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
Fused Loop in Loop Chains
With Valerie Graham
Thursday, September 3
11 AM–4 PM
Students will learn to fuse links for ancient byzantine style chains. They will learn how to weave several different patterns of chain as well as several styles of clasps for woven chains.
Jewelry Fabrication Fundamentals
With Lilly Parker
Weekly on Sundays from 10 AM – 1 PM for Four Sessions:
September 13
September 20
September 27
October 4
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.
Recycling Silver Scrap
With Debra Carus
Friday, September 18
1:00 PM–4:00 PM
With soaring silver prices, it’s even more essential for jewelers to know how to easily melt their own scrap silver into simple ingots to create wire or sheet metal.This short workshop will cover the basics: sorting scrap silver into clean usable metal, preparing and seasoning a melting crucible, safe melting with a torch, and using hammers and the rolling mill to form into sheet or wire. We’ll touch on ways to test your scrap for silver content, create inexpensive ingot molds from charcoal blocks, and how to avoid pits and weak spots.
Textures! Etching, Rolling Mill and Flex Shaft Fun
With Debra Carus
Friday, September 25
10:00 AM–4:00 PM
If you are looking for great ways to add texture and surface design to your metal creations, this is the workshop for you.We’ll make samples in copper and brass for you to explore the many ways to add designs simply and elegantly. Starting with ferric chloride, photo etching paper (PNP blue) and paint pens, we’ll create sheet metal patterns. Then we’ll texture more metal using a variety of dried botanicals, brass texture plates (made from etching with ferric chloride!) and other materials to create intricate patterns. Finally, we’ll dive into using flex shaft burs and bits, plus needle files to create sharp relief into finished designs, especially great for three dimensional pieces like rings.
Painted Silver Metal Clay Leaves
With Jennifer Raney
Saturday, September 26
10:00 AM–4:30 PM
Join instructor Jennifer Raney of Envy Designs Jewelry for a one-day, hands-on workshop where you’ll use real leaves to create unique fine silver pendants or earrings with incredible detail and fabulous texture.
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.
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
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.
Stone Setting
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.