Tag Archives: silversmith

Metal + Glass April – May

Leave a comment

Hello and WOW! Many people are asking me when the next Metal and Glass course will be taking place. So, I am fitting one in to start up April 29th.  Register soon, it looks like this class may fill up fairly fast! 🙂 Thank you all for your support!

Learn how to form, fabricate, solder, set-stones in our 4 wk Metal + Glass course, etch, cast and more!

Almar’s cuttlebone cast from an 4/wk course in Iceland

Metal + Glass 4-week course Starts up April 29th and runs – 8 evenings. Monday & Wednesday 6:30-9:30pm  $285/pp

evening #1: First evening: working with copper: safety, drilling, sawing. Adding textures.

evening #2: Making a ring band out of silver (stamp, hammer finish, roller print, etc.)

evening #3: Working with wax create a small piece w/the lost wax technique- to be cast in Sterling silver.

evening #4: Finishing wax projects, invest models for casting in metal. Waxes for metal casting are weighed and calculated (*sterling runs $2.50/grm. Lab fee includes 20grams of sterling silver casting grain). Lo-tech casting with Cuttlefish bone.

evening #5: Cast moulds in sterling silver!

evening #6: Enameling copper projects, forming, how to make your own basic findings.

evening #7: Bezel settings cabochon stones or fossils or crystals, or an enamelled glass piece.

evening #8: Finish up projects  No experience necessary!

Copper, wax, glass, and some sterling silver are supplied*.  A list of local suppliers is included.   Questions concerning this course? Please see our FAQ’s

What’s included:
Approx 4×5” piece of copper sheet, 2’ copper wire, sterling silver for 1 ring band, fine silver bezel wire to set 1 cabochon cut stone. Glass is included for casting/flame-working (whatever method is covered), silver solder to complete class projects, wax, 10 grams of sterling silver for casting (either cuttlefish or lost wax), powdered vitreous enamel, 1 doz saw blades, 1 1mm drill bit, 1 half face particulate respirator, nitrile gloves, refractory materials for casting moulds.  Students are encouraged to supply their own cabochon cut stones, crystals, rocks, etc.

Additional materials not included: cabochon cut stone(s), extra sterling silver grain for lost wax castings, sterling silver sheet/plate for setting stones on/constructing other pieces.  Sterling silver casting grain may be purchased at $2.50gram.

The lab fees offer tools and materials for students to continue projects at home and start setting up their own studio.
Lab fee $150.00 (optional) what it includes:
adjustable jeweller’s bench pin, jeweller’s saw frame, 1 gross (144) jeweller’s saw blade assortment, 20 grams of sterling silver casting grain, 2″x2″ sterling silver plate.
Lab fee 1

Happy New Year! 2019: Bio-sonification, Pate de Verre, Metal + Glass & more!

Leave a comment

2019 Beginning workshops and courses! I believe experiences make the best gifts plus, learning new skills, and working with your hands!

Pate de Verre workshops – Participants learn how to fill a pre-made mould of a small bowl with glass paint, glass powder and fine glass -frit-, the moulds are then fired and participants return to the studio to divest and finish their bowls.  $150/pp Materials included, no experience necessary!  Weekend workshop: January 5th & 6th, Sat: 12-3pm/Sun: 1pm-4pm
 

Students learn the basics of pâte de verre from start to finish while making a thin-walled, kiln formed bowl. Students have access to a broad palette of coloured frit (crushed glass) and samples to help predict and understand fired qualities. Demonstrations include various techniques of working with glass powders against the mold, working with color reactions, as well as how to back-fill a packed mold to support the walls of the piece during firing.   

Biodata Sonification is a process to translate complex real-time sensor data into musical notes and controls, exploring the auditory sensory modality to provide insights into invisible phenomenon.

Seacliff life along HĂşnaflĂłi Bay, Iceland.

