| Mr. Bill Fretz |
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William Fretz began making jewelry while in high school in Pennsylvania. His essay "Creativity" was read at the graduation ceremonies. He graduated with High Honors, and received a BFA from The Rochester Institute of Technology's School for American Craftsmen in 1969. Since then, he has shown his work in galleries and juried shows in the United States and Mexico. He taught silversmithing at the Cleveland Institute of Art, and jewelry at The Portland School of Art. He has won numerous awards and commissions, including a commission from Paul Newman to make a presentation sculpture for the Hole in the Wall Camp. In 2000, Mr. Fretz, working with Jordan Fretz, won first place in the Maine Jewelers Association's Annual Design Contest for a 22K mesh bracelet. In 2001, he began making models for a line of jewelers' tools. These tools are now being distributed by major catalog companies such as Gesswein and Rio Grande. In July, 2004, Mr. Fretz won a Maine Technology Institute Grant to design new stakes and a hammer to go with these new tools.
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 | July 08, 2009
| | | Stone Setting in Metal Clay | | | Set stones in Metal Clay! Students will make pieces using bezel setting, metal clay prongs, and channel setting techniques. |  | Read more... | | | | | July 15, 2009
| | | 5 Settings in 5 Days | | | In this fun and fast paced workshop we will cover multiple stone setting techniques in just five days. | | Read more... | | | | | July 22, 2009
| | | Woven Metal Techniques | | | Create alluring surfaces and structures using woven metal techniques. This hands-on workshop will introduce students to twining, braiding, weaving, "knitting" a chain, soumak, card-weaving and more. | | Read more... | | | | | July 27, 2009
| | | Basic Lapidary | | | Learning how to cut and polish your own cabochons with limitless shape, size, and color options! | | Read more... | | | | | August 14, 2009
| | | Granulation and Fusing | | | Learn the ancient techniques of fusing and granulation and add new levels of detail, delicacy, and texture to your work. | | Read more... | | | | | August 19, 2009
| | | Give Me A Hand: Bracelets and Rings | | | This workshop will focus on adorning the hand. Design and make a variety of rings and bracelets while exploring a many designs, from the simple band ring and bangle bracelet, to hollow and fold formed variations. | | Read more... | | | |
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