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Drops of Jupiter Pendant (Earrings Optional)

with Diane Cook

Intermediate
Drops of Jupiter Pendant (Earrings Optional): a finished piece from the class

Photo 1 of 6

When and where

  1. Tuesday, Feb 2, 2027

    8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Times are MST, the event's local time.

At a glance

Skill level
Intermediate
Class type
Project
Prerequisites
None listed
Total time
9 hours
Room
Announced closer to the event
Class size
14 students

Fees

Class fee
$290
Kit fee
$60, paid to the instructor on class day, not charged online

About this class

’Drops of Jupiter’ are not just words from a song; it is what I think of every time I look at the delicate water-castings we will make in class. The earthy organic look of the water castings reminds me of the craters we’ve been shown exist on the moon’s surface. I love the unexpected shapes that are formed in this technique, but more than that, I especially enjoy giving them new life in a piece of jewelry!

Student will begin class by making their own castings. The possibilities will soon become evident, as each student uses their water castings to help guide them in the design of their pendant. Along with their chosen gemstones, possibly a splatter of silver raindrops, and a cast silver twig (from the class kit), students will design a beautiful one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. I think you’ll enjoy working with these organic castings, once you see how much they can inspire you.

And, just in case you are really inspired & have the time, you are free to work on a pair of earrings (See Supply List for Optional Earrings)! Hope you can join me!

Contact Diane Cook

Included in the kit

Covered by the kit fee.

  • 1 Cast Silver Twig
  • Emory Cloth
  • Handouts
  • Silver Wire Solder
  • Consumables

Tools the instructor brings

Shared in class. You do not need to pack these.

  • Soldering stations = torches, fuel platform, quench bowls, towels
  • Table Protection
  • Pickle
  • LOS patina
  • Baking Soda for neutralizer
  • Dawn, paper towels, dishpans for water
  • Flex Shaft
  • Jump Ring Pliers
  • Charcoal Bricks
  • Water Casting setups

What to bring

Your own tools and materials for the class.

