| Mr. Chris Ploof |
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Chris started creating early in life. While growing up in Massachusetts, he used to visit a local living history museum. While there, Chris spent hours watching the blacksmith and tinsmith work their craft. It was amazing to watch simple tools, hands, and hearts make complex items of beauty. He would then go home, and using whatever was at hand, re-enact what he had seen.
"Thirteen years ago, the desire to recreate some of what I had watched being hammered out was overwhelming - my head was full of ideas - and with the help of a 55 gallon drum, some fire bricks, and a hairdryer, my career in metalsmithing was launched. I felt something was missing, however. "
Chris found the missing link when he started taking jewelry making classes. He felt very at home with jewelry scale items. After becoming a full-time student, he began an apprenticeship under a master goldsmith and stone setter which continues today. Chris learns and teaches in this relationship.
"I love exploring new techniques and materials, and I especially love to push the envelope of current and accepted techniques. Challenges always seem to lead down long roads even after they have been met, and spawn many future ideas and designs for me. Impossible is only a temporary condition. My favorite materials are gold, mokume, and meteorite."
Chris maintains a studio in Worcester, Massachusetts. Here, he designs and hand crafts several lines of exclusive production jewelry, as well as many custom pieces.
Examples of his work may be viewed on his website.
 | Toolmaking | | | With Chris Ploof | | | 09 October 2010 - 10 October 2010
| | | | | | Learn to make your own custom tools! We will discuss why making your own tools is easier and more efficient than buying in the catalogs. Go home with your own chasing tools, stamps, scribes, punches, etc. | | | | | |   | | | | | Mokume Gane: Hot Pressing | | | With Chris Ploof | | | 06 November 2010 - 07 November 2010
5% Early Bird Discount for registration before 06 October 2010
| | | | | | For students who have already taken a Mokume class with Chris and want to learn the hot pressing method for creating & reducing billets. | | | | | | | | | |
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| This Week on Our Blog |
| Meet the Masters: Christine Dhein |
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Christine Dhein returns to Metalwerx Aug. 12-15 for ‘Surface Embellishments and Riveting Techniques,’ a class she loves to teach because it offers students opportunities for both learning and experimentation. She provides instruction on how to achieve a wide variety of surface textures and encourages students to combine the techniques to create unique results... Read more>>
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| September 11, 2010
| | | Make Your Own Textures for Metal Clay | | | Learn different methods of making your own texture plates for use with metal clay including photo-polymer plates, polymer clay tear-away sheets, carved polymer clay, 2-part silicone molding materials, and more! |  | Read more... | | | | | September 18, 2010
| | | Dichroic Glass & Silver Metal Clay | | | Learn how to set dichroic glass in silver metal clay and fire it safely so it doesn't crack! | | Read more... | | | | | September 23, 2010
| | | Casting and Wax Working | | | Casting and wax working techniques can save you time and add new dimension to your creations. Making wax models allows you create complex curves, surfaces, and textures that would be difficult and time consuming to execute in sheet metal. | | Read more... | | | | | September 24, 2010
| | | Fusing, Soldering, and Keum Boo with Argentium Silver | | | Created for people who want to become comfortable working with Argentium Sterling Silver sheet and wire, this workshop will teach a variety of techniques including annealing, soldering, fusing, and hardening. | | Read more... | | | | | September 29, 2010
| | | Chain Making | | | We will discuss traditional linked chains as well as loop-in-loop and crocheted chains, with a focus on repetitive soldering, fusing, and techniques specific to handling and working with wire. | | Read more... | | | | | October 02, 2010
| | | Beyond the Basic Bezel | | | Ever want to go beyond the basic bezel and expand your repertoire of stone-setting skills? Join us to learn about tube bezels, channel settings, open back bezels, and tips and tricks to make your settings more unique and interesting. | | Read more... | | | | | October 23, 2010
| | | Thrive! not just Survive as an Artist | | | Thrive! not just survive as an Artist with Bruce Baker, nationally known craft marketing expert. This seminar covers Booth design and Merchandising for Art Shows and Galleries, Your Images and the Jury, and Sales Techniques to close more sales. | | Read more... | | | |
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