Susan Lenart | Creating Personal Talismans: the ancient tradition of wearable meaning | Saturday, August 8, 2026 | 9:00 am until 4:00 pm
$220.00
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll create a small series of raw, sophisticated, and powerful personal charms, amulets, and talismanic components using sterling silver, stacked paper to hold your intentions, and meaningful small objects, stones, bone, threads, and more.
These pieces are meant to be worn close to the body, layered together, and charged with personal energy and intention.
Rooted in the sacred lineage of protective jewelry, this workshop invites you to compose pieces that hold frequency.
When words are written with care and worn with presence, they become a thread between your inner world and the physical world – a spell in motion, a prayer in metal.
Techniques
All focused on creating small-scale, deeply symbolic wearable forms that carry texture, story, and soul.
Soldering
Cold joins and riveting
Layering and connection methods
Engraving and mark-making
Small gemstone setting
Burning and paper-binding techniques
A Cross-Cultural Legacy
Across centuries and cultures, people have written down prayers, affirmations, and intentions to invoke, protect, and manifest.
These were not simply notes – they were living tools, activated the moment ink touched page.
Ancient traditions include
Egypt: Papyrus scrolls worn for rebirth and protection
Judaism: Torah verses in mezuzahs and tefillin worn for divine connection
Buddhism: Tibetan mantras carried inside heart-adjacent amulets
Islam & West Africa: Arabic prayers sewn into leather pouches (gri-gris)
European folk magic: Parchment spells bound and worn for love, luck, and safety
Words hold vibration. When bound in silver or tucked into wearable forms, they become sacred reminders of what you are calling in.
What You’ll Create
You’ll learn to work fluidly and intuitively, letting the materials guide your process as you shape two to three finished components, charms or amulets that layer beautifully as pendants, and carry beauty, power, and personal meaning.
This is a creative ritual in metal, where technique meets energy, and every detail holds a deeper purpose.
You’ll walk away not only with finished jewelry, but with sacred wearable objects and pieces to remind you of who you are, and what you carry
Techniques You Will Learn and Explore
Throughout this workshop, we will explore the art of building with raw, deconstructed silver. You will master several key techniques to bring your vision to life
- Fusing: Using heat to bond metal seamlessly, creating organic forms that flow with natural beauty.
- Soldering: Perfecting the art of joining metal with precision, ensuring your links hold strong.
- Shaping and Sizing: Transforming raw material into meaningful, wearable structures.
- Gem Setting: Learning how to set stones and materials in your pieces to amplify their power and meaning.
WE WILL RELEASE SEATS FOR PURCHASE THE MORNING OF REGISTRATION.
*** MAY 18TH AT NOON (PHOENIX TIME) ***
In stock
Description
Instructor: Susan Lenart
Title of Class: Creating Personal Talismans: the ancient tradition of wearable meaning
Date of Class: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Time: 9:00 am until 4:00 pm
Level: Advanced beginner/intermediate – must know how to solder
Type: Project and Techniques
Kit Fee: $55
Kit Includes
small gemstone
stick
fiber
threads
paper
mixed media materials
Instructor will have the following for use in class
Soldering stations – torches, fuel, platforms, quench bowls, towels
Table protection
Pickle pot
Patina pot
Baking Soda for neutralizer
Dawn, paper towels, dishpans for water
Flex shaft
STUDENT SUPPLY LIST
materials (bring at minimum)
(1) 3×3″ 24-gauge sterling silver sheet
(1 oz) fine silver bezel wire, 3/8″
(2 feet) 20-gauge sterling silver wire
Favorite flux
Favorite solder – easy, medium, hard (pallions or wire)
required tools to bring
Solder Pick
Small solderite board/kiln brick to transport project to/from soldering stations
Battery-operated or rechargeable task light for work station
Magnification (Optivisor, etc.)
Ear plugs
Safety glasses
Dust/particulate mask
Jewelers Saw & Blades (3/0 or 2/0)
Saw blade lubrication
Bench Pin & C-Clamp (at least 3-inch to hold to hotel work tables)
Ball Peen, Chasing or Planishing Hammer
Rawhide Mallet
Steel Bench Block & Rubber Block to deaden noise
Files Cut #2 – flat, half-round
Needle Files, Set
Flush Cutters
Pliers, Chain Nose, Round Nose, Flat Nose, Flat/Half Round
Handheld shears for cutting sheet metal (non-ferrous)
Utility Tweezers, Fine-Tip (ex. Rio#115053)
Soldering Tweezers, Fine Tip
Your favorite finishing supplies to be used with the flex shafts (make sure to bring any mandrels too)
Small Ruler
Sketchbook and/or pad of paper
Pencil & fine-point black permanent marker
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES
encouraged to bring
Small personal objects or meaningful materials (stones, beads, fragments, gems, paper, sticks)
Scrap silver
decorative wire
stamps
small dies
Instructor Email Address: SLENARTKAZMER@GMAIL.COM
Instructor Website: susanlenart.com