March 23/30, 1pm-4pm Build your own Nanotopian MIDI Bio-Sonification Module and start listening to the biology around you!  Register through InterAccess 

Collaborate sonically with the non-human organisms around you. Next time you go on a picnic bring along your Bio-sonification Module & listen to the sounds of the forest, how it responds to your presence then, place the electrodes onto your friends or hook up your houseplant and see how it really feels!
Students receive step by step guidance putting together their own Bio-Sonification Module kit and help in understanding how the device works. Once kits are built participants are shown how to change Midi scales/channels, LED brightness and more with Arduino. We will discuss MIDI and how it works.
Last half of the workshop participants place electrodes onto plants, fungi, themselves or each other and listen to their Bio-data through Ableton Live, Animoog, Model 15 (or similar digital music apps and analog synths) creating a Bio-Sonification Symphony!

Almar’s cuttlebone cast from an 4/wk course in Iceland

Metal + Glass 4-week course Starts up March 4th and runs – 8 evenings. Monday & Wednesday 6:30-9:30pm  $285/pp  

evening #1: First evening: working with copper: safety, drilling, sawing. Adding textures.

evening #2: Making a ring band out of silver (stamp, hammer finish, roller print, etc.)

evening #3: Working with wax create a small piece w/the lost wax technique- to be cast in Sterling silver.

evening #4: Finishing wax projects, invest models for casting in metal. Waxes for metal casting are weighed and calculated (*sterling runs $2.50/grm. Lab fee includes 20grams of sterling silver casting grain). Lo-tech casting with Cuttlefish bone.

evening #5: Cast moulds in sterling silver!

evening #6: Enameling copper projects, forming, how to make your own basic findings.

evening #7: Bezel settings cabochon stones or fossils or crystals, or an enamelled glass piece.

evening #8: Finish up projects  No experience necessary!

Copper, wax, glass, and some sterling silver are supplied*.  A list of local suppliers is included.   Questions concerning this course? Please see our FAQ’s

What’s included:
Approx 4×5” piece of copper sheet, 2’ copper wire, sterling silver for 1 ring band, fine silver bezel wire to set 1 cabochon cut stone. Glass is included for casting/flame-working (whatever method is covered), silver solder to complete class projects, wax, 10 grams of sterling silver for casting (either cuttlefish or lost wax), powdered vitreous enamel, 1 doz saw blades, 1 1mm drill bit, 1 half face particulate respirator, nitrile gloves, refractory materials for casting moulds.  Students are encouraged to supply their own cabochon cut stones, crystals, rocks, etc.

Additional materials not included: cabochon cut stone(s), extra sterling silver grain for lost wax castings, sterling silver sheet/plate for setting stones on/constructing other pieces.  Sterling silver casting grain may be purchased at $2.50gram.

The lab fees offer tools and materials for students to continue projects at home and start setting up their own studio.
Lab fee $150.00 (optional) what it includes:
adjustable jeweller’s bench pin, jeweller’s saw frame, 1 gross (144) jeweller’s saw blade assortment, 20 grams of sterling silver casting grain, 2″x2″ sterling silver plate.
Lab fee 1

Metal + Glass 4-week course Starts up November 5th

Leave a comment

Learn how to form, fabricate, solder, set-stones in our 4 wk Metal + Glass course, etch, cast and more!

Almar’s cuttlebone cast from a 4/wk course in Iceland

Metal + Glass 4-week course Starts up November 5th and runs – 8 evenings. Monday & Wednesday 6:30-9:30pm  $285/pp Pay in full or put down a deposit. December dates below. 

evening #1: First evening: working with copper: safety, drilling, sawing. Adding textures.

evening #2: Making a ring band out of silver (stamp, hammer finish, roller print, etc.)

evening #3: Working with wax create pieces w/the lost wax technique- to be cast in Sterling silver* or bronze.

