8.27.2023 UPDATE

Barb Solem2023, Metals Week

Instructor: Susan Lenart

Class: Sacred Objects: Totems and Talismans – Creating Personal Sacred Objects

Date of Class: September 11, 2023 – September 15, 2023

Time: 9:00 am until 4:00 pm daily

Level: Advanced Beginner – students should have experience with creating and soldering*** (see note below)

Students will work on symbolism with their own shapes + small hollow forms and  attachments .

Susan is bringing in some found objects, like glass and fossils to give out.

Susan will have gems that students can purchase

click here for a short video

STUDENT SUPPLIES LIST

Please understand that all of your work will not look the same. 

I will be showing techniques and this is the minimum listed below to make sure that you have enough material. 

If you have extra in your studio then please bring extra. 

Please bring a notebook to sketch out ideas and symbolism as I walk you through a brief meditation in the beginning. No need to know how to draw.

BRING YOUR OWN 

*METAL (*Susan prefers working with dead soft sterling silver)

and

**GEMSTONES (**Susan will have some gemstones and found objects for sale)

Note: quantities of each will entirely depend on what you plan to create

METAL


SHEET

22-gauge sterling silver sheet metal (3” x 6”) Does not have to be one sheet – we will be using it throughout the retreat.

22-gauge (gauge doesn’t really matter) fine silver sheet 3” x 3″

24-gauge sterling silver sheet metal 3” x 6” – if you have it in your studio inventory – not mandatory

26-gauge sterling silver sheet 3” x 3″


WIRE

STRIP/BEZEL

28-gauge sterling silver strip – 1/8” – 12”

28-gauge sterling silver strip – 3/8″ – 9”

28-gauge fine silver strip – 1/8” – 12” (dead soft) – Rio Grande item #101001

28-gauge fine silver scalloped bezel wire – 3/16” – 12” (dead soft) – Rio Grande item 101005

28-gauge fine silver serrated bezel wire – 1/4” – 12” (dead soft) Rio Grande item 101002

Sterling silver “inverted heart” gallery wire – 12” (hard) – Rio Grade item 103272

Sterling silver “swag” gallery wire – 12” (hard) Rio Grande item 103268

Bring any bezel wire you may have in your studio – such as crown, crown filigree, etc. Use what you have!


ROUND WIRE

18-gauge wire -1 ft – if you have it in your studio inventory – not mandatory

20gauge wire -1 ft

22-gauge wire 2 ft


SQUARE WIRE

18-gauge square wire-1 foot- if you have it in your studio inventory – not mandatory

16-gauge – 2 feet

14-gauge – 2 feet

12-gauge 2 feet


SOLDER

Solder – whichever you prefer using – sheet or wire – EZ, medium, hard


GEMSTONES

Stones, gems, cabs, found objects, small personal sacred objectsetc.

Centerpiece stone for rings, pendants or bracelets

4 smaller cabs or rosecut gems for adorning sides of center stones

Crystal point with a cut base (so it sits snug inside the bezel)


OPTIONAL METAL TO BRING WITH YOU

Any scrap silver – BRING A LOT OF YOUR SCRAP METAL – WIRE/SHEET/BEZEL WIRE/GALLERY WIRE – STERLING OR FINE SILVER – COPPER OR JEWELER’S BRONZE IF YOU’D LIKE TO USE IT –  – We will create bezels, shot plate adornments, twisted wire, granulation balls out of what you have!

Any scrap fine silver

Fine silver strip 6½” (sheet, scrap)- for making your own granulation

Any little sterling silver small components to solder onto your surface

Indian dies (or any small dies)

Fine silver granulation- Rio Grande – lot 109381

Russian filigree powdered solder


STUDENT TOOLS TO BRING

6” X 6” solderite board

T-pins

Jewelers saw and blades (#2/0, #3/0, #4/0)

Wax/Bur life for saw blades

drill bits – #52 and #60

Bench pin and C-clamp to attach to workspace

Small piece of wood to drill into

Small bench block and something to deaden sound

Files – any variety

sandpaper – a variety of grits

Pliers – flat nose, chain nose, round nose, half-round/flat forming pliers

Rawhide mallet

Chasing hammer

flush cutters

tin snips to cut sheet metal

small ballpeen hammer

Fine-tipped tweezers

Cross-locking tweezers

Bezel setting tools

Sharpies and pencils

Note Pad


OPTIONAL TOOLS AND SUPPLIES TO BRING WITH YOU

Shot plates – if you live local and can bring them

Dapping dies – if you live local and can bring them

work light

Safety glasses/Magnifiers/Optivisor


ADDITIONAL NOTES FROM SUSAN

24g s/s sheet (keep in mind the extra on each side for the smaller gems)

1/4″ s/s dead soft bezel strip wire (32g for the very small stones- for this ring, Susan uses a bezel wire that has teeth cut along one edge to fold over to set the stone)

Your choice s/s or fine silver filigree wire (at least enough to go around your center stone twice, plus enough to go around your crystal point)

Your choice- twisted wire for 2nd layer (enough to wrap around your bezel).

12g dead soft s/s wire for bail (can use plain wire or decorative)

Thicker s/s wire for ring band- your choice.

NOTE: 24g means 24 gauge. s/s means sterling silver.

NOTE: You can also use copper, bronze or brass instead of silver. If using bronze wire, use jeweler’s grade. You can use brass filigree wire- comes in lots of decorative shapes. (remember to use silver solder with silver).

click here for an additional inspirational video


Additional Class Comments

***If you are interested in joining this retreat but aren’t sure your soldering skills are up to snuff, Susan offers a free soldering video that will walk you through the steps and give you a chance to practice before attending class.

<click here> to be directed to the free soldering lesson


DO YOU NEED ANY SUPPLIES OR TOOLS FOR CLASS?

PRE-ORDER THEM TODAY!

Would you rather have all your metal and supplies ready for you in Mesa when you arrive? Sometimes, it’s a bit nerve-wracking to try and carry all the precious metals on the plane with you for fear TSA will confiscate them; and likewise, they’re too precious to check in your luggage for the same reason.

Many of our students have asked us to help streamline the process of gathering their supplies and tools for classes, and we have come up with a way we think will work for you.

SJ Jewelry Supply in Phoenix is owned and operated by a wonderful family, headed by Mario Morales. His wife, Erika, and son, Steven, round out the staff, and they are excited to help make gathering your supplies easy and stress free. We guarantee they will make life easier for you! No kidding!

Here’s how it will work….

  • Once you have determined what you will need for class, send an email with your request for products and/or tools to SJ Jewelry Supply
    • Go to our website, open the class description for the class, scroll down to the section “Student Supplies,” cut and paste the items you want to purchase into an email to Mario.
    • Here’s their email address mailto:info@sjjewelrysupply.com
    • Or, phone them if you prefer (602) 956-0189
  • When they receive your email, they will send you a return email acknowledging receipt of your request
    • In this email, they will instruct you about payment methods 
  • Once your order is filled, they will send you a second email with confirmation stating your order is complete
    • Included in this email, they will give you instructions on how to pick up your orders upon arrival in September!

 Sound easy? We think it’s going to help take the stress out of preparing for classes!