Winter / Spring Workshop Schedule

Happy New Year!!!

What better way to start 2015 than with expanding your creativity and skill set?  Now that the holidays are over and winter is upon us, think about getting out and taking some classes!  Over the next few months, I'll be teaching several workshops and classes at Sawtooth School for Visual Art.  Take a look at the classes I have coming up below, and follow the class title link to sign up today!  I hope to see some new as well as famliar faces soon!

Beginning Metals/Jewelry
Learn the basics of creating jewelry from copper, brass and silver sheet and wire. You'll learn soldering, sawing, forging, polishing and many more techniques to create beautiful, wearable jewelry. Learn while creating earrings, rings, and more. You'll be amazed how simple sheet metal and wire are transformed into something beautiful. Metal is available for purchase during class. Tools are provided. Perfect for beginning students. This class may be repeated to gain proficiency in skills.

Winter Session
Section A
8 Mondays
January 12- March 9 (skip Jan 19)
6:30-9:00pm

Winter Session
Section B
8 Tuesdays
January 13 - March 3
9:30-12:00 noon

Spring Session
Section A
8 Mondays
March 30 - May 18
6:30-9:00pm

Spring Session
Section B
8 Tuesdays
March 31 - May 19
9:30-12:00 noon

Metals/Jewelry : Enameling
Enameling is an ancient process where glass is fused to metal through heat. Students will experiment with enameling on copper and are encouraged to explore the possibilities that this process allows. Annie will introduce a variety of enameling techniques such as sifting, stenciling, sgraffito, and basse taille. Students may apply these techniques to everything from pendants and earrings to decorative home items. No experience necessary. Most materials included in the fee.

6 Tuesdays
January 13 - February 17
6:30-9:00pm

Etched Copper Cuff - One Day Workshop
Etching is a fabulous way to add design and texture to your metalwork! Learn about different types of resist methods to be used in the etching process, including paint pen, stamping, and heat-applied print resists. Etch a copper blank and form the etched piece into a wearable copper cuff bracelet. Both traditional acid etching as well as electro-etching processes will be discussed. No experience necessary.

Saturday, March 21
9:30am - 4:30pm

Metals/Jewelry : Forming
This class is designed for students who want to bring dimension to their metal work. Learn how to bring volume to pieces by shell forming with hammers and stakes, or by using the hydraulic press. There will be demonstrations and plenty of time to develop your skills. Good for beginners and beyond. Materials available for purchase in class.

Enameling Weekend Workshop
Enameling is an ancient process where glass is fused to metal through heat. Experiment with enameling on copper and explore the possibilities that this process allows. Annie will introduce a variety of enameling techniques such as sifting, stenciling, sgraffito, and basse taille. Make samples of these techniques and use them to create a beautiful bracelet by the end of the workshop. Beginners expected, repeat students welcome!

Taste of Art : Sgraffito Enameled Pendant

Friday, January 30
6:00-8:00pm

Taste of Art : Copper Bangle

Friday, April 24
6:00-8:00pm

Seven Days, Seven Jobs

For me, one of the hardest things about running a creative business is finding the most productive way to manage my time.  I have a lot going on.  And there are only seven days in a week. 

I am realizing that lately I have let myself get confused about the difference between being productive and bringing in an income.  It's easy to look at these two things as one and the same, but in reality, when you're running a creative business, being productive may not necessarily mean bringing in immediate revenue.  A lot of the time, it actually means setting yourself up to bring in future revenue while you work diligently with no immediate payoff. 

Ideally, if I could spend my whole week making jewelry with occasional teaching thrown in, I would be a happy girl.  But right now, I have 7 jobs.  Yes, SEVEN.

1. Making my own artwork/portfolio/gallery pieces. 
2. CopperTide (production jewelry work)
3. CopperDog Studio (etched copper dog tags, ornaments, etc. with 10% of proceeds going to animal rescue groups.)
(And let's not forget the marketing of all of the above, but we'll just include that as part of each of those jobs.)
4. Teaching (regular weekly classes at Sawtooth School for Visual Art and occasional weekend workshops traveling elsewhere.)
5. NC Black Co. (tool fabrication and design, and sometimes I teach with them as well)
6. Apprenticeship/Assistant to Betty Helen Longhi
7. Helping unpack/organize art, ship orders, refurbish machines for Art-o-Mat

While the last four provide more predictable and immediate income, it's the first four that are the most important to me and make the me the happiest.  Not that I don't enjoy the others or appreciate the opportunities afforded from each one.  It's just too much.  On top of the new-old-house that we bought a couple of months ago, with all of its new-old-house issues that must be dealt with, mostly by me, plus home chores, cooking, etc.  I don't get a lot of studio time to work on those first three.  So I know I need to adjust and not overextend myself into these other jobs that aren't focusing on my work.  But can I afford to lose the immediate income?  Will it pay off in the end if I can focus my energies properly on my work and marketing it well?  I'd like to think so.  But right now, I have bills that don't really want to wait for future payoff. 

So what to do? 

Well, leave it to Megan Auman at 'Designing an MBA' to have the perfect post!  "Making Multiple Revenue Streams Work for Your Business."  She's a clever girl, that one. Her first piece of advice in this post is to think of yourself as one business with multiple components.  Even though you may have very different facets of your work, if you think of them all as one package, or your one brand, it becomes easier to work with the natural ebb and flow of the business(es) and focus on the aspect of the business that needs the most attention at the time rather than trying to fit it all in and do everything at once.  Seriously, go read her post if you can relate to anything I'm talking about here today.  It's amazing how much you can change just by changing the way you look at things.

So I'm going to try to consolidate the way I am thinking about my jobs to :

1. My work
2. Teaching
3. Working for other people

And maybe if it's a little easier to wrap my brain around it like this, it will be easier for me to make time to do what I need to do. 

