Workshops + Classes at nanopod
Silver is included to make 1 ring band in the 8wk metal + glass course, and the Ring band workshop. Materials are available for other projects at the studio, there is a lost wax casting fee of $1.75 per gram (for sterling silver)-this also covers labour and taxes. Castings range in price from under $10, to anywhere between $30 to $100- this completely depends on the piece(s) and the student. CABOCHON' cut stones are recommended for learning to bezel set, students may also use faceted stones when learning to tube set, prong, etc.
The work created at nanopod speaks for itself. Check out some past Student's work HERE
Have a question relating to one of the workshops or courses?
Please read our FAQ's
Please email or phone Tosca with any further questions concerning the classes or to register at 647. 219. 0585 or nanotopia(at)me(dot)com
or Make secure payments online using VISA, or Mastercard without a PayPal account!
Work with Metal, Plastics, + Glass!
Learn to hand fabricate & cast your own
jewelry, sculptures out of Sterling Silver, or Industrial Polyurethane!
Make a ring band, learn one of the oldest casting techniques,
set stones, Flamework & Fuse glass, make molds and much more...
Form • Fabricate • Flamework • Fuse
Learn basic Goldsmithing + Flameworking techniques
6:30-9:30pm, 8 weeks, 1 evening per week
$250.00 per person, 5 people per course- $100 deposit required.
1st evening: Piercing and sawing (often incorrectly referred to as Filigree) working with copper-safety, drilling, sawing, soldering (if time permits). Pieces created can be enameled the 7th or 8th evening.
2nd evening: Forming a ring band (often incorrectly referred to as Forging) but just as fun! Students learn how to properly measure, cut, anneal, imprint/emboss, add texture, form, solder and finish a beautiful sterling silver ring band in one evening.
3rd evening: WAX- learn the Lost Wax technique through carving, filing and forming Jeweler’s wax into a ring, pendant, charm, or object of your choice. Sizing, specific gravity for various metals, tools, and resources are discussed.
4th evening: Clean castings finish wax models, lo-tech casting Cuttlefish bone is demonstrated and done in situ.
5th evening: Fusing glass. Enter the world of art glass. The techniques of fusing and slumping offer almost limitless possibilities for creating with color and form. You’ll learn how to cut glass, emboss-it, embed things in it, paint on it and fuse-it.
6th evening: Flameworking. Learn the ancient art of mandrel wound molten glass (approx., 30,000 yrs old)
Using Italian, German and Chinese glass students will learn about safety, tools, suppliers, properly annealing their glass, cleaning their glass beads, pulling stringer, dot placement, frit and enamels, metal foils, shaping, etc. Three hours of intense fun!
7th evening: Enameling, copper, and sterling silver is discussed and demonstrated. Stone-setting a ring, or pendant, or? Bezel settings, tube settings, and alternative settings are discussed and demonstrated. Rivets and cold connections are demonstrated through drilling glass and stone.
8th evening: Finish projects, enamel, solder, polish, bezel-set.
Please see our FAQ page.
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Glass Fusing Workshop (pendants, earrings, rings) 3 spaces available as of feb 3rd
Saturday, January 30 or February 20.
11am - 2pm (6 person max)
$85 per person/includes ALL materials
This workshop is a great way to enter the world of art glass. The techniques of fusing and slumping offer almost limitless possibilities for creating with color and form. You’ll learn how to cut glass, emboss-it, embed things in it, paint on it and fuse-it. Pendants, cuff links, brooches, ring tops, magnets, and other jewelry accessories can be created. Techniques learned may be transfered to larger work. All materials included. No experience necessary! Please see our FAQ page.
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Ring Band Workshops! 2 spaces available as of feb 3rd
Form a sterling silver ring band, add textures with stamps, hammers or the rolling mill
learn how to properly size your finger, solder, form and finish your ring with a high polish or satin finish.
3 hr workshop (noon - 3pm) includes materials for 1 fing. 5 person max, $50pp
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Metal{clay} + Glass{enamel}
fine silver • bronze • copper
TBA, 6:30-9:30pm, 8 weeks, 1 evening per week.
5 student max., $275pp inlcudes all materials and use of equipment. Deposit of $200 required to hold space/kit.
Introduction to PMC3, Bronze Clay & Copper Clay. This series of workshops teaches students basic, intermediate, and advanced usage of Precious Metal Clay.
What is Precious Metal Clay (PMC)?
Beginning with simple projects students will create pendants, rings, bracelets, beads, set-stones to be fired in place, make their own texture plates, add textures, inlay & combines metals, learn about different patinas, work with enamels, discuss firing schedules, firing with a torch/kiln/Hotpot and more!
1st evening: Course introduction. Kits will be handed out, and discussed. Working with PMC3 create your first project! Tools used, adding textures, drying times, setting a stone.
2nd evening: Make your own texture plate. Create a PMC3 piece to enamel. Make a fantastic ring!
3rd evening: Enamel your PMC3. Finish up PMC3 pieces
4th evening: Bronze Clay. Tools, firing schedules. Create pieces using molds that you make in class!
5th evening: Copper Clay, Tools, firing schedules. Finish up Bronze Clay pieces from previous week.
6th evening: Inlay copper and bronze clay. Making hollowforms with cork clay & wood clay.
7th evening: Different firing techniques for PMC3, torch, kiln, Hotpot- working with glass and PMC, soldering your PMC pieces
8th evening: Finish up pieces.
Absolutely no experience necessary! All students receive a kit with packages of PMC3, 15g PMC3 paste, 9g PMC3 syringe, 100g Bronze Clay and 100g of Copper clay, cabochons, and cubic zirconia for stone-setting, cork clay for making hollowforms. Tools and equipment are available for use at the studio- students may purchase tool-sets used during the course.
