Local students will have the opportunity to explore their creativity in the world of jewelry fabrication on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons or evenings. No prior experience is necessary.

Advanced jewelry skills are required for those wishing to explore wax carving and lost wax casting. You need to be able to size a ring and mount a stone in a setting before attempting to carve in wax. Weekly classes in wax are available on Tuesday afternoons and evenings and Wednesday afternoons only.

The Mountain Metalsmiths School is offering Wednesday evening classes for students wanting to try their hand in cutting stones. Space is limited to 2 students. No experience is necessary.

       In the fourth year of the Mountain Metalsmiths School, we understand that "life happens" so that everyone may not be able to start their sessions at the same time. Therefore, MMSJL is continuing a ROLLING ENROLLMENT POLICY to give everyone the same opportunity to learn.
      Also, students may not be able to attend 8 weeks in a row due to previous commitments. Ruthie periodically exhibits at craft fairs, is teaching and/or demonstrating elsewhere so sometimes class may not be held every week. Being more USER-FRIENDLY means that you can skip a week if necessary, but your 8 sessions will not be affected. A reasonable extension will be allowed, but not for an indefinite time period.   

In case of inclement weather, classes will be cancelled if Buncombe County Schools are closed. If you are not sure, please feel free to contact the school at 828-687-7830 or EMail us: ruthie@mmsjl.com
Since it does take time to prepare for the class sessions, we would also appreciate hearing from you if you cannot attend a class.

The first day of weekly classes for 2010 at the Mountain Metalsmiths School will begin Wednesday, January 13th, at 1 PM.

Tuesday class sessions will concentrate on either jewelry fabrication or wax carving and casting. In the jewelry fabrication series, you will explore different jewelry techniques such as soldering, forging, sawing, filing, surface treatments, bezel fabrication, and basic stone setting.

The other series of classes geared for a more experienced jeweler with ring sizing experience,will involve wax carving, vacuum casting via the lost wax process, finishing the castings, mold-making, and cutting molds.

You may pick only ONE class series of 8 sessions at a time. 
TUITION: $360 PLUS MATERIALS, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 6 PER SESSION
Pleased be advised that there will be no classes on the SECOND TUESDAY of each month. Ruthie will be attending meetings at the Mountain Regional Arts & Crafts Guild held in Hiawassee, GA

For the more experienced jeweler, here's a once a week opportunity to explore the world of lost wax carving and casting. During the 8 class sessions, a jewelry design will be carved in wax, then vacuum cast via the lost wax process, and finished into a wearable piece of jewelry. Before setting any stones, students will learn to make a mold for reproducing the design. Due the costs of metals jumping up sky high,we will be working ONLY in silver.
TUITION: $360 PLUS MATERIALS, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 4
                                                                
 If you prefer a more hands-on approach with metal, take a weekly class in Jewelry Fabrication instead.

JEWELRY FABRICATION CLASS: All skill levels are invited to dive into jewelry fabrication on Wednesday afternoons. Different jewelry techniques and studio safety guidelines will be covered.  TUITION: $360 PLUS MATERIALS, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 6

How would you like to learn to cut and polish stones for your own unique jewelry designs?
Starting on March 13th at 7 PM, WEDNESDAY EVENING class sessions now offer an opportunity for you to cut your own pretties from rough material provided by the school OR if you have your own material, bring it in to see what is suitable for cutting into cabochons. TUITION:$360 PLUS MATERIALS, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 2

The Mountain Metalsmiths School offers yet another opportunity for local students to explore jewelry fabrication if Tuesdays or Wednesday afternoons are not convenient. All skill levels are welcome to attend. Classes are geared to each individual which is why they are kept purposely small. TUITION: $360 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 4

Why not let that special someone in your life treat you or why not even treat yourself to a fulfilling and enjoyable 3 day workshop in Jewelry Fabrication. Jewelers with some experience can have the opportunity to bring projects with them to work out the "kinks" while the beginner with little or no experience can learn to SAFELY solder, saw, hammer, file and get comfortable with various tools in a jewelry studio setting. Eye protection is required for this workshop. TUITION: $270 PLUS MATERIALS, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 4

These hours are designed to give the student a breather between sessions. There are several restaurants nearby to enjoy lunch or feel free to bring your own bagged lunch to eat at school.

This is a 3 day opportunity to explore connections without heat! Some of the techniques explored will include flush rivets, round head rivets, tabs and floating pivot points. We will be working in brass and copper. Master these skills and before you know it,you will be able to easily translate them into silver or gold jewelry designs. GOOD SAWING SKILLS ARE REQUIRED.

TUITION: $270 PLUS MATERIALS    MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 4

These hours are designed to give the student a breather between sessions. There are several restaurants nearby to enjoy lunch or feel free to bring your own bagged lunch to eat at school.

