The remarkable timepiece, one of the rarest and most admired Patek Philippe's wristwatches, was offered by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo in Geneva, Switzerland, becoming the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction.

The 1518 steel-cased watch is the first perpetual calendar chronograph in the world to be crafted in a series by a watchmaker, and the number one of only four pieces built from 1941 to the early 1950s.

This particular piece is also the first Reference 1518 to appear at auction in over a decade, which along with its perfect condition, remarkable craftsmanship, and historical relevance, rapidly spiked the collectors' interest.

The very anticipated sale was disputed for 13 minutes, highly surpassing the initial price estimate of $3 million. The winner, an unknown private collector, acquired the piece for an impressive 11,002,000 Swiss francs ($11,136,642).

"One thing that is fascinating about this sale is that there were eight bidders bidding for this watch and it wasn't until the price reached CHF 7 million that two remaining buyers started to battle to secure the sale, "Sam Heins, the international head of watches at Phillips auction house, told CNN.

Until this sale, the record for the most expensive watch ever sold at auction also belonged to another Patek Philippe piece. The 5016A was sold for over $7.3 million at the Only Watch charity auction, in 2015.

(IDEX Online) – CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri has called for the creation of government monitored chokepoints for the colored gemstone sector, at which it will be possible to verify the integrity of merchandise accessing the chain of distribution, similar to national Kimberley Process Authorities that verify the identity of rough diamonds entering the global pipeline.

He was speaking at the opening of the World Emerald Symposium, which started in Bogotá today, and will precede the start of 2018 CIBJO Congress on October 15.

While regulators to date have focused their attention on diamonds and precious metals, the period of grace for colored gemstones is coming to an end, Cavalieri said. "We have to meet the challenge. And we need to do to that without threatening the livelihoods of the men and women who have earned their living over the years from the colored gemstone trade," he stated.

"Given the wide variety of colored gemstones and the massive number of small companies involved in their production and distribution, it is unlikely in the foreseeable future that a single regulatory umbrella body will be established for the colored gemstone sector, like the Kimberley Process. But if the trade and government cooperate, on a country by country basis, it may be possible to establish a multitude of chokepoints, which can verify and certify the integrity of the gemstones in their respective regions of jurisdiction," Cavalieri continued.

"The incentive for governments to join with industry in creating such national chokepoints would be to defend and grow the market share of their own gemstone industries," he stated. "But that is not the only incentive. It is also a system that will help create legal pathways for artisanal miners, enabling them to enter the legitimate chain of distribution. As we know, today much of the material they produce is sold on the black market or smuggled, and therefore produces little to no tax revenue for the state and local governments."

Cavalieri revealed that he has spoken with a number of governments, and the ideas that he presented have been quite well received. He added that a general Responsible Sourcing Guidance document will be presented at the upcoming CIBJO Congress, which in time could come to serve as a set of standards for a future network of national offices, verifying the integrity of colored gemstones mined in their territories.

We’re in New Orleans this week for the SNAG conference, Nexus: A Connection of Ideas. We’ll be announcing the winners of our 2nd annual Halstead Design Challenge: Memento on Thursday evening during the gallery crawl at RHINO Contemporary Crafts Gallery. This post includes a few of the pieces that will be on display at RHINO.

200 kits were sold to benefit SNAG. Each participating artist incorporated a photograph and at least half of the kit components into a brooch. A juried exhibition of 30 entrants is on display at RHINO. The photograph below is an illustration of the kit components. Artists were free to add any other elements to their brooches.

Each year, we’re blown away by the creativity and ingenuity that is represented in the contest entries. This year was no different! It was very hard to judge. Special thanks to Brigitte Martin and Samantha Skelton for wading through the entries and congratulations to the top 3…to be revealed very soon!

Check out the video of entries here: Halstead Design Challenge – Memento

Learn about other Halstead Design Challenges over the years:

2016 Halstead Design Challenge: Kinetic

2018 Halstead Design Challenge Results

Check out Halstead Preferred Teacher Eva Sherman’s fused silver bracelet in this month’s issue of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. Eva uses Halstead tube bezel settings and loose CZ stones to create a beautiful, one-of-kind bracelet.

