Current
Contemporary Mixed Metal Soldered Earrings Workshop
with Espie
Contemporary Mixed Metal Soldered Earrings Workshop with Espie
Saturday, August 15, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, includes a half-hour lunch break
Member Price $150, Non Members $165
All materials included
Class fee includes: Brass and Copper blanks, 3 pairs of ear wires, use of tools, torches, and fuel.
No experience necessary
Join us for a full day of creating three pairs of contemporary copper and brass earrings. In this hands-on class, you will learn the technique of sweat soldering, joining an accent piece to a base layer to create a clean, seamless connection.
You will leave with three beautiful pairs of handcrafted earrings and the skills to incorporate this versatile technique into future jewelry projects.
As the cost of gold and silver continues to rise, brass has become a beautiful and affordable alternative that offers a similar warm, golden glow. When combined with the rich, earthy tones of copper, it creates a contemporary mixed-metal look that is both eye-catching and timeless.
Copper and brass are also excellent materials for learning or refining soldering skills. Because they have higher melting points than sterling or fine silver, they offer a more forgiving learning experience, allowing you to build confidence and improve your technique with less risk of accidentally melting your work.
Begin by choosing from a variety of pre-cut copper and brass shapes to create earrings that reflect your personal style. You will add texture to the base pieces using a selection of texturing hammers, then refine and smooth the edges with files or a rotary tool. Next, you will prepare the smaller accent pieces by applying silver solder to the back and pre-melting it in preparation for sweat soldering.
Once the components are ready, you will arrange them into your own designs before permanently joining them together. After soldering, you will apply a patina to emphasize the textures, then gently buff each piece with steel wool, allowing the antiqued finish to remain beautifully settled in the recessed areas.
Finally, you will attach the ear wires, and your earrings will be ready to wear. Take home all three pairs to enjoy yourself, or keep one pair and share the others as thoughtful handmade gifts for family and friends.
Please bring a sack lunch.
Artists Biography
Despina “Espie” Buoncristiani is a lifelong artist. Her interest in jewelry emerged in her teens as she reimagined vintage pieces, and a college drawing class followed by a graphic design course led her to switch her major to Art. After working in several studios, she founded Espie Graphics in 1984, running it as a one-woman design practice. As graphic design shifted toward the digital, she longed for more tactile work, which led her to jewelry making, first with beaded designs and later with her own metal pendants in silver, copper, and brass. Continuing to expand her skills, she trained extensively in Metal Clay, earning two certifications and becoming a Senior Certified Art Clay Silver Instructor. Since 2015 she has taught more than 1,000 students across Metal Clay, Metalsmithing, Enameling, Etching, and other techniques, finding deep joy in helping others explore their creativity.