Playing with Fire Workshop: Fused Argentium Silver Jewelry with Debra Cobia

Love silver jewelry? Think you might like to make it? Come to this workshop to be introduced to the professional culinary torch and Argentium silver, a relatively new type of sterling silver used in jewelry making. Each attendee will leave with a beautiful pair of silver earrings, post or hook, or a pendant made by….you! We will fuse decorative silver elements onto a sterling (Argentium) background. Each piece will be one of a kind. No previous experience necessary.

Workshop Outline

Part I Introductions and Design

Participants will be introduced to the tools and materials used to design and fabricate the class project and provided examples to stimulate design ideas. Participants are encouraged to ask questions as they arise. (30 minutes).

Part II Fabrication

Participants will watch the instructor demonstrate the execution of a simple design such as those pictured.

Participants will make the elements they wish to incorporate into their projects.

Participants will fuse the elements, including findings, to their pendant or earring backplates. (approximately 2 hours)

Part III Finishing

The instructor will demonstrate the use of silver black to add a patina to the finished jewelry.

Participants will sand away tool marks and scratches, then add patina if desired, attach findings, and wear. (30 minutes)

INSTRUCTOR PROVIDES THESE SUPPLIES

Silver Kit for each student; tools and materials needed for four fusing stations; finishing materials; list of materials used and sources; display monitor and action camera; instructor set up

Handout for each attendee to be provided by instructor 2 weeks in advance of the workshop.

VRAC PROVIDES THESE SUPPLIES

Five pyrex dishes (5X9); Small box of baking soda; q-tips: 2 rolls of paper towels; Bar Keeper’s Friend; Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid; 12 x 12 ceramic tiles (n=5); tablet of graph paper (at least 24 sheets); disposable apron to protect clothing (Students may bring cloth apron if desired.)

STUDENT PROVIDES

Safety glasses or prescription eye glasses; wear closed toe shoes and long pants (natural fibers); pencil and eraser; Joyce Chen Scissors*; silver chain or leather cord if pendant is the preferred finished object.

Joyce Chen Scissors can be purchased on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Joyce-Chen-51-0220-Unlimited-Scissor/dp/B0000CFLH7/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?keywords=Joyce Chen 51-0220, Unlimited Scissor, Red handle&qid=1556122415&s=gateway&sr=8-3-fkmrnull