Metal Casting two day class March 24 and March 31, 2018

Carmen Martinez, jewelry fabricator and designer will be here to teach another Metal Casting  class on 2 Saturdays, March 24 and March 31, 2018.

  Casting has been done by Jewelers for thousands of years.  It is as important

in the 21^st century as it was years ago.  You ask yourself “Why should I learn lost wax casting?”   This is a great technique for making your own custom items for your jewelry pieces.   You can easily have someone cast your unique customs items for you, but the more you understand the process, the easier it will be for you to design your pieces.  You will learn vacuum and centrifugal casting methods.  You will learn how to sprue and invest the wax models, calculate metal requirements, and understand the burnout cycle.  You will learn  the “sprue” technique and cast an organic item.  We will review what items are best for casting.  You can bring your own items to cast, however, we will also have an assortment of organic pieces.  Sterling silver and bronze will be available for you to cast with.  Email Grace@GracefulCustoms to sign up, $275.00 plus material fee.

Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet, Sat. March 3, 2018

Marge Regan, jewelry designer and jewelry fabricator in silver, gold and platinum, with 20+ years of experience, will be here to teach a sterling silver cuff bracelet on Sat., March 3, 2018 at Graceful Customs Studio.  

            This class will get you started on making your own beautiful anticlastic bracelet cuffs in sterling silver.  You will learn how to anneal sterling silver, use traditional and contemporary methods to apply texture or a pattern to the metal with a rolling mill, choose a die to punch out a bracelet shape and use the hydraulic press to form your bracelet cuff.  Students will also do a small amount of sawing and forging to complete their bracelet.  Students will have the opportunity to oxidize their cuff after the final polish if desired. 

You will leave this class with a ready-to-wear original silver bracelet cuff.  This class is the 1^st of a series of classes that will be offered during this year at Graceful Customs.  $250.00 for one day, plus material fee to be determined closer to class.  e-mail Grace@Gracefulcustoms.com to sign up!