The stones are especially easy to set when you use our tube bezel setting tools, which are available in four sizes. To use a tube bezel setting tool, place the stone right-side-up inside the tube bezel. Place the cup-shaped end of the tube bezel setting tool over the stone, then tap the opposite end with a rawhide hammer. Watch our tube bezel setting video for additional tips and tricks.

Shop for tube bezel settings and other jewelry supplies at Halsteadbead.com.

Last week, our very own Halstead Studio Coordinator, Erica Stice, was featured in THREE different articles in Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist’s August 2018 Issue! We are incredibly proud of Erica. Also, a big thank you to Merle White and René Agredano for helping us introduce our amazing in-house artist to the metalsmithing world.

The first article is a project Erica named “Patterned Silver Bangle with Tube Set Stones.” This bangle is beautiful on its own or combined with a few stacked bangles. Erica combined a flat wire bangle, pattern wire, tube bezels, and CZ’s to create this sleek sterling silver bracelet.

The second article is “Triple, Spinning, Tube Set Silver Bangle.” This bangle is a very sophisticated version of the first bangle. Essentially the middle bangle that spins between the two framing pattern bracelets is created just like the first with additional tube bezels. If you are new to the soldering and metalsmith world,  we suggest starting with Erica’s first bangle project.

TIP: Make sure you leave enough space between your tube bezels to use a tube bezel setting tool.

Lastly, René Agredano wrote an incredible article titled “Smart Design for Fun or Profit.” Thank you, René! Erica Stice, Kim Muller, and Janette Willingham are all featured in this article. In these four pages, you will gain tips and tricks for all of your favorite projects from Lapidary Journal’s Jewelry Artist’s August issue.

Get your archive copy of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist to learn these projects today. Or, see other bangle making inspiration in our similar articles online at Halstead:

Tips for Making Bangle Bracelets with Casey Sheppard

6 Steps to Make Cuff Bracelets

The 2017 Halstead Design Challenge: Memento digital exhibition is available online. Visit the exhibition website to view digital photos of all the competition entries. Many of the brooches were sold with proceeds benefiting the artist, SNAG and Rhino Contemporary Craft.

“Memento” asked artists to incorporate a photo into a brooch constructed primarily from materials in the Halstead challenge kit. Only 200 challenge kits were available. A juried selection from all entries was exhibited at the SNAG New Orleans Conference in May 2017. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who participated.

Check out the video for an overview of all of the juried works. Winners were:

• 1st Place: Jim Bové, Mnemosyne at the Waters of Lethe


• 2nd Place: Thomas Mann, Nude with Wings


• 3rd Place: Kelly Jean Conroy, Elipse

Runners-up: Renee Zettle-Sterling, Xinhao Yang, Jill Tower

For more information about the competition and its history visit the Halstead Design Challenge Website.

To learn about making hinges as an interesting mechanism in your jewelry designs, read How to Make a Hinge for Jewelry

Our industry friends are traveling the country this year to bring jewelry making classes to a town near you. See below for a list of classes from some of the best jewelry teachers in the country. We’ll continue adding to the list! Taking jewelry making classes is a great way to learn a new skill or expand on something you already like to do. Invite a friend to join you or make a some new ones in the class. Either way, get ready to have some fun as you hone your skills. All of these experienced instructors are passionate about what they do and their love for jewelry making shines through!

2019 Update: We are in the process of updating this list for 2019. Stay tuned for more additions!

Artist Julie Sanford teaches classes across the country and owns Studio JSD in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Julie Sanford – Our 2019 Featured Jewelry Artist

June 2019: Bead & Button – Milwaukee, WI

• June 3, 2019: Now That’s a Jig! Presents: Sterling Cage Link Bracelet


• June 3, 2019: Prong Settings for Rough Natural Stones


• June 4, 2019: Hammered Link and Bead Necklace Beginner Class


• June 4, 2019: Setting the Bar: Bezel-Set Faceted Oval Pendant


• June 5, 2019: Replicating Nature: Casting and Fabricating Natural Forms


• June 6, 2019: Prong Set Petals: Open Work Earrings With Rose Cut Stones


• June 6, 2019: Trilogy: Prong-Set Triple Band Gemstone Ring


• June 7, 2019: Pierced Leaf Pendant Beginner Class


• June 7, 2019: Recycling Silver


• June 8, 2019: Beachcomber Ring


• June 8, 2019: Pearl Party Pendant Beginner Class

March 5-10, 2019: Metals Retreat at the Makery – Austin, TX

• All inclusive metal immersion and Texas entertainment retreat.