evening #4: Finishing wax projects, invest models for casting in Metal. Waxes for metal casting are weighed and calculated (*sterling runs $2.50/grm. Lab fee includes 20 grams of sterling silver casting grain). Lo-tech casting with Cuttlefish bone.

evening #5: Cast moulds in sterling silver or bronze! Remove glass pieces from moulds.

evening #6: Enameling copper projects, forming, how to make your own basic findings.

evening #7: Bezel settings cabochon stones or fossils or crystals, or an enamelled or Fused glass piece.

evening #8: Finish up projects

Sonatona Gemstones visiting Nanopod Studio Monday May 7

Leave a comment

Super exciting news! Pop on over to the studio tomorrow evening Monday, May 7th  between 7pm – 8pm Sonatona gemstones will be in da Haus! Sonatona is bringing along a wide selection of cabochon cut stones for you to drool over.

Everyone is welcome!  Students and non-nano students.  Cash or credit accepted. 

Metal + Glass February 4 week course & the zombie apocalypse

Leave a comment

Metal-smithing use to be considered a trade. More than constructing luxe, designer jewellery working with metal; sawing, piercing, forming, soldering, carving, teaches skills to build shit that could save your life- in the event the zombie apocalypse actually happens. Clasps, knives, buckles, swords, chains, containers, armour. Fix things. Use hammers. Know how to use a torch a join two pieces of metal.

For real, I am not joking here.

Also, GLASS. Vitreous enamel coats metal. Take your bathtub. Or a Butcher’s tray- vitreous enamel fused onto metal. Often steel. In my course you use copper and/or silver. Lost wax casting into metal or glass. Rivets- rivets are used to generally hold materials together that cannot take heat (metal and plexiglas, for instance). They can of course be decorative, too.

So, if the world turns Mad Max or into a messed up version of Rick Grimes and the Saviours- you can be prepared to upcycle metal and/or glass into usable, functional items. Save the world.

METAL + GLASS 4wk:  Monday & Wednesday evenings – Learn basic Goldsmithing.  6:30-9:30pm Monday, February 5th $285pp (deposit of $142.50 to reserve seat)

 

 

evening #1: First evening: working with copper: safety, drilling, sawing. Adding textures.

evening #2: Making a band ring out of silver (stamp, hammer finish, roller print, etc.)

evening #3: Working with wax create pieces w/the lost wax technique- to be cast in Sterling silver or bronze.

evening #4: Finishing wax projects, invest models for casting in Glass and Metal (separately) Waxes for metal casting are weighed and calculated (sterling runs $2.50/grm unless lab fee has been purchased).

evening #5: Cast moulds in sterling silver or bronze! Remove glass pieces from moulds.

evening #6: Enameling copper projects, forming, how to make your own basic findings.

evening #7: Bezel settings cabochon stones or fossils or crystals, or an enamelled or Fused glass piece.

evening #8: Finish up projects

No experience necessary!  More details in the Metal Workshops section. 

Metal + Glass course dates (Monday + Wednesday evenings):

February 5th-28th- 

 

 

Open Studio time and Bench Rental and/or Studio share

Leave a comment

Looking for an affordable studio space in Toronto where you can work on your metal and glass related projects? This might be the space for you! Come by Thursday evenings after 7pm to see if the studio is what you’re looking for and/or email your questions to: nanotopia@me.com

Open studio nights are a perfect time to visit the studio and meet other members. If you have a small project you would like to work on or ask for help with you are welcome to bring it in.

Thursdays 7pm – 9pm  If it is your first time we recommend coming later in the evening, from 8pm – 9pm.

Nano-members have access to tools and equipment (kiln rental is extra). Members have access to the studio facilities Thursday evenings 7-10pm and Sunday afternoons 12pm-5pm** membership costs $75/month (**IMPORTANT: reopening January 18th, 2018 -check updates for Winter hours or email the studio in advance.)

