09/28 Sticks and Stones/AKA: Trash to Treasure!

Saturday, September 28, 2024 
10:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT

Instructor: Jennifer Stenhouse

Working with all kinds of materials and found objects can be fun, inspiring, and challenging. Learning how to work with mixed media on metal presents some unusual opportunities for joining parts together. During this class, we will investigate a wide variety of techniques that can be used to work with all kinds of materials and found objects. We will learn how to shape, cut, drill, texture, connect, and more with all kinds of materials. By the end of the course, you’ll be creating work with style! Techniques demonstrated will include flexshaft usage (cutting, drilling, using burs, finishing and & polishing, carving), cold connection for joining parting, adhesives, working safely with a variety of materials, and problem-solving how to join different materials together. I invite your questions about all kinds of materials.

Prerequisite skills for this workshop include basic jewelry skills, including the ability to solder independently.

All Levels

All classes include the video recording, which you will have access to for 60 days after the class. Zoom link and instructions for joining the call will be emailed 1 day (24 hours) prior to class.

The class supply list is below and contains links to buy the supplies you need.

Supply List for Students

The links below will take you to RioGrande.com or other suppliers. To see prices for precious metal items, you need a free Rio Grande account. Students in the Rio for Schools program enjoy wholesale benefits for six months (instructor code = RFSLMF). This site may contain Amazon and other affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Recommended Materials:

Your found objects and unique materials. They can be metal, stone, ceramic, glass, organic, synthetic, enamel, natural, or manmade items to be adapted.

Demonstrations will include the following tools and equipment: 

• Ball Burs! The workhorse of the studio!  
• Diamond burs for shaping, texture, engraving, cutting, and drilling materials like glass and stone
• Sanding split mandrel set  
• Mounted Sandpaper Cartridge rolls
• Red rouge is non-abrasive and final high polish
• Luxi Polishing Compounds
• Fabulustre cut and polish, fine abrasive and polish, good for the widest variety of materials including metal, softer stones, and plastics
• Zam Cut and Polish
• Simichrome
• Silicone wheel set
• Pumice wheel set
• Diamond Cutting Wheel Set for cutting glass and stone