LAPIDARY FOUNDATIONS I​

This course is meant to teach you the basics of cabochon cutting. I highly recommend the BC Lapidary society for this, as they offer quality courses at a fraction of the cost. Plus, you can be plugged into the growing community of rock enthusiasts throughout this province. If you do choose to take this course, it may or may not be me teaching. You will be shown how to turn a rough rock, including those found by you, into a wearable jewelry stone.

Hours: 10

Prerequisites: none

Tools required: none

LAPIDARY FOUNDATIONS II​

This is the intermediate course, ideally for this course, you've made about 10 cabochons. The process of shaping stones is explored further. free forms are a core part of this course,. you will learn how to make a designer stone. You will also be taught how to cut stones with druzy, and shown methods of shaping and polishing that go beyond template cabochons.

Hours: 5

Prerequisites: Beginner Lapidary

Tools required: none

GEMSTONE DRILLING

You will learn how to drill sea glass, shells, and gemstones. I will explain why stones break, why drill bits dull, and what machines are best for this.

Hours: 2

Prerequisites: Finished 5 cabochons​

Tools required: none

GEMSTONE INLAY

A signature of mine. I had seen it in a mentor's work, and recreated my own version. No metal work experience is required, though you will take much more creative ideas away from the course if you have metal experience. The gemstone inlay is preliminary, but I move on to present the concept behind stone on stone setting and give you a myriad of approaches to advanced lapidary work.

Hours: 8

Prerequisites: Stone Drilling and beginner Lapidary

Tools required: None

SILVERSMITHING I

This is literally your beginner level silversmithing course. If you've never worked with metal or soldered a joint with a torch, you're in the right place. I, or another instructor will teach you all you need to know to get started. You'll make a ring with a stone set in it (cabochon). It will be made in silver. EVERYTHING you need for this course is included in the fees. You will get to take your memento home with you, but not the tools- those you'll have the opportunity to purchase from my shelves.

Here at my studio, I focus on teaching the theory behind your practice. There are other studios in the city that will engage you in the process of making your own ring, but I go to great lengths to explain the atomic process that occurs when that torch touches metal, I explain why, certain reactions occur, and how to affect these reactions in advantageous ways. If you are serious about picking up silversmithing as more than a one time ordeal, then you will be pleased with this course curriculum.

Hours: 10

Prerequisites: None​

Tools required: None

SILVERSMITHING II

Here now, maybe you've put in more time at home, or in the drop in hours and are ready to push your practice further, this is where more science is thrown at you, and intermediate techniques are practiced.You MUST have a basic concept of silversmithing to partake effectively in this course. IE: have completed ten pieces. Stone setting will be examined further, including faceted stones. Sourcing material will be explained more thoroughly, questions on mass production and high end statement pieces will be addressed, and more tools will be introduced to your arsenal. You'll make another ring, but this ones gonna be artsy. You will also be taught how to mix metals through fabrication.

Hours: 8

Prerequisites: Silversmithing I or equivalent​

Tools required: Bring current projects, as well as favorite pieces made.

SILVERSMITHING III

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Hours: 8

Prerequisites: Silversmithing II or equivalent

Tools required: None

INLAY II

This differs from gem stone inlay, in that we explore more ways of inlay, but using metal into stone. an assortment of techniques will be explored.

Hours: 8​

Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary & beginner silversmithing

Tools required: none

INTARSIA

This work gets dexterous. I teach a method that is relatively forgiving but just as impressive. You will make an intarsia piece. I will also describe how to to advanced intarsia where careful care and attention to detail is dire. Mass production of intarsia will also be taught here.

Hours: 8​

Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary

Tools required: none

SLAB POLISHING

Beautiful slabs deserve to be made into showpieces, not cut to gems. Here, I show you my method of dry polishing with a high speed sander. I also explain other methods and teach how to use rotary, as well as vibratory flat laps.

Hours: 3

Prerequisites: none

Tools required: none

FLINT KNAPPING

You'll make an arrowhead in this course. From a rough boulder of obsidian, you'll be shown how to chop it down with modern machinery and rough out a blank on grinding wheels. you will then proceed to pressure flake it in the popular method known as flake over grind. You will also be shown how to make your own tools.

