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Grand River Bead Studio Welcomes
Guest Artist Francesca Watson        
Oct. 4-6, 2019   
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Francesca Watson is a designer, maker and instructor who lives and works in the Texas Hill Country outside San Antonio. In 2012, she walked away from 25 years in administration and small business management to focus on living a more creative life. She is now co-owner of The Makery, a working and teaching studio in Bulverde, Texas. She very happily spends her days experimenting with new techniques and teaching metals, enamels and jewelry making.
 
Her focus is on creating unusual, wearable, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces using a wide variety of unique and beautiful stones. She is also an avid photographer with an emerging interest in mixed media, which allows her to indulge her love of paper and journals.
 
In addition to teaching at The Makery, Francesca also teaches at national venues including BeadFest, Bead & Button, Glass Craft Expo, Art Unraveled, and the annual Tucson Gem Shows. She is also a Level 1 Certified Art Clay Instructor.
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Kitchen Table Soldering
Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 (10-6 PM)
Skill Level: Beginner/Experienced Beginner  
Prerequisites: None 
Love stones? Love metal? Working in a small home studio? In just one day, you'll learn a super-simple soldering method that will allow you to do it all with a minimum of tools and equipment. You'll design a beautiful pendant using a unique, one-of-a-kind freeform stone as your guide. Create awesome, smooth sterling silver balls from scrap to embellish your piece and use hand-crafted stamps and lining tools to add personalized marks and interest. Finish by setting the stone and adding a simple bail to hang it from your favorite chain - you'll be amazed at how much you can learn in just one day! And best of all, you'll do it all with a small, easy-to-use culinary butane torch! Absolutely no prior experience is required - but even if you've soldered before, we promise you'll learn a new approach that will simplify and demystify the process!
 
Workshop Fee: $150 (includes use of all required tools)
Kit Fee: $55 ( payable to instructor on the day of class)  
       
Max: 12 students  

Sign up for class HERE        
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The Big Ass Ring
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019 (10-6 PM)
Skill Level: Experienced Beginner  
Prerequisites: Previous Metal Smithing Experience Recommended  
This fast-paced one-day jewelry workshop will have you cutting, stamping, soldering and forming sterling silver wire and sheet into a one-of-a-kind setting for a gorgeous statement ring. You'll learn how to size and solder a ring band, create a bezel from scratch, and set a stone properly. Along the way, you'll get tips and tricks to maximize your time at the bench and help with designing around unique cabochons.
 
It's a good idea to have some prior soldering experience or you may not finish your project in class. (And if you can use a jeweler's saw, that's a huge bonus - but not required!) Otherwise, this is a great class if you're a beginning metalsmith interested in taking your skills to the next level.
 
Workshop Fee: $150 (includes use of all required tools)
Kit Fee: $60 (payable to instructor on the day of class)   
       
Max: 12 students  

Sign up for class HERE        
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Broken Symmetry
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (10-6 PM)
Skill Level: Intermediate   
Prerequisites: Previous Metal Smithing Experience Required 
One side is cool, smooth stone, the other a rustic slice of textured metal in an open box. Related shapes echo one another across brushed silver and tiny hollows, joined and separated, together but distinct.
 
You'll be making use of essential fabrication techniques - including soldering, sawing, filing, box construction, bezel creation, and stone setting - to create your own take on this unique pendant project. Plus, you'll learn how to tackle complex soldering and construction tasks in simple "bites" to ensure success every time. This is definitely an intermediate project - at a minimum, it's important that you be able to solder unattended and that you're comfortable using a jeweler's saw.
 
Workshop Fee: $150 (includes use of all required tools)
Kit Fee: $65 (payable to instructor on the day of class)   
       
Max: 12 students  

Sign up for class HERE        
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Metal Smithing Intro Intensive
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5, 2019 (10-6 PM)
Skill Level: All    
Prerequisites: None   
Please Note: This is a Two Day Class  
 
If you are new to metal smithing, or just want to "up your game", sign up for both Francesca's two beginner friendly classes (Kitchen Table Soldering AND The Big Ass Ring) to receive a $25 discount.
 
Workshop Fee: $275 (includes use of all required tools)
Kit Fee: $115 (payable to instructor on the first day of class)   
       
Max: 12 students  

Sign up for class HERE         
 
 
 

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Contact Information
 
Phone: 440-331-4950
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