Last Class in the Series

Last night was the last class in the 9-week marathon beginning metalworking class at the Lorton Workhouse taught by Dana Evans. Students had many classes canceled due to the crazy snowy weather we had this winter but perservered and made some amazing projects!

This 2 inch wide panel was made by Tara. It's a work-in-progress, but she did manage to get all her soldering done in one class period. Last week she designed and cut out all the silver and copper pieces in the assemblage, including saw-piercing and stamping. This week she textured, soldered, oxidized, buffed and bent the panel on a bracelet mandrel. She'll finish the piece by riveting it onto a leather cuff on all 4 corners, adding a closure and calling it done. It's a really well-designed and well-done, graphic and bold piece!

Monique experimented with keum-boo this week! Keum-boo is an ancient technique of using a hotplate at 800 degrees to fuse thin gold foil onto silver. She may have singed some eyebrows in the process, but her stepdaughters will love their new star and XO (hugs and kisses) pendants!

Sharon created a fast bezel-set stone pendant this week- what a gorgeous eye-catching stone set simply, as not to compete for attention, in silver. She's also working on a chain to hang it from. Can't wait to see the final project complete!

Thanks to all my wonderful students for letting me "learn on the job" for my first teaching experience. You've been great guinea pigs!

Next week: "Learn to Solder in an Evening" projects!