San Diego Jewelry Lab offers live, instructor-led interactive online classes covering a wide range of the jewelry/metals field, from beginner topics to advanced specialty techniques such as mokume gane chisel-patterning and keum boo. We also host free, interactive metal arts events featuring tips & tricks, guest artists, metal arts history, live studio tours and more.
Until we can travel again, join us online - all classes include a free side of virtual warm sand and sunshine.
Until we can travel again, join us online - all classes include a free side of virtual warm sand and sunshine.
Free Events
Metal Arts Adventures #23: Maleku Jewelry of the Costa Rican Rainforest
Thursday, February 21st from 5-6pm Pacific Time
Meet & Greet starts at 4:45pm.
Online via Zoom
In this episode we'll take a virtual trek deep into the heart of the Costa Rican rainforest to visit the Maleku people, see how they create their hand-painted seed jewelry and learn about their unique language and culture. After that we'll go hunting for inspiration in some wildly creative and high-quality work from recent classes and share details about a brand new call for art. Stick around till the end for our lively Q&A discussion of all things metal arts from torch tips to patina particulars. MAAA is a FREE weekly online metal arts live show. In this fun, interactive gathering we offer demos, share tips & tricks, feature work by artists and students from around the world, go on virtual studio tours, discuss historical metal arts traditions and share resources. You're invited to join in! Need help with a tricky soldering job? Wondering if a tip you saw really works? Want to give us a tour of your studio or recommend an instructor? Submit a question or segment idea and we'll follow up. Send it in!
Meet & Greet starts at 4:45pm.
Online via Zoom
In this episode we'll take a virtual trek deep into the heart of the Costa Rican rainforest to visit the Maleku people, see how they create their hand-painted seed jewelry and learn about their unique language and culture. After that we'll go hunting for inspiration in some wildly creative and high-quality work from recent classes and share details about a brand new call for art. Stick around till the end for our lively Q&A discussion of all things metal arts from torch tips to patina particulars. MAAA is a FREE weekly online metal arts live show. In this fun, interactive gathering we offer demos, share tips & tricks, feature work by artists and students from around the world, go on virtual studio tours, discuss historical metal arts traditions and share resources. You're invited to join in! Need help with a tricky soldering job? Wondering if a tip you saw really works? Want to give us a tour of your studio or recommend an instructor? Submit a question or segment idea and we'll follow up. Send it in!
Upcoming Classes
Mokume Gane Chisel Patterning
Live Online Workshop with Anne Wolf
February 20 & 21 - Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm PDT
Tuition $295 + $95 -$155 kit fee (+tax & shipping)
Learn the most traditional Japanese method of patterning mokume-gane. Chisel into the surface of blank mokume-gane to create rivers of pattern that follow your chisel marks. After hammering the sheet back to flat, your unique chisel patterns are locked into the metal forever. Traditionally pitch is used to secure the metal while chiseling, but we'll also show a lower-cost easy alternative. Get details at AnnevilleStudio.com.
Live Online Workshop with Anne Wolf
February 20 & 21 - Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm PDT
Tuition $295 + $95 -$155 kit fee (+tax & shipping)
Learn the most traditional Japanese method of patterning mokume-gane. Chisel into the surface of blank mokume-gane to create rivers of pattern that follow your chisel marks. After hammering the sheet back to flat, your unique chisel patterns are locked into the metal forever. Traditionally pitch is used to secure the metal while chiseling, but we'll also show a lower-cost easy alternative. Get details at AnnevilleStudio.com.
Stamped Mokume Gane Pendant
Live Online Workshop with Anne Wolf
March 20 & 21 - Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm PDT
Tuition $295 + $55-$105 kit fee (+tax & shipping or local pick up) - New color combo!
Learn to stamp-pattern mokume gane to create a stunning mokume gane pendant in your home studio. This class is designed for beginning-intermediate jewelry/metals artists with some experience soldering and sawing. Stamping is the easiest patterning method; the kit includes mokume gane blanks so you can focus on the patterning. Get details at Anne's site - AnnevilleStudio.com.
Live Online Workshop with Anne Wolf
March 20 & 21 - Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm PDT
Tuition $295 + $55-$105 kit fee (+tax & shipping or local pick up) - New color combo!
