A little about me.
I began dabbling in metalsmithing at the De Cordova museum where I worked with sterling silver sheet, tubs and wire construction. I came to the realization that this trade requires a lot of tools and a studio space separate from living quarters.
An easier rout for me was to design jewelry using Swarovski Crystals and sterling silver findings that I could purchase on the web. I found myself wanting to reshape these clasp and connector findings and delved further into metalsmithing.
This further delving brought me to Mass College of Art where I took a construction in base and precious materials class with Donna Veverka. Here I could use their open studio space as long as I was enrolled. I spent long hot days annealing copper wire and drawing it through plates for a thinner guage just so I could use the draw tongs and bench.
Then I discovered Metalwerx in Waltham where they use this very innovative material call PMC, precious metal clay. It's fine silver mixed with a gluten to give it the consistency of clay. The gluten burns off in the kiln and what's left is fine silver.
Ahh jewelry development just became a lot more accessible. I don't need a lot of space and machinery to make fine silver pieces.
And a little about my instructors.
Learn traditional metal smithing and tricks that can same you time and work with Karen Christians at the Artisian's Asylum. Karen Burke co-instructor teaches chainmaille among other things. It's a real treat to get two amazing instructors in one class. This is becoming my favorite place in the whole world.
Terry Kovalchik travels the globe teaching classes in all types of metal clay silver, bronze, copper, etc. You might catch him at Metalwerx but you'll be sure to find him at my favorite place in the whole world, Snow Farm in western Mass.
Take a metal clay class with Michela Verani at Metalwerx and you'll get hooked. Mikki gets very creative merging diverse materials.