Classes available at Studio JSD:

• Fabrication 1: Multiple offerings in 2019. 5 weeks, 1 day/week classes


• Fabrication 2: Multiple offerings in 2019. Offered as a 2 day intensive class or 5 weeks, 1 day/week class


• Fabrication 3: August 5 & 6, 2019 – 2-day intensive class for those who have taken Fab 1 and Fab 2


• Fabrication 4: August 7 & 8, 2019 – More details to come

More with Julie Sanford: Jeweler’s Saw 102, School Profile: Studio JSD, Video: Sawing Tips

Jeff Fulkerson has been creating imaginative jewelry for over 30 years. An artist, instructor and inventor, he lives in San Diego, CA.

Brenda Schweder hosts Facebook Live demo’s every week and is the inventor of Now That’s a Jig! and Now That’s a Pliers! She lives in Wisconsin.

June 2019: Bead & Button – Milwaukee, WI

• June 2, 2019: Now That’s A Jig! Presents: Blanks for Makers 1


• June 2, 2019: Now That’s A Jig! Presents: Mid-Century Modern Jewelry


• June 3, 2019: Now That’s A Jig! Presents: Faux Filigree Pendant


• June 4, 2019: Now That’s A Jig! Presents: Only The Starter Kit101 — The Whole SheBang


• June 8, 2019: Now That’s A Jig! Presents: Blanks for Makers 2

More with Brenda Schweder: Multistrand Necklace

Author Eva Sherman left architecture for beads and hasn’t looked back! She owns Grand River Beads in Cleveland, Ohio.

February 2019:

June 2019: Bead & Button – Milwaukee, WI

• June 2, 2019: Stone Garden Cuff


• June 3, 2019: Petal to the Metal Ring


• June 3, 2019: Three Stone Ring


• June 3, 2019: The Lasso Ring


• June 4, 2019: Metal Morphing Saddle Ring


• June 4, 2019: Metal Morphing Cuff


• June 4, 2019: Playing with Fire


• June 5, 2019: Rocks and Rings Cuff


• June 6, 2019: Stone Garden Cuff


• June 6, 2019: Stone Garden Ring


• June 7, 2019: Creating with Castings


• June 7, 2019: Inked


• June 8, 2019: Go Big or Go Home


• June 8, 2019: Playing with Fire

 

More with Eva: Spectacular Soldered Rings, On the Cover of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist

 

Kim St. Jean spends most of her year traveling the country teaching jewelry making classes. She lives in Myrtle Beach, SC.

February 2019: JOGS Jewelry Show  – Tucson, AZ

• January 31, 2019: Sterling Silver Milagro Locket


• February 1, 2019: Sterling Horse Cuff


• February 2, 2019: Cuttlefish Casting Bracelet


• February 3, 2019: Scrimshaw


• February 4, 2019: Cuttlefish Casting


• February 5, 2019: Pine Needle Casting Sonoran Sunrise Pendant


• February 6, 2019: Stonehinge II


• February 7, 2019: Sterling Shadow Box Pendant


• February 8, 2019: Just Face It – Discover Casting with Pewter


• February 9, 2019: Silver Solder Trifecta


• February 10, 2019: Sterling Feather Cuff


• February 11, 2019: Mirror Image Earrings

June 2019: Bead & Button – Milwaukee, WI

• June 2, 2019: That’s a Wrap


• June 2, 2019: Adjustable Button Pearl Ring


• June 3, 2019: Sterling Feather Cuff


• June 3, 2019: Bubble Cast Earrings


• June 4, 2019: Vine and Grapes Pendant


• June 4, 2019: Stonehinge II


• June 5, 2019: Horse Cuff


• June 6, 2019: Scrimshaw


• June 7, 2019: Mirror Image Earrings


• June 7, 2019: Shadowbox Pendant


• June 8, 2019: Adjustable Button Pearl Ring


• June 8, 2019: Soldering Trifecta


• June 9, 2019: Mirror Image Earrings

Gwen Youngblood is an artist and instructor from San Antonio, TX. She invented Riveting Essentials by Wubbers

Debora Mauser specializes in wirework and has a class on Craftsy. She lives in North Carolina.