Learn to stamp-pattern mokume gane to create a stunning mokume gane pendant in your home studio. This class is designed for beginning-intermediate jewelry/metals artists with some experience soldering and sawing. Stamping is the easiest patterning method; the kit includes mokume gane blanks so you can focus on the patterning. Get details at Anne's site - AnnevilleStudio.com.
Metamorphic Mokume hosted by the Metal Arts Guild of Georgia
Live Online Workshop with Anne Wolf
April 10-11, 2021 - Saturday - Sunday noon - 6pm EST
Tuition $250-$275 + $60-$120 kit fee (+tax & shipping)
Take your mokume gane patterning to a whole new level - beyond stamping, twisting and chiseling. At a fundamental level, mokume gane patterning is analogous to the geologic processes of uplift, metamorphosis, and erosion. In this newly expanded class, Anne reveals unexpected ways to pattern which she has discovered over the years. Get details at MetalArtsGuildGA.org.
Live Online Workshop with Anne Wolf
April 10-11, 2021 - Saturday - Sunday noon - 6pm EST
Tuition $250-$275 + $60-$120 kit fee (+tax & shipping)
Take your mokume gane patterning to a whole new level - beyond stamping, twisting and chiseling. At a fundamental level, mokume gane patterning is analogous to the geologic processes of uplift, metamorphosis, and erosion. In this newly expanded class, Anne reveals unexpected ways to pattern which she has discovered over the years. Get details at MetalArtsGuildGA.org.
What's New?
Volunteers Wanted
1/21/21 - We are looking for a few friendly people to help as Zoom facilitators in hosting our free online Sawing Circle.Using our company Zoom account (we’ll provide you with a login) you'll start the Sawing Circle at the appointed time from your own computer, admit students as they arrive, greet them and make sure they’re in the right place and facilitate discussions of jewelry and metal arts related topics. Our goal is to have four reliable volunteers who can each cover one 2.25 hour Zoom session per month and serve as occasional alternates. The objective of the Sawing Circle is to connect participants to each other, highlight their work and foster meaningful and inspiring connections. We will also have short guest presentations from time to time. The only requirements are a stable internet connection, a reliable computer and basic computer skills and basic familiarity with using Zoom (we’ll train you as a facilitator). You are not expected to teach or demo anything - jewelry metal arts beginners welcome! Interested? Get more details and fill out our Volunteer Form.
1/21/21 - We are looking for a few friendly people to help as Zoom facilitators in hosting our free online Sawing Circle.Using our company Zoom account (we’ll provide you with a login) you'll start the Sawing Circle at the appointed time from your own computer, admit students as they arrive, greet them and make sure they’re in the right place and facilitate discussions of jewelry and metal arts related topics. Our goal is to have four reliable volunteers who can each cover one 2.25 hour Zoom session per month and serve as occasional alternates. The objective of the Sawing Circle is to connect participants to each other, highlight their work and foster meaningful and inspiring connections. We will also have short guest presentations from time to time. The only requirements are a stable internet connection, a reliable computer and basic computer skills and basic familiarity with using Zoom (we’ll train you as a facilitator). You are not expected to teach or demo anything - jewelry metal arts beginners welcome! Interested? Get more details and fill out our Volunteer Form.
Istanbul's Grand Bazaar and Blackboard Brooches How To by Kay Yee in MAA Episode #22
1/21/21 - Journey with us into the colorful, 500 year old labyrinth of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar guided by San Diego jewelry student & artist Karen Savel. We'll marvel at the ancient arches, see local jewelers at work in their tiny shop, walk in the footsteps of Rick Steve's and visit a gold smelter, stop to watch a street lapidarist at work and finish off with some classic Turkish delights. Next, we sit back and enjoy an informative how-to by enamelist Kay Yee as she shows us her method for creating blackboard brooches. Kay also shares a great list of resources including an inexpensive starter kit and online classes. Read more for resource links.
1/21/21 - Journey with us into the colorful, 500 year old labyrinth of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar guided by San Diego jewelry student & artist Karen Savel. We'll marvel at the ancient arches, see local jewelers at work in their tiny shop, walk in the footsteps of Rick Steve's and visit a gold smelter, stop to watch a street lapidarist at work and finish off with some classic Turkish delights. Next, we sit back and enjoy an informative how-to by enamelist Kay Yee as she shows us her method for creating blackboard brooches. Kay also shares a great list of resources including an inexpensive starter kit and online classes. Read more for resource links.