Hours: 8

Prerequisites: None

Tools required: Boots, full length pants.

ROCK TUMBLING

It's the very first type of rock polishing I ever partook in, with my childhood christmas present. 

After polishing hundreds of pounds, I give a lecture on the entire process. how to get the best polish, source stones, maintain and repair tumblers. I discuss rotary and vibratory. You can read the pamphlet that comes with your tumbler, but this course really exposes the science behind them, so that you can control the exact results every moment.

Hours: 4

Prerequisites: none​

Tools required: none

REVERSE INTAGLIO

This work gets dexterous. I teach a method that is relatively forgiving but just as impressive. You will make an intarsia piece. I will also describe how to to advanced intarsia where careful care and attention to detail is dire. Mass production of intarsia will also be taught here.

Hours: 8​

Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary

Tools required: none

GEM CARVING I

We will look at free forming, getting you accustomed to the flex shaft. I will introduce bit types, and discuss micro chipping, stock removal and prepping for polishing.

We will look at setting, so how to carve free forms that are easy to set. I will introduce mass production capabilities for this type of carving, as well as slower more meticulous ways.

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Hours: 8​

Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary

Tools required: none

GEM CARVING II

Here we concentrate of carving an overall form. perhaps a much more elaborate free form, or a realistic piece. Time will be taken to understand sanding and polishing, as i introduce you to the options out there as well as the history of polishing tools and the innovations in the last century.

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Hours: 8​

Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary

Tools required: none

FANTASY CARVING

This is very similar to reverse intaglio, but we are polishing inside the intaglio. We carve transparent stones, so the image is visible through the front.I will teach you how to prevent chipping, and get high gloss polishes.

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Hours: 8

Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary, Gem Carving​

Tools required: none

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WIRE WRAPPING I

Meant for the first timers. The preliminary concepts of metallurgy are presented so that you comprehend the metals you can use. Sourcing material, as well as study resources, are part of the curriculum. In addition, we look at stone cut types to help you assess the best stone shapes for your project and wallet.

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The nitty gritty is that you'll be weaving a pendant, making delicate patterns with metal thread

Hours: 8

Prerequisites:

Tools required:

WIRE WRAPPING II

For those of you with a dozen projects now beneath your belt, you're going to prosper from learning the more intricate wire techniques known to the Milky Way galaxy. Setting crystals, small facets and building wire designs will be shared with you in this course

Hours: 10

Prerequisites: Wire wrapping I or equivalent

Tools required: Most tools provided, but if you have your own niche tools, please bring them.

RELIEF CASTING

Hours: 5

We are just gonna do it all in one. This is relief casting over various surfaces standard in the industry. Broom, salt, bean, water, etc.

I'll show you how to get organic silver forms that will differ from your standard milled metal.

Prerequisites: beginners silversmithing

Tools required: none, (bring silver scraps if you have them)

WAX & ORGANICS MODELING

Casting is a brilliant way to step into mass production and fine art jewelry. Casting is my recommended way to get past working with milled metal and into your own sculpting of metal. Metal will do anything you want- it expands into any form. Here, we look at creating those forms. Working with wax is the conventional way of modeling your piece. I teach various ways of milling, and sculpting the wax- through heat and cold work. I even show you how to make your own waxes from harvested materials. I push further with harvesting and explain how to take forms from nature, such as twigs and fruit peels to form alternative metal forms. In this course, you will not actually cast your work. For the extent of it is spent on giving you a full array of the ways to create original jewelry. (For an additional fee, I will cast your work.)

Hours: 8

Prerequisites: none​

Tools required: Bring various Items from nature, such as bark, leaves, kitchen scraps, ...anything organic (no plastics, metals...)

LOST WAX CASTING

This is where we get to play with fire. In this course, you will be taught how to properly set up your wax pieces and other sculptures for casting. You will cast numerous pieces. And then we will explore the best tools for cleaning them, and preparing them as master copies to be duplicated infinitely.

Hours: 8​

Prerequisites: Wax Modeling, beginner silversmithing

Tools required: none