The Creative Metal Arts MakerSpace is a shared workshop in Watershed PDX, an industrial arts sanctuary in SE Portland with easy access by car and public transit. We offer professional instruction for both new metalsmiths and experienced jewelers seeking to refresh or advance their skills in a collaborative environment.
In addition to classes, we offer two benefits for members only: weekly open studio times staffed with an experienced CMAG host, and monthly special interest sessions where like-minded people meet to share and learn about specific topics, gain confidence in new skills, and troubleshoot thorny challenges in a community setting.
Take a Class
Flush Setting
With Debra Carus
Wednesday, July 8
12–4 PM
Setting stones directly into metal can cause frustration for every jeweler learning this technique. In this workshop, learn the essentials for ensuring success, every time. Starting with provided metal blanks, and durable cubic zirconia stones, take the frustration out of this process with a kit of setting tools, including a homemade burnisher, round and setting burs, small drill bits and re-usable Thermoloc, a holding material that keeps your work from flying across the room.Make this process fun, not frustrating!
Simple Stacking Rings
With London Battle
Saturday, July 11
10 AM–1 PM
Students will learn the basics of creating a sterling silver stacking ring set, from forming and soldering, to setting simple cabochon stones. This fast paced class is great for learning the basics, and students will leave with finished rings.
Lost Wax Casting
With Mary Wong
Tuesday, July 14 & Wednesday, July 15
6–9 PM
Students will learn proper sprue placement, how to invest, burnout and cast a wax model.
Single Stone Channel Setting
With Debra Carus
Wednesday, July 15
12–4 PM
Setting stones directly into metal can cause frustration for every jeweler learning this technique. In this workshop, learn the essentials for ensuring success, every time. Starting with provided metal blanks, and durable cubic zirconia stones, take the frustration out of this process with a kit of setting tools, including a homemade burnisher, round and setting burs, small drill bits and re-usable Thermoloc, a holding material that keeps your work from flying across the room.Make this process fun, not frustrating!
Glass and Metals - Enameling on Silver and Copper
With Debra Carus
Saturday, July 18
9 AM–4 PM
If you love color in your work, learn the fundamentals of adding vitreous glass enamels to your jewelry. Starting with a copper base (especially helpful with metals prices), prepare a base, add silver foil and transform the copper to a beautiful canvas on which to add opaque or transparent enamels. We'll experiment with color shading, stencils, painting and an introduction to cloisonne. Torch firing and kiln firing will be used.Leave with a finished pendant or pair of earrings.
Ginkgo Leaf Earring Fabrication
With Sarah Winston
Friday, August 14
1 PM–5 PM
Students will learn how to hand fabricate ginkgo leaf earrings from brass sheet and sterling silver ear wire.
High Polish, Mirror Finish
With Skip Benefiet
Friday, August 21
10 AM–2 PM
Students will learn how to properly achieve a high polish, mirror finish on their pieces leaving with a full kit of polishing tools and the experience and skills to finish their pieces with a high, mirror polish.
Intro to Sand Casting
With Stacey Hareid
Saturday, August 22
10 AM–4 PM
Students will learn the basics of sand casting by sand casting a ring from start to finish. Ring blanks in various designs from sizes 5-10 will be provided. Students will learn how to make clean impressions, achieve successful pours & how to clean/finish the castings.
Hand Fabricated Signet Ring
With Skip Benefiet
Saturday, August 29 & Sunday, August 30
10 AM–4 PM
Students will learn the step-by-step process of hand fabricating a signet ring with a set stone out of sheet metal. Students will learn the in depth process of hollow form signets while also learning how to incorporate and set a stone in the ring. They will leave with a completed and polished signet finger ring.
Sign Up For an Open Studio Session
Our centrally located studio in Portland is equipped with 10 jewelry benches with flex shafts. The studio includes a rolling mill, forming stakes, drill press, enameling kiln, torches, centrifugal caster, Beverly shear, buffer, magnetic pin tumbler, and polishing equipment.
Members can book open studio time on alternate Thursday evenings (6:00–9:00 PM) and Friday afternoons (1:00–4:00 PM). There is a $15 fee for each slot cover the cost of a studio monitor, and we ask that you sign up in advance below.
Special Interest Groups
Led by an expert instructor, these monthly sessions are focused on specific areas of interest such as enameling and casting.
Enameling
Debra Carus invites enameling enthusiasts to join her at CMAG's Makerspace once a month to share the magic of glass enameling on metals. During each session, Debra will share tips and tricks for enameling success and help troubleshoot tricky projects. In addition, you'll have access to the studio Paragon enameling kiln and acetylene/air or propane/oxygen torches, basic enameling supplies and tools, and enjoy sharing ideas with others working in this medium. Each session may also include brief presentations on enameling topics, determined by the group's interests.
Teach a Class
Would you like to teach a weekend or weekday class for CMAG? We welcome instructors with specialized skills they can share with our members. Please email cmag@cmaguild.org and we’ll send you a course proposal form.