The 2009 Metal Clay World Conference will begin with a Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening, July 15th. Hour long lecture/seminars will begin on Thursday morning and run throughout the day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning. On Thursday evening there will be an open studio available for those wanting to play around with their new tools and or supplies. The Keynote Speaker will be the internationally renowned metal smith and author, Alan Revere, founder of the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, in California.
The regular conference runs from July 16 to 18, 2009, while the pre-conference classes take place on July 13 …read more

The Beadin’ Path in Freeport Maine has a list online of all the wonderful classes that you can take there. You probably already know them as a fabulous supplier of vintage glass and Lucite beads…now get to know them as a great source for education!

Elaine Luther is teaching this Spring at the Indianapolis Art Center in Indy, IN. She’s teaching a patinas weekend workshop and a PMC/BronzClay weekend workshop.
Elaine also told me about the Metal Clay Academy, which has lists of training opportunities.
Metal & Color
Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. & Sunday 12-3 p.m.
April 26 & 27
Lab Fee (included): $50
Non-Member Price: $234
Member Price: $225

BronzClay + Precious Metal Clay
Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. & Sunday 12-3 p.m.
March 14 & 15
Lab Fee (included): $50
Non-Member Price: $234
Member Price: $225

Jennifer Heynen, aka Jennifer Jangles is teaching both in Miami and at Bead & Button this year!  Visit Jennifer’s site for additional information or to contact her.
Ceramic Vessels and Rattles and an Intro to Raku

Date: Sat and Sun, April 18 – 19, 2009, 10 AM to 4 PM in Miami

Description: We are taking ceramic bead making to the next level to create vessels & rattles. Students will learn basic ceramic bead shapes as well as how to create hollow forms: vessels or rattles. For those who didn’t take the 2008 class, the focus will be on basic bead shapes. But, …read more

Always available, anytime day or night, whatever suits you, even in your jammies!  Don’t forget that there are online ways to learn jewelry skills to improve your techniques this year   My favorite place to start is Tammy’s list of e-courses on About.com’s Jewelry Making site.

More Tucson news!  February 3 through 8, the Manning House will be open for beady business.
At the gorgeous Manning House, Exhibitors offer classes and workshops demonstrating how to create artistic pieces such as the ones they exhibit. These classes and workshops are held throughout the day, every day of the show.  Classes range from beginner to advanced, and cover beading, polymer, metal, glass, and business savvy!  The fabulous John Winter and Linda Gettings are just two of the names you’ll recognize!!

Jewelry Class
Opie and Linda O’Brien
Burnt Offerings
Burnt Offerings blog
Burnt Offerings etsy store
See Opie and Linda’s class schedule on Layers Upon Layers.

Instructor: Marla Gassner
Carmen Miranda Bangle Bracelet
Location: Tucson, AZ
Date: Feb 5, 2009
Create a stunning bangle bracelet, using handmade silk cording as the base to fit your wrist size, embellished with various shaped Crystallized Swarovski elements. The kits are specially created by the artist/teacher, Marla Gassner. The kit color is oranges, browns, blacks and clear crystal on beige or gray silk cording. All supplies are included, beginners are welcome and will complete the bracelet within the class. It is a one of a kind, knockout bracelet. Cost: $60. Sign up on the Swarovski website.

All you have to do is provide a place to bead and Beading Buds brings the beading party to you, we bring the beading supplies, the instructors and the fun. We specialize in children’s birthday beading parties, but can customize our bead party to any event and/or occasion. We cater to ages 5 and up.
Our beading parties include:

Tons of different beads and findings to choose from;
A large selection of jewellery that can be made;
A team of experienced and exciting jewellery designers to teach and assist for a minimum hour and 15 minutes;
A special “Beading Princess” tiara …read more

Instructor: Linda Kaye-Moses
Double-Textured Domed Pendant Using Fine Silver Precious Metal Clay
Location: Whole Lotta Whimsy, Tucson AZ
Dates: February 7-8, 2009
In this two-day workshop you will make a Double-Textured Domed Pendant using PMC3. Each side of the pendant will be embellished with a different texture; each texture achieved using a different method. After the pendant has been fired, each side will be individually enameled using vitreous enamels.
For the first texture, a Silicone Printing Plate, you will learn to hand carve a printing block. To create the second texture, you will make a Micro-folded Metal Printing Plate.
For the Silicone Printing Plate you …read more