Cuff Bracelets and Pendents by Betty Helen Longhi.

Level: Intermediate and above
Requirements: Jewelry I or Equivalent
Program: Spring
Status: Closed
Length: 3 Days
Tuition: $ 525
Materials: TBA
Date: April 30, 2010 - May 02, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Metalwerx

Jewelry with three-dimensional form is much more elegant and professional looking than flat pieces. In this workshop we will use hammers and simple wooden stakes that the student can make to create interesting and functional jewelry.

Shell Forming is a process that allows us to quickly and easily form sheet metal into unique forms. By working with the process, students will come to understand the basic shell forming techniques of synclasting and anticlasting as well as ways to make transitions from one form to the other. Students will gain a new insight into ways to manipulate sheet metal while creating a unique group of jewelry items.

The workshop is appropriate for both beginning and experienced metals students.

If you'd like to see more of Betty Helen's work, please visit her website www.fluidformsinmetal.com. You can also email her with questions related to the class at bhl@fluidformsinmetal.com.

Check out a video of Betty Helen demonstrating her forming techniques on an episode of the Carol Duvall Show at www.hgtv.com. Click on the video button under the two jewelry pictures.

Materials & Tools

There will be a materials kit available for purchase from the instructor at the workshop. These are estimated costs per item. Actual costs will be determined by the market at the time of the class. Students who already have any of these items will not have to purchase them.

Materials kit contents:

• Handouts -20 pp. ($5)
• Delrin deadblow mallets ($44), one per student (if you do not have one) Please note: A selection of hammers and stakes will be available from Allcraft to buy
• Metal ($17), one 6" x 6" piece of 20 gauge, 22 gauge and 24 gauge Nugold.
• Misc (shipping, demo materials, etc. $12)
• TOTAL is estimated at $78

Students Should Bring:

• Basic hand tools: pencil, ruler, scissors, scribe, pliers, saw frame, saw blades, Pilot or Sharpie permanent marker - fine line, masking tape.
• Files: Half-round and crossing in 6" or 8" length of cut (if you have them)
• Aviation snips or equivalent shears (if you have them)
• Wood rasps and coarse files one half round; and one round. These are also available from hardware stores. Some will be available to share but it is preferable to have your own.
• Assorted wet or dry emery paper or Scotch Brite pads
• Hammers, mallets, sinusoidal stakes if you have them (again, a selection of these will be available, but not enough for everyone to use at the same time). Note: If you have purchased hammers at a previous workshop please bring them to work with
• EAR PLUGS!
• Pair of soft leather gloves to protect hands while hammering.
• Large of stiff drawing paper for making patterns and roll printing.
• A selection of fabric and other materials that could be used for roll printing. Cheese cloth, netting, paper and screening work well
• Nugold is the metal recommended for starting out with shell forming, but if students want to experiment with copper or other nonferrous metals, they should bring their own.
• A small step stool or wood or plastic box to stand on. It is important to be able to stand so that your elbow is well above the working surface of the wood block or stake that is held in the vise. So, in many cases we have to stand on a platform or box and there are not many of these available.
• A note from the instructor: An important part of the class is to gain an understanding of who we all are as craftsmen and artists. To that end I like to have a brief show and tell during the session so please bring a few slides photos and/or examples of your work to show at that time.