  • Gemstone Cabochon(s), flat backed, whatever shape you desire. They can be freeform, rosecut, carved, oval, square, rectangle, trillion, or a combination of shapes you’d like to use. Type of gemstones in the class photos include - Sapphires, Turquoise, Chalcedony, and Cobalta Calcite, but this is completely your choice! Sizes shown and highly recommend for amount of sterling silver sheet I have listed below: 15mmx20mm drop, 1mmx15mm square, 12mmx15mm or 10mmx14mm oval, 12mmx12mm trillion, 8mmx12mm rectangle.
  • Sterling Silver Sheet, Dead Soft, 22-gauge, at least 6”x3”
  • Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 14-gauge, 2’
  • Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 18-gauge, 1-2’
  • Sterling Silver Round or Square Wire, Dead Soft, 16gauge, 1’
  • Bezel Wire, Fine Silver, Flat, Scalloped, Serrated, 28- or 26-gauge, dead soft 3/16”, 3/32”, ¼” or 1/8” Height will depend on the height of the stone(s) you choose (I like to use: ex. Rio #101051, 101055 – I most often use Rio#101051 & raise the stone, if necessary.)
  • Jewelers Saw & Blades (#3/0 or #2/0)
  • Cut Lube or Blade Butter
  • Small Solderite Board (ex. https://a.co/d/09ZlcZZd) OR Small Honeycomb Board (ex. https://a.co/d/00tZGdTJ) / to transport project to/from soldering stations & use at the soldering station.
  • Bench Pin & Clamp
  • Ball Peen, Chasing or Planishing Hammer
  • Rawhide Mallet
  • Steel Bench Block & Rubber Bench Block
  • Jewelry Files, #2 cut, flat, half -round, barrette (bring a #0 & #4 also, if you have them)
  • Needle Files, Set
  • Jewelry Files, #2 cut, flat, half -round, barrette (bring #0 & #4 also, if you have them)
  • Flush Cutters (fyi…my favorite: Double-flush Wire Cutters - Etsy)
  • Pliers, Chain Nose, Round Nose, Flat Nose, Flat/Half Round
  • Bail Making Pliers (I like to use my various sizes of Wubbers – (https://a.co/d/0bzZOftp & https://a.co/d/0h2VMVgc & https://a.co/d/0go7Ficj but if you’d like use just one pair, these will work also: https://a.co/d/0bnb2h9h)
  • Bezel Rocker/Roller (I like to use Smooth Set CLASSIC bezel Pushers/Burnishers: Smoothset HS Acrylic Bezel Pushers, 4-pc Set for Hand-setting or Hammer-setting • Made in Milwaukee! - Etsy)
  • Bezel Burnisher (ex: Amazon.com: EUROTOOL Curved Jewelry Burnisher, 1-1/2 Inch Blade | Highly Polished Tool Steel, Comfortable Wooden Handle : Arts, Crafts & Sewing)
  • Bezel Wire Scissors (ex: Bezel Wire Scissors, Precision-cut Ends of Fine Silver Bezel Wire up to 26 Gauge - Etsy) AND/OR
  • Miter Jig
  • Sanding Pads, Superfine (ex: Amazon.com: Soft Pads Sanding Sponge Sanding polishing Wet Dry Foam Washable Reusable fine grit Fast Cutting Grain Size (3 Pieces 3M 02600 softpads, Grain 1500 Microfine) : Industrial & Scientific)
  • Pumice Knife-edge wheel polisher, size medium & mandrels (Rio #332723 & #333120)
  • Sanding Discs & Mandrels (ex: Rio #337226 & 336562 & 333128)
  • Pro-Polish Polishing Pads (ex. Rio #337020)
  • Utility Tweezers, Fine-Tip (ex. Rio #115053)
  • Small Solderite Board (ex. https://a.co/d/09ZlcZZd) / Small Honeycomb Board (ex. https://a.co/d/00tZGdTJ) / to transport project to/from soldering stations & use at the soldering station.
  • Solder Pick(s)
  • Soldering Tweezers, Fine Tip (ex. Rio#115222 or whatever you use at home. I use a Utility Tweezer, but don’t let it get near the flame).
  • Black Sharpie Retractable Permanent Marker, Ultra Fine, (ex. https:/a.co/d/070bgfRE)
  • Ruler
  • Pencil & Paper (or Sketch Book)
  • Work Light, Rechargeable/Battery Operated (ex. https://a.co/d/0dV3LduN OR https://a.co/d/0eZqO6Cs)
  • Personal Magnification, if required

Optional supplies

  • Faceted or Smooth Gemstone Cabochon, 4mm or smaller
  • Bezel Cup, Serrated or Smooth, compatible with 4mm or smaller gemstone
  • Small Bezel and Hard to Get to” Setting Tool (ex. Amazon.com: Lineco Double-Ended Micro Spatula for Lifting or Slitting Paper. DIY, Art, Craft, Book Binding (870-003): Bookbinding Tools: Home & Kitchen)
  • Makers Mark
  • For the optional earrings: Gemstone Cabochon(s) Pair, flat backed. They can be freeform, rosecut, carved, oval, square, rectangle, trillion or whatever shape, or combination of shapes you’d like to use. Type of gemstone is your choice. Class photos include – 10x12mm Chalcedony & Garnets & 10x12mm oval Chalcedony + 11x17mm Cobalta Calcite drops.
  • For the optional earrings: Sterling Silver Sheet, 22-gauge, at least 3”x1”
  • For the optional earrings: Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 18-gauge, 1-2’
  • For the optional earrings: Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 20-gauge, 1’
  • For the optional earrings: Bezel Wire, Fine Silver, Flat, Scalloped, Serrated, 28- or 26-gauge, dead soft 3/16”, 3/32”, ¼” or 1/8” Height will depend on the height of the stone(s) you choose (I like to use: ex. Rio #101051, 101055 – I most often use Rio#101051 & raise the stone, if necessary.)
  • For the optional earrings: Wire Rounder (ex. https://a.co/d/032bhqQv) or Wire Rounder w/Cup Burs (ex. Rio#116074)

Safety and preparation

Before class
The instructor will have a variety of cabochons available for purchase in class (including beautiful Cobalta Calcite, in a healthy variety of shapes and sizes).

Your instructor

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