Alternative Materials in Jewelry, June 30

DATE:  Tuesday, June 30, 5:30 – 9:00pm

INSTRUCTOR: Stephanie Ritchie

SKILL LEVEL: All levels welcome

CLASS DESCRIPTION: 

This clinic explores the use of non-precious items in jewelry making. From humble shell

necklaces to high concept art jewelry, there is a long tradition of finding ways to incorporate

unexpected objects and materials in everyday jewelry and in mind-blowing one of a kind pieces.

We will have hands-on access to a collection of art jewelry and numerous samples of unusual

materials. We will make a sampler of connection techniques for non-metals.

Stephanie Ritchie’s Bio:

I picked up my first pair of jeweler’s pliers between my freshman and sophomore years of

college, when I took a job at a costume jewelry store run by a cranky old lady who tried very

hard not to teach me how to make any jewelry. Somehow I managed to learn to do some

basic repairs, string beads, and knot pearls. My mom and dad were so supportive to see me

excited about making jewelry. They bought me a green tackle box in which to carry my half

dozen hand tools and growing bead collection back to college. My first jewelry show, if you

could call it that, was in 1988 in the lobby of my dorm, where I hung earrings all around the

top edges of the lamp shades. I made almost a thousand dollars that night. I was hooked.

Eventually I took a basic metalsmithing class. Then another. And another. I say of myself

that I am semi-self taught because my skills have not come from formal jewelry training nor

apprenticeship, rather from workshops, one-on-one tutorials, and years of willingness to

torture a little metal in pursuit of technique.