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Foundology

With Stephanie Lee

Join me for three days as we set out on a metal-smithing expedition of epic proportions! With just a few basic tools strapped to our belts, we’ll don our expedition gear as we set out to bend, hammer, form, solder and explore various techniques in working with metal to unearth a soldered metal box and jewelry to go in it. Not your typical metal-smithing class, this expedition is designed to show you how to take readily accessible materials and tools to create totally original pieces.

As we set out on our journey together, fresh-faced and eager, we will employ various wire wrapping and wire soldering techniques to create a three-part piece of jewelry that can be worn as a necklace with interchangeable pendants, as a triple-wrapped bracelet, or separated as a necklace and a bracelet. I will share with you my favorite tricks in my archeologist’s bag to create box pendants, found objects bezels and housings pendants, not-your-momma’s-wire wrapped pendants, link making techniques, and more. We will incorporate the found treasures from your digs to showcase their inherent beauty or transform them from plain to museum-worthy.

On the final leg of our metal-smithing expedition, we will construct a ribbon hinged metal box with etched, engraved, solder-flooded, and findings-embellished top. We will then line it with vintage fabrics and papers in preparation for it to house the necklete (the happy marriage of a necklace and bracelet) we have created. Whether you like bright and shiny or aged and earthy, you will unearth treasures aplenty in these three full days of our metal-smithing expedition together.

**Soldering and blackening agents will all be used in this class. All measures will be taken to create adequate ventilation as much as possible. If you have extreme sensitivities to these products, consider this carefully before registering.

Student Supply List:

Click here for a printable supply list.

Kit Fee: $20.00 (payable directly to instructor on day of class)

Two 1lb. rolls of lead-free solder. This should be “solid wire” solder and NOT “acid or rosin core”. Any lead free solder from a stained glass supplier will work. Lowe’s carries a brand – Sterling – that works great as well.
Two medium sized cans of butane fuel refill (I provide torches and heat safe surfaces)
4-8 oz. package of white Sculpey clay - oven dry variety (do NOT bake it!)
Items with texture to cast (dig through your junk drawer)
20 feet each of half-hard or full-hard sterling wire in 18-gauge, 22-gauge, and 26-gauge (check out www.thunderbirdsupply.com or www.riogrande.com)
Tin snips strong enough to cut 22-gauge sheet metal
Water container for dousing hot wire/metal
Wire cutters
Needle-nose pliers
Large flat tipped pliers
Anvil or steel block (check your local steel fabricator for 1/2" + thick scrap steel)
Hammer
Flat or triangular metal file
Rags
Tweezers
Misc. small imagery or found text to incorporate into resin filled bezels (these must be laser or toner copies, NOT inkjet)
Small amount of gel medium (put some in an old film canister or something similar)
Smallish paintbrush to apply gel medium to bezel imagery
Found jewelry and/or objects and natural elements to incorporate into jewelry
Ribbons, vintage fabric scraps, lace, etc. (there will also be Provisions packets for sale with items chosen with this class in mind)
A few inexpensive brass stampings and filigree such as those you can find at www.vintaj.com or www.fancifulsinc.com
A variety of beads and findings to incorporate into jewelry

Optional Supplies:

A few small sheets of mica
Various wires in other metals and/or gauges (copper, brass, iron, etc)
A couple of rubber stamps with patterns or designs you like on them (we’ll have plenty to share)

Kit fee includes:

Brass wire
Sheet brass and nickel-silver for all students - enough for class projects
Flux
Torches and heat safe surfaces
Blackening and etching agents
Various tools and supplies for students’ use