February 2019:

• Tucson Bead Show – Casino del Sol – February 2 -5
  
  • February 2, 2019: Sterling Silver Vessel
  
  
  • February 2, 2019: Overlay Cuff with Stones
  
  
  • February 3, 2019: Water Casting
  
  
  • February 3, 2019: Rugged Relic
  
  
  • February 3, 2019: Trapeze Earrings
  
  
  • February 4, 2019: Rainbow Explosion
  
  
  • February 4, 2019: Dew Drop Pendant
  
  
  • February 5, 2019: Colored Pencil Pendant
  
  


• Jewelry Tools at JOGS – Tucson, AZ – February 9 – 10
  

March 2019:

The Whole Bead Show – Santa Fe, NM – March 15 – 17

• Sterling Vessel


• Stacking Rings


• Dew Drop Pendant


• Overlay Cuff


• Captured Cab

 Sas by Design – Long Beach, Miss. – March 22 – 24

November 2019:

Creative Casting Retreat, co-taught with Eva Sherman – Gatlinburg, TN – November 3 – 7

Creative Casting Retreat, co-taught with Eva Sherman – Puerta Vallarta, Mexico – November 17 – 22

Candie Cooper is an author and instructor with a weekly Facebook Live show. She lives in Indiana.

Helen Driggs is a metalsmith, artist and writer with a new book released in October 2018 – find it here. She lives in New Jersey.

February 2019: JOGS Jewelry Show – Tucson, AZ

May 2019: Snow Farm, The New England Craft Program – Williamsburg, MA

Spring 2019: Haddon Twp. Adult School – Westmont, NJ

• Artisan Jewelry Making Level One: Wednesday, weekly 2/20 – 4/17


• Artisan Jewelry Making Level Two: Thursday, Weekly 2/21 – 4/18

Richard Salley is an expert metalsmith and seasoned instructor. He lives in California.

January 6-12, 2019: Hacienda Mosaico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

February 2019: Vivi Magoo – Tucson, AZ

May 2019

June 2019

• Carpenter Enamel Foundation – Bellevue, KY
  


• Vivi Magoo – Coronado, CA
  


• Boulder Metalsmithing Association – Boulder, CO
  

July 2019:

• Studio JSD – Grand Haven, MI
  


• Shake Rag Alley – Mineral Point, WI
  

More from Richard Salley: How the Light Gets In

Ed and Martha Biggar are masters of glass and metal clay. They live in Virginia. 

June 2019: Bead & Button – Milwaukee, WI

• June 4, 2019: Beginner Soft Glass Beadmaking


• June 5, 2019: Beginner Carving Of Metal Clay


• June 5, 2019: Fancy Fused Glass: Faux Opal


• June 6, 2019: Beginning Fused Glass


• June 6, 2019: Personal Polymer Plates And 960 Silver Metal Clay


• June 7, 2019: Beginner Elements And Principles Of Design Fri.


• June 7, 2019: Mastering Lentil Beads


• June 8, 2019: Beginner Hard Glass Beadmaking

Author/Instructor Steven James specializes in enameling. He lives in California.

February 2019: JOGS Jewelry Show – Tucson, AZ

June 2019: Bead & Button – Milwaukee, WI

• June 4, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling: Bouquet Garni


• June 4, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling: Textured Enamels


• June 4, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling: The Raindrop Pendant


• June 5, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling: Raku Enameling


• June 5, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling: Scratch Art Earrings


• June 6, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling: Meteorites


• June 6, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling: Bubble Earrings


• June 7, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling


• June 7, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling: Sand Cast Enamels


• June 7, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling: The Girls


• June 8, 2019: Discover Torch Enameling: The Cairn Pendant

Kate Richbourg is a Jill-of-all-Trades. She lives in California.

