitored Open Studio sessions within 6 weeks - $144
- Open Studio Card to attend 8 monitored Open Studio sessions within 12 weeks - $240

Participants must be BCC Members, possess basic jewelry-making skills, and have had prior instruction and experience using BCC's Jewelry/Fine Metals studio equipment. Only members who can exhibit sufficient skills and knowledge of equipment will be granted studio access. Open Studio Cards expire 6 or 12 weeks after purchase date. No refunds or credits will be offered for unused Open Studio sessions.

Note: Valid Jewelry Studio Open Studio Cards can be redeemed at any scheduled Open Studio Session in the Jewelry Studio.

Silversmithing 102

Tuition $240.00

Experienced Beginner, Prerequisite "Silversmithing 101"
Unsure if this class is appropriate for your skill level? Contact us and find out.

Rachel Morris

JF1912 May 22 - Jun 12, 2012 (6:30-9:30pm) 4 Tuesday evenings (Jewelry Studio, Mill Building)

This class is a continuation of “Silversmithing 101” but is open to students of equivalent experience. It will offer students, who have completed an introductory class (basic sawing, soldering, basic stone setting, and polishing experience), a chance to build on their skills and learn new techniques. You will learn more advanced stone setting techniques, make a bezel (the piece that holds a stone in place) and you will get more practice with soldering and using the torch as you make something you’ve designed yourself. You can choose to make another ring, a pendant, earrings, a brooch – you decide! A studio/materials fee of $100, due at time of registration, includes everything you'll need: 3" x 2" sheet of 22 gauge sterling silver, 6" x 1" sheet of 28 gauge sterling silver, 1' each of 12 gauge and 20 gauge sterling silver wire and 2 large cabochon stones.

MASTERS SERIES: Non-Conforming Dies + Embossing with the Hydraulic Press

MASTERS SERIES: Non-Conforming Dies + Embossing with the Hydraulic Press

Tuition $120.00

Experienced Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Intermediate
Unsure if this class is appropriate for your skill level? Contact us and find out.

Joanne Conant

JF1412 Jun 16, 2012 (10am-5pm) Saturday (Jewelry Studio, Mill Building)

Learn to make your own dies, and explore embossing. Use hydraulics instead of muscle power to create one of a kind pieces, multiples of the same unit, or variations of texture. This one-day workshop will focus on use of the hydraulic press with Matrix and Embossing dies. These dies can be made with a jewelers saw and carbide burs. A Matrix die creates forms that are perfectly matching opposites which are great for earrings and pendants. Embossing adds texture to the surface of the metal and provides a relief design that can be flat or domed. Experiment with the dies to create one-of-a-kind pieces, multiples of the same unit, or variations of texture on the unit which can be used in conjunction with each other for a bracelet or necklace. Some basic knowledge of jewelry making is helpful, but no prior hydraulic press experience is necessary. A $15 studio/materials fee covers the cost of 32 ga. copper and use of tools. Students are asked to supply sheets of copper, die blanks and punch blanks. See Materials List tab above for complete materials and ordering information.

Click here to view PAST FINE METALS CLASSES