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
Classical Wax Carving for Sculptural Rings
With Cheyenne Weil
Saturday, March 7 & Sunday, March 8
10 AM–4 PM
In this workshop, you will carve a sculptural ring/band from start to finish (or close to it!) using primarily a reduction-style carving method.
Designing with Stones
CREATIVE STONE SETTINGS SERIES
With Mary Wong
Wednesday, March 11
6–9 PM
With Lilly Parker
Satruday, March 14
10 AM–4 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.
Bezel Setting Basics
With Thomas Tietze & Mary Wong
Wednesday, March 18
6–9 PM
The Prong and Tip repair class involves un-settling and re-setting gems, rebuilding prongs and tipping worn tips with and without gems in place..
Prong & Tip Repair
JEWELRY REPAIR SKILLS SERIES
With Thomas Tietze & Mary Wong
Wednesday, March 25
6–9 PM
The Repair Clinic is mentored shop time with a kmaster jeweler to help you trouble shoot and to guide your repairs. Bring any jewelry problem child or practice the skills learned in the prior sessions. The Repair Clinic expands on the Ring Sizing & Shanks and Prong & Tip Repair workshops. At least one of the workshops or jewelry repair experience are prerequisites for the clinic.
Repair Clinic
JEWELRY REPAIR SKILLS SERIES
With Jennifer Raney
Saturday, March 28
10 AM–4 PM
This will be a fun and thorough introduction to fine silver metal clay. Explore basics and best practices for working with this amazing material. You will learn to layer, create texture, embed gemstones/wire, make molds, learn finishing techniques and other tips to make original pieces of jewelry. Students will complete either a pendant and earrings, or several charms. We will go over both kiln firing and torch firing.
Intro to Silver Metal Clay
With Stacey Hareid
Saturday, April 11
10AM–4 PM
Students will learn the basics of sand casting by sandcasting 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.
Intro to Sandcasting
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.