Purchase membership online or via eTransfer: ($77.47 will be charged to cover Paypal fees) 

 

Starting March 1st 2018 the studio will offer 24/7 shared space/time aka Studio share-holder ‘membership’.  Sound interesting? Email us for further info/set-up an appointment. 

Nanopod studio share-holders are the people collectively responsible for running and maintaining the space. Studio share-holders have 24/7 access to the space via key fob, and help determine how the space is operated: the people who schedule OS time and run the space as well as use it. Studio share-holders get priority use of the space, as well as free or significantly reduced price classes and workshops. Studio share-holders (OCAD/GB students: think Ultra Bench Rental) pay $350/month (tax included).
Please note that prior to 24/7 access via key fob it is suggested that artists/makers purchase monthly studio time. This way we all see if the studio space is a good fit plus, we get to know each other!  Some responsibilities of Studio share-holders includes: 
Be available for Open Studio time 1 Thursday evening and 1 Sunday afternoon per month (schedules are discussed monthly).
Studio share-holders commit to 4/6mo with post-dated cheques or recurring eTransfer payments (1st/last up front).
Make sure all shared tools/equipment are kept organized and in working order.
**Studio share-holders do not need to offer workshops/courses.

Materials and consumables are not included in Open Studio time – you need to supply your own saw blades, solder, drill bits, wax, metal, enamel powders, stones, etc. Assistance/guidance is included, however you need to know what you are doing and how to properly/safely operate equipment, tools, and torches. If you are unfamiliar with some of the industrial/dangerous (chop off fingers, burn off your scalp equipment we suggest taking a beginning workshop or 4wk course). Orientations on how to operate our kilns needs to be booked in advance of kiln use please.

Special 4/20 discount! Register for the April 24th course & receive 20% off

Leave a comment

Special 4/20 discount! Register for the April 24th course & receive 20% off

METAL + GLASS 4wk: Next course starts up Monday April 24th, 2017 and runs Monday & Wednesday evenings • Learn basic Goldsmithing – 6:30-9:30pm

evening #1: First evening: working with copper: safety, drilling, sawing. Adding textures.

evening #2: Making a band ring out of silver (stamp, hammer finish, roller print, etc.)

evening #3: Working with wax create pieces w/the lost wax technique- to be cast in Sterling silver or bronze/brass.

evening #4: Finishing wax projects, Cuttlefish casting (lo-tech) in house.

evening #5: Kilnworked glass. Fuse several glass pieces (buckle, pendant, cabochon for setting later!). Etching copper.

evening #6: Enameling copper projects, forming, how to make your own basic findings.

evening #7: Bezel settings cabochon stones or fossils or crystals, or an enamelled or Fused glass piece.

evening #8: Finish up projects

No experience necessary!

Copper, wax, glass, and some sterling silver are supplied*.  A list of local suppliers is included.   Questions concerning this course? Please see our FAQ’s

What is included: (items with asterisk included with Lab Fee)

Approx 3″ x 3″ piece of 16 to 18 gauge copper & *16 ga Sterling silver sheet & wire/15 gr casting grain

Sterling silver for 1 ring band, approx 60mm in length and 1.5mm thick (6mm wide)

Wax

Solder

1 dozen 3/0 saw blades, *1 gross selection of Jeweller’s saw blades

Glass powders/Frit & sheet for Fusing *Approximately 1kg of Lead crystal towards a lost wax casting.

Bezel wire for 1 setting

Use of tools & equipment *Bench pin and saw frame to take home

Students are encouraged to supply their own cabochon cut stones, crystals, rocks, etc. However there is a small selection of stones for students to choose from.

April 24th ($275pp -20% until April 22nd)

 

 

May 29th to June 21st ($275pp) afternoons 12pm-3pm or evenings 6:30pm-9:30pm

 

 

June 26th to July 19th 2017 ($275pp) afternoons 12pm-3pm or evenings 6:30pm-9:30pm

 

 

Optional Lab Fee (includes items above with *): $125