Jewelry 101

Laurie Lynn Berezin studied the traditional craft of jewelry fabrication at Boston’s renowned North Bennet Street School and is the Jewelry Shop Lead, a teacher, and a member at the Artisans Asylum non-profit makerspace. Laurie is a seasoned educator, teaching jewelry-making classes, workshops, private lessons, and corporate retreats for novice and experienced metalsmiths alike. She also handcrafts original and custom jewelry for her business Beryllina using recycled sterling silver, gold, and platinum, and ethically-mined American gemstones. Laurie creates pieces that showcase the natural beauty of the stones, including crystals that she digs from the earth herself.

In this 3-session Jewelry 101 class, you will be introduced to the basic techniques of metalsmithing. No prior experience is necessary, and by the end of the class, you will come away with fundamental jewelry-making skills AND a sterling silver pendant you’ve designed and created yourself.

Throughout the process of creating your unique textured pendant, you will learn to use essential hand tools, such as a jeweler’s saw, files, hammers, and the rolling mill. We’ll learn how to safely use the flex shaft, when and how to use different types of jewelers’ pliers, and practice basic soldering techniques. Finally, you’ll gain experience polishing your finished piece on the rotary polishing machine.

This class is excellent preparation for successfully passing the free Tool Test, which is required (along with an Artisans Asylum membership) to work independently in our Jewelry Shop. Please plan on attending all three nights of this class – if you miss one, you will not be able to complete your project, nor will you be fully prepared to pass the Tool Test to use the shop independently, if that is your goal.

The materials fee for this class is $50. This is separate from the ticket price and is to reimburse the instructor for any tools or materials used in this class. This will be paid once, directly to the instructor at the start of the first class meeting. This instructor accepts payments in cash only.

Students will come away with a familiarity of fundamental jewelry-making skills: sawing, filing, soldering, polishing, hammering, using the rolling mill, safe tool handling and operation.

Project Goals: Students complete a textured silver pendant.

Metals and consumables such as saw blades, drill bits, solder, etc.

Students must wear closed-toe shoes and tie back long hair. We have some aprons available, or you may bring your own. A sketchbook for your ideas and notes is useful. Bring eyeglasses or an optivisor if you need optical assistance to see tiny things well.

Students must be 16 years old or older. All students under 18 must be accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a responsible adult.

Learn more about our class and ticket cancelation policies here.

Please email ZWR1Y2F0aW9uIHwgYXJ0aXNhbnNhc3lsdW0gISBjb20= with any questions.

*Sales end 2 hours before the start of the class to allow the instructor and staff time to prep.

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