Melissa Muir is a well-known metalsmith and online teacher.

Halstead is proud to support jewelry events such as retreats and symposiums across the country. Our amazing jewelry community is doing great things! From jewelry workshops to lectures, exhibitions and more, there are so many opportunities to gather and appreciate our favorite art form. Jewelry retreats and symposiums are great places to learn from your favorite instructors and recharge your creative batteries.

Do you have a favorite jewelry making event? We’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment and tell us which jewelry making events you love to attend. We just might see you there!

2019 Update: We are currently in the process of updating this list for 2019. Stay tuned for more details!

Bead & Button Show

Milwaukee, WI – June 2-9, 2019

Hope you are able to join us in Milwaukee to kick off your summer for great jewelry-making classes, the conference expo and shopping. Beads, metal, enamel, wire, polymer, gems, stones, fiber and more!

Classes are offered in a huge variety of techniques, skill levels and price points. The Expo has all the supplies and materials you need to make your own jewelry, plus so much unique finished jewelry directly from the artists.

Click here to register!

Bead Fest

Philadelphia, PA – August 14-18, 2019

Jewelry artists of all skill levels and techniques can indulge in their creative passion at Bead Fest jewelry conferences. Featuring 200+ workshops and an Expo Marketplace perfect for creating and discovering jewelry art inspiration.

Click here for more information.

Tucson Gem & Mineral Show

Tucson, AZ – February 2-17

The largest, oldest and most prestigious gem and mineral show in the world.

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® has enjoyed international stature since the 1970s, and was the first gem and mineral show to bring the hobby enthusiast, the public, and the curator/professionals together for discovery and discussion.

Find more info here.

Vivi Magoo

Vivi Magoo offers popular creative jewelry retreats at several destinations around the country. See why participants come year after year to experience famous Vivi Magoo hospitality along with world class instruction from well-known metalsmithing experts.

Art Retreat in the Desert

Tucson, AZ- February 4-10, 2019

Come join us in Tucson, Arizona for Art Retreat in the Desert! Held in February during the Tucson Bead and Gem Show, the retreat offers more than 80 classes over a seven-day period that range from metalsmithing to art jewelry classes. And in true Vivi Magoo style, we bring in the best artist-instructors that provide excellent teaching in combination with a welcoming, inspirational setting.

Vivi Magoo LTD Jewelry Retreat

Spring 2019, Dates TBA

Art Retreat on the Prairie

2019 Dates TBA

Baltimore Ornamenta

Baltimore, MD – February 2, 2019

The Baltimore Jewelry Center is dependent on fundraising and donations to operate our educational and studio rental program. These funds allow us to offer our classes and workshops at a below-market rate while paying our instructors competitive wages. Furthermore, this revenue allows us to offer free workshops in our neighborhood in Station North, operate our residency program, offer scholarships, and host prestigious exhibitions that present the work of local, national and international artists.

Every winter, the Baltimore Jewelry Center hosts Ornamenta, a fundraiser that provides us the opportunity to raise much needed funds while exposing a larger community to the work we do. At our 2018 fundraiser, we raised just over $27,000, our most successful event yet!

Find out more about this fundraiser here.

SNAG

Chicago, IL – May 22-25, 2019

SNAG is celebrating 50 years as an organization. To talk about where we are going, we must talk about where we have have been. SNAG’s 48th Annual Conference, The Loop: Coming Full Circle will celebrate SNAG’s first 50 years by focusing on the history of our field and SNAG’s vital place within that history, as both are inextricably intertwined through the collective pivotal moments that have brought the makers, educators, artists, and students in this field together and to where we are today. Along with presentations that look backward to explore significant moments and concepts in our history, both personal and collective, we will emphasize space for critical discourse, concepts/ideas, and technical presentations that speak to current questions and issues that exist in the field today.

