Start of Intro. to Metalsmithing Class

Last night started the first of five introductory classes to metalsmithing! The students learned how to use their torch and how to solder!

These are Lizzy's first pair of earrings! She cut out the square backplates from 24 gauge silver, then formed the spirals. Careful to get them flat, the spirals were then soldered onto the back plate, oxidized, buffed and the earwires bent into earrings.

Daphne chose to make a gorgeous pendant. She layered a teardrop shape of silver onto another larger teardrop shape, soldered them together, then formed and soldered a wire spiral to finish it off. She then drilled a hole for a bail, oxidized and buffed, and her work of art was done!

Laura made an I.D. bracelet of her daughter's name and birthdate. She stamped, soldered on the decorative wire, bent the ends, and attached some commercial toggles. She plans to attach some leather straps to the toggles to attach to her wrist.

Nice job everyone!