2024 Metals & Jewelry Workshops

Workshop enrollment happens on a first-come, first-served basis. Many fill to capacity quickly and have waitlists months in advance. It’s best to register as early as possible – don’t delay! Registrations for onsite workshops should be made no later than 15 days ahead of the workshop start date so that we can include you when we’re making workshop determinations, ordering materials, etc. Touchstone’s onsite workshop determinations (running vs cancelling) are made 14 days in advance of their scheduled start dates, primarily based on the number of participants registered at that time.

A processing fee of $25 will be added to 1-5 day onsite workshops. All workshop participants must be at least 18 years of age, unless otherwise noted.

Remember: Materials and studios fees are separate from tuition fees and are to be paid in full once finalized (typically two weeks prior to the workshop).

To view a full listing of the Terms and Conditions as part of your enrollment, download the 2024 Participant Guide. Please review our updated Health & Safety Guidelines* and Cancellation Policy* prior to registering for any workshop.

*Subject to change based on health regulations and best practices. Registered participants will be notified if changes are made.

Find inspiration and hone your creative problem solving skills as we take repurposed materials to new heights in wearable jewelry and small sculpture. You will learn basic metalsmithing skills and create pieces that express your unique style and include a variety of found objects and materials. Ordinary and mundane items will be transformed as we work to create one-of-a-kind pieces to adorn your body and home.

Learn the basics and beyond to create beautiful mechanisms in your work. Mechanical connections and movable parts make jewelry wearable and functional, but in this workshop, you'll also learn how to add a little flair to your designs. Pin mechanisms for brooches, necklace findings, basic hollow forms, and hinges will be covered. Participants will leave with a series of small samples and finished work using the demonstrated techniques. Experience with basic soldering is helpful, but not required.

Mokume gane is an ancient Japanese technique that uses fused layers of different metals to form organic patterns. Starting with pre-fused mokume gane billets, participants will dive into the versatile metamorphic method of patterning, creating multiple samples. Participants will then fabricate their uniquely patterned sheet into soldered hollow-form boxes. Skills covered include patterning mokume gane, box design, forging, texturing, fabrication, soldering with precise temperature control, finishing and patination. Multiple box design ideas will be shown, with options for different levels of experience.

In this workshop, we will use language as our guiding principle to object making. Hammer, link, rivet, print, form will be our prompts as we dive into surface techniques in metal. Participants can expect to investigate materials and create samples that will inform more resolved pieces. Our emphasis will be on drawing connections through daily writing prompts and freeing our hands to discover new ways of making surfaces.

Workshop Description to follow.

Explore powder coating, an electrostatic pigment powder application process, and discover its possibilities in creating your jewelry and metalwork. We will experiment and discuss equipment. Bring your own pieces for a splash of color and texture. Suitable metals include silver, copper, steel, brass, nickel, aluminum, and more. Bring as many metal items as you'd like (up to 6" x 7" x 10" in size) to maximize the creative possibilities. You'll have access to a range of colors and finishes to make your pieces truly stand out.

Explore the basics of various weaving and basketry techniques using metal materials such as copper, nickel, steel, and silver. Participants will create a series of small woven technicals, with the week’s efforts culminating in a final project that will take the form of an object, adornment, or a mixture of both. Experimentation is a key part of this workshop. You will be encouraged to play!

Create a champlevé pendant from start to finish. First, you will learn how to saw and fuse fine silver bases. After fabricating the foundation, you will create your own cloisonné wires and inlay them into the fine silver base and add the layers of colored enamels to complete your design.  Focus will be on achieving great transparency and clarity of color.

Explore your surroundings to collect materials and learn various setting techniques to create one-of-a-kind jewelry. Through this process, you will gain a new perspective on how to view your surroundings and further develop your artistic interest.