Get That Creativity Burning Bright!
The Next 12-week Mentorship Begins January10th, 2027!
If you’ve been craving an immersion in both cutting and setting cabochons, this 12-week session is going to be just the thing your soul needs!
Our first 12-Week was mind-blowing with all of the skills we packed in and in this session we’re going places we’ve never gone before-literally to the Gem and Mineral Society in Liverpool, NY!
We are thrilled to be partnering with Syracuse’s Gem and Mineral Society to learn lapidary skills as a segment of our Mentorship!
You’ll learn to cut your own cabochons with GMS and you’ll get 2 different oppotunities to set them in the studio-in metal with Kelly and incorporating a leather cuff with Marie Stevenson!
We aim to make this well-worth the investment, so we’re including Open Studio Hours every other Wednesday AND
Access to our Online Library of Classes (Over 30 jewelry making projects, along with the supply lists!)
Here is what this star-studded session is going to look like (order is subject to change based on the availability of Guest Artists)
The Mentorship Begins 1/10/27 and meets weekly on Sundays, 10am-2pm in our Syracuse Studio
1.Intro to Soldering-Interlocking Rings
2. Intro to Sawing, Drawing and Sweat Soldering with Guest Artist Mackenzie Case of Mackenzie Case Handmade
3.Intro to Lapidary-Cutting Your Own Cabs (Class will take place at the Gem and and Mineral Society)
4.Intro to Lapidary-Cutting Your Own Cabs (Class will take place at the Gem and and Mineral Society)
5. Intro to Lapidary-Cutting Your Own Cabs (Class will take place at the Gem and Mineral Society)
6.Bezel Setting Part 1: Melting and Rolling Silver-Make your own bezel backplate by melting and rolling out your own silver from scrap metal (.5oz sterling casting grain)
7. Bezel Setting Part 2: Soldering, finishing and polishing your piece. Setting your stone.
8. Wax Carving Part 1 with Guest Artist Joshua Price of JZP Designs: How to carve a ring from wax (this will be sent out for casting in metal of your choice-casting is not included in the material kit)
9. Intro to Precious Metal Clay (PMC)-Metal clay can be formed and sculpted like regular clay and when fired with a torch becomes fine silver that can be fabricated in traditional ways-a truly magical process!
10. The Leather, stone set cuff with guest artist Marie Stevenson of Soul, Solder and Stone-learn to combine leather and stones
11. The Leather cuff part 2-finishing your cuff
12. Wax Carving Part 2-Sprue removal and Casting Clean-Up
Photo of Marie Stevenson’s work
Some of the Skills You'll Learn:
Foundational metalsmithing skills including how to use butane, acetylene and propane/oxygen torches.
How non-ferrous metals work
How solder flows and why it sometimes doesn’t (You’ll get lots of torch time!)
How to problem solve-you’ll make mistakes and you’ll learn how to think through them
How to clean, polish and finish your work so it looks professional
How to add texture, patina and color to your metal
How to melt metal using your torch and a charcoal block
How to melt and pour your own ingots and upcycle your metal scrap-so satisfying!
How to set cabachons-single and double
How to add embellishments like balls, discs, accent wire, stamps and hallmarking
How to create your own tube settings with your flex shaft and burs
How to Create Dimension in your work
How to use wax for casting purposes (and potentially sand-casting!)
How to “draw” on metal using the flex shaft to take your work to the next level
You’ll learn to use a variety of tools including calipers, files, jigs, rotary tools, buffing machine, hydraulic press, rolling mill, micro welder, torches and so many fun tools!
Work with a community of other aspiring jewelers eager to share ideas and encourage each other
Assistance and advice to set-up your own home studio.
If you have more questions or would like references from some of our graduates, feel free to contact me-we have LOTs of them!
You can also check out our reviews on our Facebook Page.
* Mentorship Classes are offered once per week and there are 2 open studios/month on Wednesday evenings from 5-8pm to make up any missed classes (with the exception of Guest Artist Classes).
If the studio needs to cancel a class, we will offer an alternate make-up date for the cancelled session.
“I have taken several classes over the past few years. I’ve made rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and have really gotten a feel for the amount of work and planning that goes into making beautiful pieces of art that you can wear or share.
The secret sauce is Kelly. She is so experienced, knowledgeable and generous with her craft — she just makes it easy to be caught up in the magic of metal. Each time I go, I learn something new, I meet new people, I get lost in the creativity and feel a sense of accomplishment. If you like to experience new things, take a class, but watch out, you may get hooked, too!”
Mentorship Includes:
12 Weeks of Classes that meet Sundays from 10-2 (48 hours of class time) $1198.00
2 Complementary Open Studio/month to catch up on projects (Wednesdays 5-8pm, 18 hours total) or make up missed classes
Access to our Online Library of Classes (Includes over 30 jewelry making lessons along with Set Up Your Home Studio and Supply Lists for each project
A list of the tools and supplies we use in classes and where to purchase them.
Access to Rio for Schools Discount which gives you the Rio Pro Discount on Supplies and Shipping for 6 months
Not Included: Materials Kit of Silver and Supplies $275 payable at first class