The 2019 Jewelry Conference will launch SNAG into a year-long 50th Anniversary celebration culminating with the 2020 conference, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the spark lit at our first conference. By gathering to explore where we have been, celebrate what we’ve accomplished, and look at where we are going, we can build a strong foundation for SNAG’s next 50 years — and beyond!

Find more details and registration here.

ISGB The Gathering

Las Vegas, NV – April 2-7, 2019

ISGB will hold our annual conference, The Gathering, April 2–April 7, with pre-conference workshops beginning on Tuesday, April 2. Glass Craft & Bead Expo workshops will begin April 3, and their annual tradeshow will be open April 5–April 7. ISGB will add to the tradeshow on Saturday, April 6 by bringing our one day Glass, Beads & Jewelry Bazaar to the show floor.

Find more information and registration here.

Yuma Art Symposium

Yuma, AZ – February 21-23, 2019

The Yuma Symposium is a series of demonstrations, lectures and slide presentations given by both internationally recognized and emerging artists who have demonstrated unusual talent. Activities include an exhibit of work by presenters and a student show, the National Saw, File, & Solder Sprints, the annual pin auction, shopping and eating in Algodones, Mexico, and a fiesta and dance on Saturday night.

Find out more here.

The Bench: Southwest Makers Symposium

Santa Fe, NM – July 26 – 28, 2019

Marissa Saneholtz and Sara Brown, co-founders of the Smitten Forum residency project, collaborate with form & concept gallery on this dynamic symposium and group exhibition in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Unfolding on the final weekend of July 2019, the event series will unite over 70 makers who have participated in Smitten Forum, along with an international creative community that surrounds them.

The Bench: Southwest Makers Symposium features lectures, demonstrations, and workshops by prominent names in the field of jewelry and metalsmithing. Six Years Smitten, a cumulative exhibition at form & concept that opens in conjunction with The Bench, spotlights new work by past participants of Smitten Forum. In celebration of this momentous weekend, Sandy Parr has designed an enamel pin that is available with registration (click here to register with added pin purchase) or as a separate purchase (click here to purchase a pin without registering).

See the schedule and more information here.

NYC Jewelry Week

Various Locations in and around New York, New York – November 18 – 24, 2019

New York City Jewelry Week is the first and only local week dedicated to promoting and celebrating the world of jewelry through educational and innovative focused programming.

Keep up to date with the 2019 events here.

ECU Symposium

Greenville, NC – January 18-20, 2019

The Material Topics Symposium has been a production of Metal Design MFA students within the School of Art and Design within East Carolina University since 2009.

Find more information and registration here.

Findings Jewelry Symposium

Grand Marais Art Colony, Grand Marais, MN – June 11-16, 2019

Details TBA

Portland Jewelry Symposium

Portland, OR – October 2019

CRAFT MEETS TECHNOLOGY: KEEPING IT REAL IN A DIGITAL WORLD

Keep up to date on their website.

2019 Metals Symposium: Alchemist Picnic

Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA – October 4 – 6, 2019

Join us for the 6th Annual Alchemist Picnic at Touchstone, hosted once again by Wayne Werner. Demonstrations by Tom Muir, Brian Ferrell, and others to be announced. Enjoy Lectures, Demonstrations, Round-Table Discussions, a Pop-Up Exhibition, and more. This popular jewelry retreat is nestled in the beautiful wooded facility at Touchstone Center for Crafts. Recharge and be inspired by your metalsmithing community.

Check back to keep up to date here.

COMA Jewelry Conference

2019 details TBA

Keep up to date on their website.

Seattle Metals Guild Symposium

2019 Details TBA

Flourish & Thrive Live

September 2019

2019 Details TBA

Metalwerx Marketplace

Newton, MA – October 18-20, 2019

2019 Details TBA

Sawtooth MCAS

– Biannual event – Look for info in 2020!

Our Business Development Specialist, Kelli Vanyek, recently visited Creative Side Jewelry Academy of Austin, TX. Learn more about their amazing metalsmithing curriculum for kids. Are you looking for a studio experience for your children? Are you thinking about spearheading a youth metals program in your community? This interview will inspire you to create a legacy of arts appreciation, advocacy and maker skills for a new generation.

