Workshops

Are you interested in a workshop? Either in-person or online.

Lockets - Boxes - Hinges & Clasps
Fascinated with containers, little boxes, secret hide-aways.

Does fabricating hinges & catches make you pause? No longer. Learn new fabrication & soldering skills while making a non-traditional locket or small box. Starting with a simple hollow-form shape students will go through the sequencing and construction of a box or locket with a hinge & clasp. You decide what to put a photo, small keepsake, or aromatics in the final piece.

Workshops Scheduled:

Mendocino Arts Center, Mendocino, CA March 24, 25, 6, 2023

Thinking Outside the Box

This workshop is crammed full of techniques and information on hollow forms, design, soldering and fabrication techniques.

It’s designed to teach how to make flat and round hollow forms and how to deconstruct them and reconstruct them, as well as add to students’ skill level they can transfer to all of their work.

Students will learn how to add new dimension to their work with hollow-forms by constructing a 3-dimensional sample that can be pendant or brooch, all from flat sheets of sterling or copper. We will explore dapping block techniques and 3-d fabrication to build student-designed hollow forms. Learn the proper sequencing of steps, soldering tricks, and most efficient fabrication techniques, while also considering design, construction challenges, and wearability. There are endless possibilities for these hollow forms to incorporate in student’s own fabricated designs. 

This is for intermediate metalsmiths with solid fabrication and soldering skills and a knowledge of metals studio safety procedures.

 This is a weekend workshop, it can be in person or online.

Box Clasps don’t have to have corners!

These aren’t just any ol’ box clasps. This is a box within a box. They are solid, adaptable to many shapes, and require no back-up clasp. This box clasp will not accidently release. The clasp can be put into hollow forms to add a whole new dimension to your work. They can become a focal point pendant on the necklace as well as the clasp. The design is limited only by your imagination.

In building a precision box clasp you will improve construction skills and learn techniques that move your fabrication abilities up. The emphasis is on precision measuring, cutting, filing and soldering. And of course, fun! You will be using a variety of tools and approaches that will ramp up your self-confidence in your work to do more complex pieces in the future.

The kit comes with some new tools you might not have used before and some of my favorite bench & soldering tools.

Join the fun while learning a rock-solid adaptable box clasp.

Note: This workshop is for intermediate to advanced metalsmiths with solid fabrication and soldering skills and a knowledge of metals studio safety procedures. Nickel is used in this workshop. It you are allergic to nickel, brass can be substituted, let me know. 

This is a weekend workshop, it can be in person or online.

What do jewelry artists need to know before applying to art shows?

Jewelry is the most competitive category in most shows. It always has a huge number of entries. In order to get accepted, a jeweler must hit every note perfectly in their application. The jury must see new, creatively striking, a unique voice, work. How to do this?

Let me help you cut through the noise and make your jewelry application a stand-out.

I am an art show jeweler of 30 years, a show director, and juror for top shows around the country. I know the art show world from both sides of the booth.

I have exhibited my work in Cherry Creek, CO; Main Street, Fort Worth, TX, Art in the Pearl, OR; La Quinta, CA and other fine art and craft shows.

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Email me if you are interested in this workshop.

Student comments on workshops:

Carla’s highly knowledgeable and she’s a hoot!

I like how she explains processes.

 I appreciate Carla’s step-by-step approach, printouts, and supplies.

 Super patient! Great tips.

 She focused on the skills needed and not just the project. Well, organized with good practice ideas for the skills.