Your online jewelry making experience

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You don't need a studio or workshop to get started with your jewelry making experience. You can join our Soft Wax Modeling Class or begin customized tutoring with a small designated workspace, a computer or tablet, your phone, and a basic starter kit of tools and materials. The wax models you create with these foundation skills can later be cast into bronze, sterling, gold, or even platinum. Make molds of your favorite designs and you have the beginning of your own jewelry business from home!

So, you've created the wax model of your design...now what?  Your wax can be transformed into the metal of your choice through a process known as "lost wax casting".  We offer precious metal and bronze casting as an additional charge service to our tutoring and class students, or you can research jewelry casting services in your area to have your waxes cast on your own. If you chose to have your waxes cast with us, we will review each wax and advise you of the metal cost, labor, and any potential problems. We will also work with you through tutoring  to develop the best practices for your particular designs.

Our 1 and 2 session wax workshops and our tutoring fees are for instruction only, and do not include the cost of casting or polishing your pieces. 

If you choose to have us cast your wax models, they will come out with a sprue (a small "nub" of metal that is the remnant of the channel into which the molten metal flowed) and a dull finish, sometimes referred to as a "casting skin", both of which are removed in a process known as finishing. If you want to learn to finish these rough castings yourself,  you will need metal  finishing and polishing tools, as well as additional instruction on how to use them.  Alternatively, we offer various levels of finishing services on the pieces that we cast for you at an additional charge; you can choose to receive them as rough castings, partially finished, or completely polished and  ready to wear or sell.

Many jewelry designs incorporate both lost wax casting and pre-made metal elements such as jump rings, bails, bezels or prongs. Assembly usually requires soldering the metal components or "findings" to your cast design.  We can do this assembly for you at an additional charge, or we can assist you in procuring  and setting up your own metal working tools and soldering station, allowing you to learn these advanced techniques through additional customized small group tutoring sessions. Keep in mind that metal working and soldering require a designated work space, a more substantial investment in tools, and more stringent safety considerations.

Does your design include gemstones? There are many ways to incorporate gems into your finished cast metal piece. These could include prong or bezel setting, bead or flush setting, channel or pave (all done in the finished metal), or even incorporating certain gems into your wax model and "casting in place".  Stone setting in metal is an art unto itself that requires additional tools, patience, and practice. Though somewhat more challenging outside of our studio environment, you can master these techniques through our customized small group tutoring sessions. Alternatively,  we offer a full array of stone setting services to our students at an additional cost.