We've been staying cool inside the studio with a lot of new jewelry pieces and tube setting this week! A big thank you to Danielle and Rebekah for tagging the studio with the jewelry they made there! P.S. We love getting updates of your jewelry making progress! Please send us any pictures you've taken or tag the studio when you post your jewelry online! Denise made this ring in Jewelry 1. The color of the stone is perfect for silver!  I just had to try it on while taking a picture. Love how it looks on the hand! We had a group of ladies come in for Mothers Day and take our cabochon ring workshop. They were all first time jewelry makers and did a wonderful job completing their rings in just a couple of hours! The stones clockwise from top left are: Turquoise, Onyx, Malachite, Howlite and Jasper. Lorina did a stacking ring set using her newfound tube setting skills. Rebekah, Ruth and Marie made spinner rings. Rebekah and Marie embossed a key pattern you can see on...

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there! We hope you have a wonderful day, and know how valued you are! The studio will be closed to celebrate Mother's day with our moms this Sunday.   Tip of the week: To anneal wire, stick it in something like an Altoids tin and heat the tin up with a torch until it glows orange(make sure the tin has a couple of air holes in it!). This is especially useful when you have very fine wire and are afraid of melting it. •Special thank you to Victoria from ASU Metals program for the tip! It has been a productive week here at the studio! We've been working hard on renovating the space and are excited for you to see it! Below are some pieces made in Jewelry 1, 2, 3 and at the studio during open studio hours. • Trina made these earrings and did her first ever tube setting in Jewelry 2. Love the champagne stones she picked out! • Karen made this bubble ring and banded agate earrings. She is takin...

Howdy!  It has been a sizzling week at the studio and it is only getting hotter! Temperatures are rising so come on into the air conditioned studio and make some super cool jewelry!  Remember though, we don't want to see your toesies so please make sure your feet are completely covered!  Throw an extra pair of tennis shoes in the car in case you forget to change your shoes before you leave the house. Tip of the week:  To make twisted wire, take a long piece and fold in half.  Place the side with open ends in the vise. Take the folded end and something thin like a pencil. Thread thin tool through the 'u' of the wire. Pull and twist the wire at the same time(using the thin tool) until wire is twisted as tight as you would like it. Release open ends from the vise. Here is a review of some of the jewelry made in the studio this week! Lovely twisted silver and Jasper cabochon ring made by Karen in Jewelry 1. Lucky puppy!  Katie made this adorable dog tag for her...

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Hello Friends! We've had a fun week updating the back room of the studio. It isn't quite finished, but we are nearly there. Wohoo! Quick tip: When pick soldering, keep the pick away until you've melted the silver into a ball, then swoop in and pick it up. When the pick is cold, it grabs the solder easier. Melanie made this sugar skull necklace. I love the texture she used to make the piece stand out. It is held together with rivets and tube rivets at the top connect it to its chain. She tube set red faceted stones for the eyes.  Sienna made this pebble ring for her Jewelry 1 project. She made a small one for her delicate hands!  What a unique idea! This vintage cosmetic luggage case is used by Trisha to keep all of her supplies in one place.  The inside, complete with an upper tray for little tools and findings. Vera made this saguaro pendant using her sawing, texturing and tube riveting skills. I love her use of color to make it pop! We had...

Happy Friday to all our friends! It has been a super week at the studio!  Classes are keeping busy and creating lots of wonderful jewelry.   Reminders: Please remember to wear close toed shoes and to keep your hair pulled back.  I know the temperatures are warming up and it is tempting to put on your favorite flip flops but your feet will not be happy with you if they get cut or burned by a piece of metal.  If you come in with open toed shoes you will not be allowed to work in the studio.  (I know, we are mean, but really we just care about you!)  :) We will be closed this Sunday for Easter. Upcoming Classes: Jewelry 1: Beginning Friday, April 25 2-5pm Beginning Sunday, May 18 12-3 Jewelry 1 Sign Up Jewelry 2: Beginning Thursday, April 24 12-3 Beginning Tuesday, May 20 6-9 Jewelry 2 Sign Up Tip of the Week When checking for a gas leak with the torch, you can use water and dish soap.  If you get bubbles, you got a leak.  Turn off tanks and ...

Happy Friday Everyone!  Hope your week was wonderful!  With the temperatures rising, I spent the week inside the nice, coo, comfy studio.  The orange room is taking shape with some new stools and exhaust fan.  Soon we will have a torch or two back there.   The 3rd Annual Laveen Festival of FIne Arts will be taking place May 16-17, 2014 at South Mountain community College Laveen Center.  You can enter two pieces of art for $20.  For more information you can visit:  www.laveenartleague.org Tip of the Week:  Use a mixture of alcohol and boric acid when soldering.  Alcohol and boric acid will prevent fire scale and will keep your metal clean so that your solder will flow better and there will be less clean up from oxidation during heating.  Just dip your metal into the mixture before you heat it up.  Repeat each time you solder. Here is this weeks pictures.  Enjoy! Laura made these super cool earrings and ring made out of shell casings. Tuesday night's Jew...