Student Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Type of Workshop: Project/Process
Prerequisite: None

Who doesn't like a good story? The human race has been sharing them for centuries, extending far beyond those found on the walls of caves. The amazing ancient cave drawings & paintings, such as those found in France, Indonesia, Mexico, and even Texas, is where I drew my inspiration and began exploring new & exciting techniques to use in my enamel work. The projects shown are from the series of work I now call "The Story".

As I dig deeper into this fascinating world of stories told with symbolic pictures, I find myself dreaming of all the untapped possibilities of sharing their stories in my jewelry. But, if you are like me, you will begin exploring your story, and ways to express it in your own jewelry, using various pictures, symbols and/or words. I will have some fascinating books & examples, along with templates on class day, from which you can draw inspiration.

And, let's not forget, we must also have an adorning way of wearing our story, so in this class we will design beautiful fused fine silver bracelets & additional links for earrings, ones with a bit of rustic flair, of course!

Kit/Materials Fee (payable to instructor at class time):

• $25.00 includes:
• Class Handout & Patterns
• Enamels & Supplies
• Soldering Stands, MAPP Gas/Propane Torches
• Butane Fuel (for the Micro Torches)
• Heat Resistant Surfaces
• Quenching Bowls & Pliers
• Safety Glasses
• Dremel Tool & Bits
• Face Masks & Disposable Gloves
• Texture Hammers & Brass Mallet
• Metal Design & Letter Stamps & Metal Chisels
• Patina Solutions & Finishing Wax
• Tumbler
• Micro-Torch Ex. (see torch)
• Soldering Block Ex. (see block
• Soldering Pick Ex. (see pick)

Student should bring:

• Copper Sheet Metal, 22 or 24 gauge, at least 1-6"x 6" piece
• Fine Silver Round Wire, 12-14 gauge, (amount depends on size of links & s-hook, approx.4'-6')
• Sterling Silver Wire (Half-Hard), 20 gauge (for earrings)
• Jewelers Saw & Saw Blades (#4/0, #3/0, or whatever you like to use)
• Foam Sanding Pads or Block, Fine Grit (see sanding pads). These can also be found at your local hardware store!
• Bench Pin & Clamp
• Metal Jewelry Files, #2 (half-round or flat)
• Needle Files
• Double Flush Cutters, S.D. Cutter, plain jaws (suggested) (see cutters)
• Pliers, Chain-Nose, Flat-Nose, Round-Nose
• Metal Hole Punch Pliers, 1.80, 1.50 or 1.25mm
• Bail Making Pliers (approx. 7mmx9mm) (see pliers here or here)
• Ball Peen Hammer
• Rawhide or Plastic Mallet
• Steel Bench Block & Rubber Bench Block or Small Towel
• Metal Awl or Scribe
• Black Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine
• Ruler & Scissors

Optional:

• Soft Suede Lace Ex.: (see lace here or
• here)
• Rustic Hammered Gemstones, African Glass or Trade Beads, Freshwater Pearls (large hole if using suede leather lace)
• Gemstones, pearls or beads (smaller ones for earrings, if desired)
• Sterling Silver (Half-Hard), Brass, Bronze or Copper Wire, 22-26 gauge (if desired, for earrings)
• Copper Blanks, oval or round, or cut your own unique ones at home for earrings: (see blanks)
• Drill Bit, 1/8"
• Cut Lube (if you use it)
• Ear Plugs
• Work Light (battery operated suggested or bring an extension cord)
• Optivisors (if needed)
• Metal or French shears (see here or here)