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This workshop meets Friday and Saturday, August 22 & 23, 2025, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm each day with a lunch break
In this 2-day workshop, students will create a statement pendant that combines fine silver metal clay and milled metals along with a gemstone (or other item) that will be set in a fused or constructed prong setting after firing. In class, we will explore constructing strong, lightweight hollow forms from metal clay that will serve as the base for the setting. We will cover fusing fine silver and other methods of constructing a setting using a combination of milled metals and metal clay.
Technical considerations, including using higher shrinkage clay, will be addressed, as well as metalsmithing techniques for strengthening and finishing the setting, and securely setting the stone in the setting.
Skills covered: Mitering, joining, and dry construction; Connection methods between metal clay and milled metals; Fusing milled fine silver using a micro torch; Creating prong settings from wire; Shaping and finishing prongs; Securely prong setting gemstones
Students are recommended to bring 20-50 grams of their preferred fine silver metal clay. They are welcome to bring a gemstone or other object to be set, approximately the size of a quarter (larger is easier than smaller when learning this technique). Fine silver wire in various gauges and fusing flux will be provided in the $20 supply kit. Gemstones will also be available for purchase from the instructor.
A kit fee of $20 will be collected by the instructor during the workshop.
This workshop is part of the Metal Clay Artists Symposium and requires the purchase of the General Registration.
About Brandy:
Brandy has a 20+ year career in tech, but considers herself an artist, teacher, and publisher, with a focus on metal clay and related metalsmithing techniques. She's been a passionate student of metal clay since 1999 and began teaching through local community center and adult education programs in 2006. Since then, she's opened her own metals studio in Bartlett, TN, and has taught at schools and conferences around the United States. In 2018, she took over editing and publishing Metal Clay Today and strives to share the artistic and technical wonder that is metal clay with as many people as possible.
Perfectly Paired - Metal Clay + Fabrication with Brandy Boyd
Please put the MCAS GENERAL REGISTRATION in your cart prior to purchasing hands-on workshops or enrolling in the Sunday Technique Discovery Workshop. The MCAS GENERAL REGISTRATION fee ($100) is non-refundable. Payment in full is required at the time of registration. Workshop fees do not include travel or accommodations. Workshop fees, less a $20 processing fee, are refundable prior to May 1, 2025, if notified in writing to metals@sawtooth.org. If you need to cancel after May 1, 2025, please notify us and we will make every effort to fill your space. If we can fill your space, we will issue you a refund less a $20 processing fee.