beginner chain design & fabrication | 6 weeks on tuesdays, 7-9pm | March 4 - April 8
beginner friendly, no experience necessary.
Tuesdays from 7-9pm - March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8.
Explore the creative joy of designing and making jewelry with this introduction to chain making workshop! led by Laura DePalma.
In this class, you’ll learn how to create a beautiful, sturdy chain of your own design. We’ll start by reviewing traditional and fancy chain styles, then conceptualize your design and translate your ideas into sketches and prototypes.
Learn about which variables can most influence your final design, with the opportunity to troubleshoot and play with your creative vision. Watch your design come to life as you form and solder the links, then assemble them using traditional chain making methods to achieve your desired result. Finish off your bracelet or necklace with your own handmade clasp.
Week 1: Design Concepts + Fabrication Basics
Week 2: Skills to Achieve Your Design
Week 3: Build your Design: Chain Assembly
Week 4: Chain Assembly, Continued
Week 5: Closures
Week 6: Finishing Your Bracelet
join us for open studio membership after the workshop if you’d like some extra time to finish your projects or keep playing with our tools.
Studio will provide copper and brass. If you would like to make a silver chain, we have an optional wire kit available starting at $30 depending on materials needed for your design. payable via cash, venmo, or paypal directly to Laura during the workshop.
beginner friendly, no experience necessary.
Tuesdays from 7-9pm - March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8.
Explore the creative joy of designing and making jewelry with this introduction to chain making workshop! led by Laura DePalma.
In this class, you’ll learn how to create a beautiful, sturdy chain of your own design. We’ll start by reviewing traditional and fancy chain styles, then conceptualize your design and translate your ideas into sketches and prototypes.
Learn about which variables can most influence your final design, with the opportunity to troubleshoot and play with your creative vision. Watch your design come to life as you form and solder the links, then assemble them using traditional chain making methods to achieve your desired result. Finish off your bracelet or necklace with your own handmade clasp.
Week 1: Design Concepts + Fabrication Basics
Week 2: Skills to Achieve Your Design
Week 3: Build your Design: Chain Assembly
Week 4: Chain Assembly, Continued
Week 5: Closures
Week 6: Finishing Your Bracelet
join us for open studio membership after the workshop if you’d like some extra time to finish your projects or keep playing with our tools.
Studio will provide copper and brass. If you would like to make a silver chain, we have an optional wire kit available starting at $30 depending on materials needed for your design. payable via cash, venmo, or paypal directly to Laura during the workshop.
beginner friendly, no experience necessary.
Tuesdays from 7-9pm - March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8.
Explore the creative joy of designing and making jewelry with this introduction to chain making workshop! led by Laura DePalma.
In this class, you’ll learn how to create a beautiful, sturdy chain of your own design. We’ll start by reviewing traditional and fancy chain styles, then conceptualize your design and translate your ideas into sketches and prototypes.
Learn about which variables can most influence your final design, with the opportunity to troubleshoot and play with your creative vision. Watch your design come to life as you form and solder the links, then assemble them using traditional chain making methods to achieve your desired result. Finish off your bracelet or necklace with your own handmade clasp.
Week 1: Design Concepts + Fabrication Basics
Week 2: Skills to Achieve Your Design
Week 3: Build your Design: Chain Assembly
Week 4: Chain Assembly, Continued
Week 5: Closures
Week 6: Finishing Your Bracelet
join us for open studio membership after the workshop if you’d like some extra time to finish your projects or keep playing with our tools.
Studio will provide copper and brass. If you would like to make a silver chain, we have an optional wire kit available starting at $30 depending on materials needed for your design. payable via cash, venmo, or paypal directly to Laura during the workshop.
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Lesson 1: Design Concepts + Fabrication Basics
Review of chain styles and how to plan for design variations
Concept sketching and prototyping your design in brass or copper
Experiment with wire shaping tools and techniques
Introduction to soldering
Lesson 2: Skills to Achieve Your Design
Plan your project: calculate the number of links needed for a given length of chain, and determine the amount of metal needed to create your design
Refine techniques for forming links of specific shapes and sizes, learning how to efficiently make the shapes you want for your chain design
Learn best practices for sawing and prepping links to be soldered
Practice soldering individual and grouped links
Lesson 3: Build your Design: Chain Assembly
Finish forming and sawing your links
Begin to assemble your chain, with time to troubleshoot as you gain an understanding of how fabrication can inform final design
Lesson 4: Chain Assembly, Continued
Solder grouped links to continue building on your chain assembly
Open studio – time to work on your project with teacher assistance
Lesson 5: Closures
Review design options for closures including toggle clasps and hook clasps
Create your own closure and add it to your chain
Lesson 6: Finishing Your Bracelet
Learn finishing/cleanup techniques to complete your chain
Complete your final polish, resulting in a piece of jewelry you are proud to wear!
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metalsmithing is an inherently dangerous craft by the nature of the tools we’re using, but there’s nothing to worry about! studio safety information will be shared at the beginning of class to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience.
to fully participate in the workshop, please anticipate bringing a hair tie if you have long hair, closed-toe shoes and well fitting clothing that you don't mind getting dirty are also recommended. On day 2 we will use a K95 mask for dust when polishing, and any safety goggles (or prescription/blue light glasses) to protect your eyes from dust.
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optionally, you could bring the following items to enhance your experience: a notebook and pencil if you’re a note-taker, an apron to protect your clothes, your favorite rings for sizing reference, and any simple jewelry design inspirations you'd like to explore together (no promises, some things are beyond the realm of our tools but we’ll try anyway!)
reading glasses with magnification or a magnifying glass are extra helpful if you have trouble seeing small objects.
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The studio is located at 4800 Airport Way S.
Be careful not to park in the numbered spots in the lot. You may be towed - and not by us! There is street parking across the street and down the road on s alaska street, right past the fedex, which is where we'd recommend parking.
You'll want to enter through door #1, walk through the doors to the left, then up the stairs to the right! Class will be held in our loft. We have a small space, so it's pretty easy to navigate :)
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all metalsmith class sales are final.
with these offerings being so limited, it’s nearly impossible to accommodate make-ups. please only sign up for a class if you are sure to attend all classes in the session.
we recognize that things come up - please reach out directly to metal@oftheearthcollective.com
have a question? submit it here or reach out to metal@oftheearthcollective.com