This 3-day workshop gives you another opportunity at the Mountain Metalsmiths School to carve a wax jewelry design utilizing burs,files,and even dental tools! You will learn to prepare the wax for casting,vacuum cast the design,and clean the casting to create a finished piece of jewelry to take home. We will not be using stones in this workshop so don't worry about having to set a stone in your jewelry design. Just bring your imagination and comfortable clothes. Eye magnification is advised if needed. TUITION: $270 PLUS MATERIALS, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 4

These hours are designed to give the student a breather between sessions. There are several restaurants nearby to enjoy lunch or feel free to bring your own bagged lunch to eat at school.

Here's your chance to attend a 3 day, intense, informative, enlightening, and if nothing else- amusing experience in the world of creating jewelry from scratch.  COME ON DOWN!! Stretch your imagination and your skills.

TUITION: $270 PLUS MATERIALS, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 4

These hours are designed to give the student a breather between sessions. There are several restaurants nearby to enjoy lunch or feel free to bring your own bagged lunch to eat at school.

This 3-day workshop gives you an opportunity at the Mountain Metalsmiths School to carve a wax jewelry design utilizing burs,files,and even dental tools! You will learn to prepare the wax for casting,vacuum cast the design,and clean the casting to create a finished piece of jewelry to take home. We will not be using stones in this workshop so don't worry about having to set a stone in your jewelry design. Just bring your imagination and comfortable clothes. Eye magnification is advised if needed. TUITION: $270 PLUS MATERIALS, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 4 

These hours are designed to give the student a breather between sessions. There are several restaurants nearby to enjoy lunch or feel free to bring your own bagged lunch to eat at school.

This two day workshop is a follow-up to carving and casting a wax design that you are planning to use over and over again. You will first form a rubber mold around a cleaned and polished jewelry design with layers of mold rubber. The layers of rubber are squeezed together under pressure and heat(vulcanizing) After the vulcanizing cycle is complete, you will then learn how to cut open the mold and test it by injecting wax into the mold.

Think of the possibilities.... not only multiples of a design, but components to create NEW jewelry designs!
TUITION: $180 PLUS MATERIALS   MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 3

These hours are designed to give the student a breather between sessions. There are several restaurants nearby to enjoy lunch or feel free to bring your own bagged lunch to eat at school.

Come and enjoy a three day opportunity to explore some surface techniques via reticulation and fold-forming with pliers and hammers. You will learn how to bring fine silver to the surface, and "draw" edges with a torch. Shapes can be altered by folding edges with pliers and forging with hammers on stakes. We will be working in brass and copper first- then progressing to sterling and reticulation silver. This workshop is recommended for jewelers with some soldering experience only. Bring a pair of sunglasses to prevent over-exposure to bright torchlight.  TUITION: $270 PLUS MATERIALS   MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 2

These hours are designed to give the student a breather between sessions. There are several restaurants nearby to enjoy lunch or feel free to bring your own bagged lunch to eat at school.

Since this is Ruthie's first grandchild, there is absolutely no way to schedule weekend workshops between March 13th and April 24th. Due date is March 21, but who knows??? Tick tock, tick tock......

Strange... You pick up a pebble from a parking lot, driving along a dusty road, you spy an unusual rock lying in a ditch that mysteriously lands in your vehicle or bike bag. Why did that something grab your attention? Treat yourself to a 2 day lapidary workshop and discover the answer.

After selecting rough material, you will cut and shape it into a finished and polished cabochon, ready for mounting. You will learn to use saws and grinders throughout the entire cutting process. It is highly recommended that you wear old clothes, bring a waterproof apron, and eye protection.  You may supply your own materials or purchase rough from the school. TUITION: $180 PLUS MATERIALS, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 2

These hours are designed to give the student a breather between sessions. There are several restaurants nearby to enjoy lunch or feel free to bring your own bagged lunch to eat at school.

Imagine being able to spend a week totally immersed in the joys of creating jewelry - no interruptions from television, news, traffic, or worries. Folk School is an idyllic retreat in Brasstown, NC where you will be well fed and cared for.
Have you imagined a piece of jewelry in your head, but lack the skills to create it yourself? Or maybe your silversmithing skills are WAY too rusty? Create silver pendants, bracelets, or earrings with the magic of tools and learn low-cost ways to outfit your own jeweler's bench. Stones will also be available for setting. All levels welcome, but good eyesight or magnification is needed.
Tuition: $527 plus materials    Maximum number of students: 8  Room and Board: Click on this link  Housing at Folk School

This 3 day Beginning Lapidary Workshop is ideal for the person who wants to cut his own stones for that unique jewelry design. Your first day starts EARLY at 8:30am for the unique opportunity to attend a tailgate gem show in Spruce Pine, NC, where you can acquire rough material for cabbing. You will learn what to look for when making your selections at the tailgate market. The next two days, starting at 10am, will teach you to cut and shape your finds into a finished and polished stone, ready for mounting. You will learn to use saws and grinders throughout the entire cutting process. It is highly recommended that you wear old clothes, bring a waterproof apron and eye protection. You may supply your own materials or purchase rough from the school. TUITION: $270 PLUS MATERIALS, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 2

These hours are designed to give the student a breather between sessions. There are several restaurants nearby to enjoy lunch or feel free to bring your own bagged lunch to eat at school.