Now... off to the studio!  (And I've got a pretty sweet new space!)

Spring/Summer 2013 Workshop Schedule

Hey kids!  Here's your chance to get in on some fun with metal this spring and summer!  When possible, I have linked to the actual registration page, so just follow that and you'll be on your way!  And check back often because I'll add more workshops as they're confirmed!


Taste of Art : Enameled Pendant
Taste of Art is a wonderful new program at Sawtooth School for Visual Art.  Spend a fun evening learning something new, socializing with friends and create a lovely piece of jewelry to take home.  Perfect for beginners and anyone who just wants to spend a fun Friday evening out being creative with friends!  Students are always welcome to bring beverages and snacks, but all supplies and tools will be provided. In this class we'll be making an enameled copper pendant!

Sawtooth School For Visual Art : Winston-Salem, NC
Friday, April 12
6:00-8:00pm

NC Black Co. Micro Forming Workshop
Micro forming techniques are very useful in today’s market due to the rising cost of
precious metals. Using NC Black Co.’s specially designed tools, students will learn to
use thinner gauge materials to create voluminous and structurally sound forms. Students
will learn synclastic and anticlastic forming, as well as shell forming, all on a miniature
scale. We’ll get you creating small, delicate forms that can be used in jewelry and a
variety of other applications! This class is taught in tandem by Annie Grimes Williams
and Julie Brooks of NC Black Co. All tools are provided.

Touchstone Center for Crafts : Laurel Highlands, PA

Extended Weekend Workshop
Friday, April 26, 7:00pm - Monday, April 29, 4:00

**Do not be deterred by the cancellation notice on the website!  Please call Touchstone directly to register : 724-329-1370.  If at least 7 people are registered by April 19, we can run the workshop!!!

NC Black Co. Micro Forming Workshop
Micro forming techniques are very useful in today’s market due to the rising cost of
precious metals. Using NC Black Co.’s specially designed tools, students will learn to
use thinner gauge materials to create voluminous and structurally sound forms. Students
will learn synclastic and anticlastic forming, as well as shell forming, all on a miniature
scale. We’ll get you creating small, delicate forms that can be used in jewelry and a
variety of other applications! This class is taught in tandem by Annie Grimes Williams
and Julie Brooks of NC Black Co. All tools are provided.

Columbus Cultural Arts Center : Columbus, OH

2 Day Workshop
Saturday, May 4 - 1:00pm-7:00pm
Sunday, May 5 - 10:00am-5:00pm

Intermediate Metals/Jewelry : Forming
This class is designed for students who have learned the basics of jewelry fabrication (soldering, sawing, etc.) and want to expand their skills. There will be lots of demonstration and plenty of time to develop your skills. We will concentrate this session's demos on forming metal with both hammer/stakes and the hydraulic press. Materials available for purchase in class.

Sawtooth School for Visual Art : Winston-Salem, NC

Five Tuesdays
May 7 - June 4
9:30am - 12:0

Intermediate Metals/Jewelry : Enameling
Enameling is an ancient process where glass is fused to metal through heat. Students will experiment with enameling on copper and are encouraged to explore the possibilities that this process allows. Annie will introduce a variety of enameling techniques such as sifting, stenciling, sgraffito, and basse taille. Students may apply these techniques to everything from pendants and earrings to decorative home items. No experience necessary. Most materials included in the fee.

Sawtooth School for Visual Art : Winston-Salem, NC

Five Tuesdays
May 7 - June 4
6:30pm - 9:00

Taste of Art : Copper Earrings
Taste of Art is a wonderful new program at Sawtooth School for Visual Art. Spend a fun evening learning something new, socializing with friends and create a lovely piece of jewelry to take home. Perfect for beginners and anyone who just wants to spend a fun Friday evening out being creative with friends! Students are always welcome to bring beverages and snacks, but all supplies and tools will be provided. In this class we'll be making copper earrings!

Sawtooth School For Visual Art : Winston-Salem, NC

Friday, May 10
6:00-8:00pm

Using the Hydraulic Die Press in the Jewelry Studio
Explore the fascinating realm of forming metal with a hydraulic die press. You can easily add dimension to your metalwork with the hydraulic press. Being able to easily create multiples of a simple form is one of its greatest assets. Students will learn to create original dies in acrylic sheet or other material, then use these dies to make puffed metal forms that can be altered using various techniques and textures. You can make multiples for a series of jewelry pieces, each one with the same outside silhouette but finished differently. The possibilities are endless. Basic Jeweler's Saw skills are helpful, but beginners are welcome.

2 Day Workshop
Saturday, June 1 - 10:00-4:30
Sunday, June 2 - 10:00-4:30
Sawtooth School for Visual Art - Winston-Salem, NC

Exploring Enamels Workshop

Students will learn basic techniques in enameling, such as sifting and kiln firing. We will also explore fun and contemporary techniques such as controlled over and under firing, inclusions, and more! Students will make several samples and will have the opportunity to finish a few pieces to take home.

Visual Arts Center of Richmond - Richmond, VA

2 Day Workshop
Saturday, June 22  - 10:00-4:30
Sunday, June 23  - 1:00-3:30

Metal Forming Weekend Workshop
This workshop is designed for students who have learned the basics of jewelry fabrication (soldering, sawing, etc.) and want to expand their skills.  Students will learn to use thinner gauge materials to create voluminous and structurally sound forms. Students will learn synclastic and anticlastic forming, as well as shell forming.  We’ll get you creating small, delicate forms that can be used in jewelry and a variety of other applications!

Visual Arts Center of Richmond : Richmond, VA

2 Day Workshop
Saturday, July 20  - 10:00-4:30
Sunday, July 21  - 1:00-3:30