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
Cloisonne Enamel with Gemstones
With Debra Carus
Thursday, October 8 & Friday, October 9
10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Adding gemstones into enameled jewelry will take your designs to another level of color and sparkle, but it can be a tricky process unless you know the tricks of the trade. In this class, you’ll learn not only the beautiful cloisonne process but also learn foolproof soldering of findings and settings.
Bezel Setting Basics
With Lilly Parker
Saturday, October 10
10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Build on your foundational skills in this hands-on stone setting workshop. You’ll learn each step of creating a bezel setting for a cabochon stone, using soldering and fabrication techniques. Students can turn their finished stone into either a ring or pendant, resulting in a beautifully handcrafted, one of a kind piece
Wax Carving Essentials
With Mary Wong
Wednesday, October 14
10:00 AM–4:00 PM
You will learn the basic principles of carving a hard wax model by making a simple ring or pendant. This course will cover, layout of design, placing a grid on the wax, ensuring a centered project, learning appropriate thickness of wax for best results, how to include a stone if desired, which tools to use for best results and efficiency, and design considerations for comfort, wear-ability and durability.
Intro to Sand Casting
With Stacey Hareid
Saturday, October 17
10:00 AM–4:00 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.
Stone Carving
With Bruce McKay
Wednesday, October 21 & Thursday, October 22
9:00 AM–5:00 PM
This class is geared towards learning to carve using a flexshaft and basic bench tools. Students will carve a rough piece into a highly polished jewelry sized gem ready to be worn or set into a piece of jewelry.
Under Lock & Key: The Mechanics of Keyhole Clasps
With Rachel Morris
Saturday, October 24 & Sunday, October 25
10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Elegant jewelry demands an elegant clasp, not just the everyday spring ring or toggle. In this two-day hands-on workshop, students develop an understanding of the mechanics of multiple types of keyhole or “lock-and-key” style clasps.
Essentials of Silver Metal Clay
With Jennifer Raney
Saturday, November 7
10:00 AM–4:30 PM
Join instructor Jennifer Raney of Envy Designs Jewelry for a one-day, hands-on workshop. This will be a fun and thorough introduction to fine silver metal clay. Explore basics and best practices for working with this amazing material.
Jewelry Fabrication Fundamentals
With Stacey Hareid
Weekly on Sundays for from 10:00AM – 1:00PM for four sessions:
November 8
November 15
November 22
November 29
This 4 week series offers new metalsmiths the skills essential to making beautiful jewelry in copper, brass and silver. Participants will gain knowledge from an experienced metalsmith and will make 2 pieces of jewelry, through sawing, texturing, shaping, basic soldering skills and cold connections with rivets. At the end of 4 weeks, leave with a finished pendant and ring band. For additional practice time in the studio, participants can attend a weekly Open Studio session, to use the tools under guidance from a studio monitor.
Introduction to Gravers and Bead Setting
With Thomas Tietze
Friday, November 13 from 6–9 PM and Saturday, November 14 from 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Gravers have many uses in jewelry making, from stone setting and engraving to detailing and decorating your jewelry creations. You will learn how to select, prepare and use gravers and how to use them to set small faceted gems in a variety of styles. These include bead setting, pavé, and star setting. We will also cover the use of gravers in detailing and bright-cutting. While this is not an engraving class we’ll take a peek into that world as well.
Lost Wax Casting
With Mary Wong
Thursday, November 19 & Friday, November 20
6:00–9:00 PM
Students will learn proper sprue placement, how to invest, burnout and cast a wax model.
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 every Sunday (2:00–5:00 PM) or alternate Thursday evenings (6:00–9:00 PM) and Friday afternoons (1:00–4:00 PM). There is a $20 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.
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.
Enameling
Mary Wong invites lost wax casting enthusiasts to join her at CMAG's Makerspace once a month to work on wax carving and casting projects, share ideas, and troubleshoot techniques. Each session will provide an opportunity to work alongside others interested in lost wax casting, with access to the studio's casting equipment, tools, and supplies. Mary will be available to answer questions, share tips and techniques, and help troubleshoot projects. Sessions may also include brief demonstrations or discussions on casting topics based on the group's interests.
Casting
Stone Setting
Join fellow stone setting enthusiasts at CMAG’s Makerspace once a month to work on setting projects, share techniques, and troubleshoot challenges. Each session will be hosted by a different experienced stone setter, offering opportunities to learn from a variety of approaches and perspectives. Participants will have access to the studio’s jewelry benches, flex shafts, setting tools, and other equipment. Sessions may also include brief demonstrations or discussions on stone setting techniques based on 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.