Scoring Tool How To, torch & tank troubleshooting, etching tips and much more at our January Sawing Circle
1/14/21 - Guest instructor Anne Wolf shared a guide (from the forum on Ganoksin.com) for making a scoring tool to create intricate patterns like the one on her tsuba. After that we delved into diagnosing torch troubles, pondering ways to extract silver from etching solution, shared ideas for bumping up the contrast on etched brass pieces (try burnishing) and discussed the merits of dental wire as a brooch pin (hint: don't try to cut it, you'll just break your saw. Simply bend it with pliers back and forth to work harden it until it snaps). In fact, Anne gave away 14" pieces of dental wire to everyone who wanted to try it (I'll pop them in the mail tomorrow). We also had a grand time admiring recent works by Cynthia, Alex, Yoko, Jan, Sky, Julia and Marianne. Oh and there were some great recommendations for classes too - including the hopeful scheduling of spring dates for Metalsmiths in Florence. Read on for photos and links.
1/14/21 - Guest instructor Anne Wolf shared a guide (from the forum on Ganoksin.com) for making a scoring tool to create intricate patterns like the one on her tsuba. After that we delved into diagnosing torch troubles, pondering ways to extract silver from etching solution, shared ideas for bumping up the contrast on etched brass pieces (try burnishing) and discussed the merits of dental wire as a brooch pin (hint: don't try to cut it, you'll just break your saw. Simply bend it with pliers back and forth to work harden it until it snaps). In fact, Anne gave away 14" pieces of dental wire to everyone who wanted to try it (I'll pop them in the mail tomorrow). We also had a grand time admiring recent works by Cynthia, Alex, Yoko, Jan, Sky, Julia and Marianne. Oh and there were some great recommendations for classes too - including the hopeful scheduling of spring dates for Metalsmiths in Florence. Read on for photos and links.
Anneville Jewelry Lab is now San Diego Jewelry Lab
1/4/21 - From November 2018 to March 2020, San Diego Jewelry Lab was known as Anneville Jewelry Lab because it was a brick & mortar jewelry metal arts school and co-work space located next to Anne Wolf's studio in Liberty Station - a part of the NTC Arts District. We offered multi-week classes, independent study and 1-5 day workshops. Topics covered a wide range of the jewelry/metals field, from absolute beginner basics taught by Jessica Andersen and Julie Monroe to advanced specialty techniques such as Japanese metalsmithing taught by Ford Hallam, stone setting by Alexandra Hart, keum boo taught by Bette Barnett and mokume gane taught by Anne Wolf. Many of our students took classes multiple times to perfect their techniques and gain inspiration from each other. Our workshops drew students from around the U.S. and internationally. In addition to classes we had Open Lab time where jewelry metal arts makers worked together, enjoyed our little "Broken Sawblade Cafe" (which became the Peg and Pickle Pub after hours) and shopped for tools and supplies in our small General Store. We also hosted a monthly First Friday Open Studio where makers and the public nibbled tasty snacks, watched live demos and shopped our Gallery Case featuring work by our teachers and students. All of that changed on March 19th, 2020. Read more.
1/4/21 - From November 2018 to March 2020, San Diego Jewelry Lab was known as Anneville Jewelry Lab because it was a brick & mortar jewelry metal arts school and co-work space located next to Anne Wolf's studio in Liberty Station - a part of the NTC Arts District. We offered multi-week classes, independent study and 1-5 day workshops. Topics covered a wide range of the jewelry/metals field, from absolute beginner basics taught by Jessica Andersen and Julie Monroe to advanced specialty techniques such as Japanese metalsmithing taught by Ford Hallam, stone setting by Alexandra Hart, keum boo taught by Bette Barnett and mokume gane taught by Anne Wolf. Many of our students took classes multiple times to perfect their techniques and gain inspiration from each other. Our workshops drew students from around the U.S. and internationally. In addition to classes we had Open Lab time where jewelry metal arts makers worked together, enjoyed our little "Broken Sawblade Cafe" (which became the Peg and Pickle Pub after hours) and shopped for tools and supplies in our small General Store. We also hosted a monthly First Friday Open Studio where makers and the public nibbled tasty snacks, watched live demos and shopped our Gallery Case featuring work by our teachers and students. All of that changed on March 19th, 2020. Read more.
"Mokume gane patterning with chisels was one of the most enjoyable courses I've ever done."
~ Helen M., Sydney, Australia