Log in
Forgot password

Classes  >>  Jewelry



Our jewelry classes aim to provide the building blocks of essential skills needed to create jewelry pieces by hand. You'll learn fundamental fabrication skills for working with wire, sheet, and stones to create a wide variety of pieces. We offer classes in jewelry casting techniques, precious metal clay, wire wrapping, and other special topics.  


Click on the course name to see all class meeting dates, times, and course fee.

If you're looking for a Reheater option, select the class you'd like to Reheat and choose the appropriate fee when registering.

Please read these FAQs for details about what to bring/wear, refund policy, age requirements and more. We've also compiled a sensory rubric with more information about what to expect in a particular type of class. 

Joining a waitlist? Before you add yourself to a waitlist for a class that's full, it helps us if you're pretty certain you'll be available. If a spot becomes available, you'll be automatically registered and given about 24 hours to confirm your registration by paying. If we have a long list of folks who are no longer interested, it can be time-consuming to fill that spot. Thank you!

Upcoming classes

  • Jewelry Metalsmithing Fundamentals: Working with Wire

    • Sat, September 28, 2024
    • Sat, November 16, 2024
    • 8 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    One of the most common components of jewelry is wire, whether you are making chain, closures, or settings. This foundational course will introduce you to some of the many ways wire is used in jewelry-making and you'll start building an essential skill set.

    We'll begin by learning about bench setup, safety in the jewelry studio, and commonly used tools and equipment. We'll discuss different types of soldering and then focus on pick soldering throughout the class. We'll also cover sawing, hammering textures, annealing metal, and polishing, with time to practice these skills. You'll work with different gauges of wire and can expect to complete a jewelry piece of your choice (necklace, bracelet, earring, ring) or possibly more depending on size and your proficiency. You'll work primarily with copper and a small amount of sterling silver.

    No prior experience is required for this fundamental course. 

    $360 ($310 tuition + $50 materials)  |  8 weeks 
    Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

    Instructor: Laura D. Juul

    Show details

  • Jewelry Metalsmithing Fundamentals: Starting with Sheet

    • Mon, October 07, 2024
    • Mon, November 18, 2024
    • 7 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 1
    Register

    Many jewelry pieces start with a basic building block: a sheet of metal. In this course you'll explore the many ways sheet is used in jewelry-making and start building an essential skill set.

    We will start by learning about bench setup, safety in the jewelry studio, and commonly used tools and equipment. We'll discuss different metals (copper, brass, sterling silver, gold), as well as gauges and which are best for different applications. We'll discuss different types of soldering and then focus on pick soldering throughout the class. You'll create a sterling pendant with a simple pierced design and a round, bezel-set cabochon stone. Along the way, learn and practice essential skills including sawing, filing, texturing, finishing and polishing.

    No prior experience is required for this fundamental course.

    $360 ($310 tuition + $50 materials)  |  8 weeks
    Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.
    Note class schedule: meets from 6-9 p.m. on the first night, then 6-9:30 for the remainder.

    Instructor: Laura D. Juul

    Show details

  • Forged Wearables: Jewelry-Scale Blacksmithing

    • Sun, October 20, 2024
    • Sun, November 17, 2024
    • 5 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 1
    Register

    Blacksmithing is not all swords and armor! It can also include making small forged objects that you can wear. In this class, we'll explore designing unique jewelry pieces, including pendants and earrings. You can expect to create at least of three steel or copper jewelry projects. These projects will vary in size (from small to extremely small), allowing you to practice and gain skills in forging fine and detailed objects with a hammer and anvil. We'll practice delicate tapering, twisting, punching holes, chisel work, and finishes. *Some* blacksmithing experience is recommended, but we can accommodate beginners.

    $230 ($195 tuition + $35 materials)
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: Pete Gierzynski 


    Show details

  • Old to New: Reusing & Recycling Metals for Jewelry-Making

    • Thu, November 14, 2024
    • Thu, December 12, 2024
    • 4 sessions
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 2
    Register

    Have you been holding onto your grandmother’s silver spoon or jewelry? Or have clean scrap sterling silver? Learn to recycle precious metals and add environmentally-friendly techniques to your jewelry-making! This class covers the fundamentals of hallmarking to identify sterling from plated base metals, plus highlights various karat golds. Explore melting metal and pouring it into ingots that can be rolled or milled to make useful material like wire and sheet. Once that step is complete you'll work at the jeweler's bench using a variety of hand tools to texture and shape metal, and a torch to solder to make a band ring, bangle or pair of earrings. Basic jewelry finishing will also be covered.

    All skill levels are welcome! You'll need to supply or source your own sterling silver scrap or objects to melt for this class.

    $200 ($180 tuition + $20 materials)  |  4 weeks
    Open to ages 18 and up.

    Instructor: Linda Seebauer Hansen 

    Show details

  • Copper Enamel Jewelry Sampler

    • Sat, December 07, 2024
    • 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
    • 3749 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    Manifest your creative vision by creating one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces colored with a rich palette of enamels. In this sampler style class, we'll explore basic copper enamel techniques using pre-fabricated copper shapes. You will walk away from this course with a new excitement for working with glass, color and metal.

    In this workshop you will learn:

    • kiln-fired and torch-fired enameling
    • at least three dry enameling techniques including sifting, fade, lump & thread, and more
    • basic jewelry finding connection techniques to bring your copper enamel pieces together

    $85 ($70 tuition + $15 materials) 
    Open to ages 16 and up.

    Instructor: Crystal Celeste 


    Show details

  • Jewelry Project Shop: Stacker Rings

    • Sun, December 08, 2024
    • 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    Want to make some simple, cute stacker rings? Pick a finger or toe you'd like to adorn with some little sterling and copper rings and learn how to make them in an afternoon. Stacker rings are an easy, fun project and a great way to get a taste of silversmithing. In this workshop, we'll start by learning about the basic tools you’ll need. Then, you'll dive into some basic silversmithing techniques like hammering, filing, sawing, and soldering as you work on your project.

    No prior experience is required for this fundamental course. 

    $100 ($80 tuition + $20 materials)  
    Open to ages 18 and up, or 16-17 with a parent/guardian in attendance.

    Instructor: Laura D. Juul 

    Show details

  • Repoussé and Chasing Basics (TBD)

    • Tue, December 31, 2024
    • 3749 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN
    • 0
    Join waitlist


    Show details

CHICAGO AVENUE FIRE ARTS CENTER   3749 Chicago Avenue  |  Minneapolis, MN 55407  |  612-294-0400  |  info@cafac.org 

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software