Simple and Elegant Earrings - Virtual Workshop
This live, virtual workshop will act as an introduction to the vast topic of earring design and fabrication.Students will focus on simple and effective ways of using techniques that require no soldering to make elegant kinetic earrings! Forging, forming, wire twisting, and working with beads and pearls will be demonstrated. Students will also learn to make unique earwires, forged hoops, dangle earrings, and earrings that incorporate chain, beads and pearls. A perfect class for beginners or those seeking an earring design jumpstart.
This course will consist of two sessions. There will be a no-class day between each session.
Class will be held live via Zoom during the designated time frame. A link to the Zoom room will be sent via email.
Each session will be recorded and you will receive a password protected link to the recordings that expire after 30 days.
Please read the Materials & Tools tab!
Meet the instructor
Paulette Werger is a metalsmith and teacher who works in Lebanon, NH. She sells her work both nationally and internationally and is owner of Metalpeople East, a jewelry and hollow ware studio. She has taught metalsmithing at the University of WI, Montana State University, and at craft schools throughout the country.
Materials & Tools
Students will need to have the following materials in preparation for this online workshop. If you do not already have them, a suggested item and/or a vendor from which you can purchase these items has been provided below. Click the vendor name (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find or choose the item. The quantities you need for each item are listed first. Please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. Please order these materials as soon as possible due to longer than usual turn-around times. We recommend not opening the item packaging until the day of the workshop.
The instructor will demonstrate in Argentium silver and copper.
- 2 feet x Argentium® silver round wire - 14g dead soft (Rio Grande)
- 3 feet x Argentium® silver round wire - 16g dead soft (Rio Grande)
- 6 feet x Argentium® silver round wire - 20g dead soft (Rio Grande)
- 1 x 2"x4" sheet in any metal - 22g or 24g (Rio Grande)
- 1 x needle file set #2 or #4 cut (Rio Grande)
- 1 x half round file - #4 cut (Rio Grande)
- 1 x plier and flush cutter set (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
- 1 x half round forming pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x planishing hammer (Rio Grande)
- 1 x rawhide mallet (Rio Grande)
- 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pack of 12 #4/0 saw blades (Rio Grande)
- 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
- 1 x bench vise (Rio Grande)
- 1 x rotary hand piece (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pack of pumice flat edge wheels - medium (Rio Grande)
- 1 x 1/16" screw mandrel 303 - 3/32" shank - (Rio Grande)
- 1-2 x high speed twist drill bits - #54, #55, #60, #67 (Rio Grande)
- 1 x steel block (Rio Grande)
- 1 x center punch (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pro polish pads (Rio Grande)
In addition to the above items, you will want to have the following items available:
- hard work surface
- copper or brass round wire 12-20g - for model making
- texturing hammer (instructor uses Rio Grande)
- safety glasses
- wooden dowels: 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8" - for forming (Home Depot)