Courtney Gray started the Creative Side jewelry academy in Austin, Texas 11 years ago and it is thriving today. This dynamic anchor to the Austin jewelry community boasts impressive facilities and workshops for all kinds of makers working in metals. One of the programs that is truly inspiring is the Young Metalsmiths. It gets children as young as 10 into the studio working with jewelry making tools and torches. This type of hands-on education exposing kids to skilled craftsmanship and the arts is a model for youth programming. I got to sit down with program director Lindsay Sanchez to hear how it all started.

Kelli: What is your background in jewelry making / metalsmithing?
Lindsay: I am an Austin-based jeweler and metalsmith who is leading the Creative Side Young Metalsmiths program as director and instructor. Since I was a child, I was surrounded by supporting and practicing artists in the family. I went to college with the intentions of an art degree, however I didn’t expect to land in the jewelry and metals dept. It was love at first, “light of the torch,” and I am so grateful that I found an art form that truly speaks to my soul and heart. I received a BFA in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing from the University of North Texas. In 2006, I spent a summer in Italy where I practiced methods of silver and bronze casting and studied art history. Since 2006, I have been actively designing, making and selling my own line, Lindsay Hendricks Jewelry. I work predominantly in sterling silver and create lightweight sculptural jewelry from wire inspired by architecture and local flora. I have also been teaching jewelry to all age groups, but primarily the youth: the next generation jewelers.

 

K: What is on the curriculum? How often are classes?
L: Our most popular programs are our Spring and Summer Camps. They are Monday-Friday and each week is focused on techniques such as soldering, casting, or etching. We also offer a homeschool program, Jewelry Biz for Kids. In the homeschool program we not only help the students build on metalsmithing techniques, but we also engage in learning activities geared toward entrepreneurship such as pricing, creating a collection, and presentation of their jewelry and brand. All of the camps and classes that we offer provide a safe and creative environment where kids and teens have the opportunity to learn fundamental metalsmithing techniques using copper, brass and silver. The classes are led by professional artists and educators. Under their guidance, students increase their fine motor skills while learning to make sculptural jewelry pieces. They learn sawing, soldering, filing, hammering, drilling and finishing skills, casting, and much more. Students create multiple pieces and are encouraged to develop their own design skills. My favorite part (and I am usually on the verge of tears) is at the end of each camp or semester the participants organize their own end of session exhibition here in the studio including naming the exhibit, setting it up and designing their own display. Parents and family are invited to join us to meet the instructors, new friends and view their artwork on display. The students are always beaming with pride. It is quite an accomplishment to make quality metal jewelry at 12 years old!

K: Are the parents of your students also in the jewelry making world?
L: Pretty much no. Some parents are artists or entrepreneurs. Our parents are in awe of what their kids are creating and on a few occasions we have sparked interest in the parents which result in them signing up for classes for themselves!

K: Anything else you would like to include about Creative Side or the Young Metalsmiths Program?
L: We have had some students with us since the birth of the Young Metalsmiths program. It has been a joy to watch them grow as an artist and into young adults. We have had some of those students go on to create their own jewelry business and sell their work in art shows and local fairs. We also recently implemented a Mentorship Program for students that have completed 2 or more years of Jewelry Biz for Kids. Through an application process we choose one student per session that exhibits qualities of great maturity, advanced jewelry skills, and knowledge of the studio. As a mentor they assist the instructor during studio time and help along the new students. They also get to take more advanced classes to further their design skills and shadow other jewelry artists in our community.

Not only is Lindsay a jewelry designer, director and instructor she is also a mother. I really admire her hustle and passion for her community! Lindsay’s personal goal in the classroom every day is to encourage individual and creative expression through the art of jewelry and to be the best mentor to each and every student. She said, “Sharing my knowledge and passion of jewelry making with kids has made me a better jeweler and reminds me of why I do what I do”.

You can find more information, class schedules and registration for the Creative Side Young Metalsmiths Program at http://creativeside.org/classes/youth

Learn about other innovative jewelry studio school programs around the country.

Halstead’s Preferred Studio Schools

Learn Sawing From Our 2019 Featured Metalsmith, Julie Sanford