| 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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| This Week on Our Blog |
| Meet the Masters: Charles Lewton-Braint |
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Charles Lewton-Brain has earned many titles and wears many hats: inventor of foldforming, master goldsmith, educator, author, photographer, community activist (i.e., Ganoksin), and more. In addition, he is the long-time head of the Jewellery/Metals Program at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Canada. But ask him what he most likes to do... 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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