Online classes - Intro To Silversmithing
SLATE SMITHERY ONLINE
BY POPULAR DEMAND — LEARN SILVERSMITHING FROM HOME 🖤
You’ve asked, and I’ve listened. Slate Smithery is now online!
For years, one of the questions I’ve heard most is: How can I learn from you if I’m not local or can’t travel to St. Petersburg?
The Live Online Beginner Silversmithing Course brings the Slate Smithery classroom directly to your home.
This is a live, hands-on course taught over Zoom — not a prerecorded class. You'll work alongside me in real time as I demonstrate techniques, walk you through projects, answer questions, troubleshoot problems, and help you build the skills and confidence to continue silversmithing on your own.
No previous silversmithing or jewelry-making experience is required. True beginners are absolutely welcome.
BEFORE YOU ENROLL: YOU WILL NEED YOUR OWN TOOLS
Because this course takes place in your home rather than my fully equipped studio, every student is required to purchase their own tools, equipment and course materials.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE $650 TUITION.
But don't panic — you will not have to figure out what to buy on your own.
I've created curated shopping lists with the exact tools, equipment, silver and materials you'll need for class. After enrolling, you'll receive everything you need to get your home setup ready, including:
✦ Complete required tool & equipment list
✦ Direct shopping links
✦ Curated Rio Grande shopping list
✦ My Rio Grande school code for eligible school pricing discounts
✦ Required silver & materials list
✦ Required stones and supplies
✦ Workspace setup information
✦ Guidance on what you actually need — and what you don't
✦ Direct access to me if you have questions while preparing for class
Please do not start purchasing your setup before enrolling. You'll receive the exact purchasing information you need after registration. If you already have a setup, please email me so we can make sure you have everything you need for the course.
TUITION + ESTIMATED SETUP COST
COURSE TUITION — $650
Your tuition covers the complete 4-week Live Online Beginner Silversmithing Course, including 24 hours of live instruction over 8 Zoom classes, small-group instruction with a maximum of 6 students, live demonstrations and troubleshooting, Slate Smithery educational PDFs, curated shopping lists, and direct support throughout your course.
TOOLS + MATERIALS — APPROXIMATELY $760
At current pricing, students should plan to invest approximately $760 to purchase the required tools, equipment and course materials.
This includes the equipment needed to build your beginner home setup as well as the silver, solder, stones, torch and fuel required for your course projects. It is literally everything you need to start from home!
ESTIMATED TOTAL INVESTMENT — APPROXIMATELY $1,410
$650 Course Tuition
+ ~$760 Tools, Equipment & Materials
= ~$1,410 Total Estimated Investment
Please keep in mind that this is an estimate, not a guaranteed purchase price. Silver is priced by weight and fluctuates with the market. Retailer pricing and availability can also change, so your actual cost may be slightly higher or lower depending on prices at the time you order.
YOU'RE NOT JUST BUYING CLASS SUPPLIES — YOU'RE BUILDING YOUR BENCH
When I teach inside my fully equipped Slate Smithery studio, students are able to use my benches, torches, tools and equipment.
Online, we're doing something a little different:
We're building YOUR bench.
The tools and equipment you purchase aren't a temporary class fee. They're yours to keep.
When our four weeks together are over, you'll have more than finished projects. You'll have your own beginner silversmithing setup and the knowledge to continue using it.
And no — you do not need a fancy jeweler's bench or professional studio to begin.
A sturdy desk or table and an appropriate dedicated workspace are enough to get started. I personally began silversmithing at my kitchen table. Start with what you have, learn the craft, and upgrade your space as you grow.
HOW THE COURSE WORKS
The Live Online Beginner Course runs for 4 weeks:
Tuesdays + Thursdays
5:00–8:00 PM Eastern
8 Live Classes
24 Total Hours of Live Instruction
Maximum 6 Students
Live via Zoom
You'll work at your own bench while I work at mine.
I'll demonstrate each technique and project live, you'll work alongside me, and you'll be able to ask questions and get help in real time.
This isn't a class where you're handed instructions and left to figure everything out yourself. You'll have live guidance as you learn each new skill and work through your projects.
WHAT YOU'LL MAKE 🖤
We'll begin with the basics and build upon your skills throughout the four weeks.
✦ Sterling Silver Stacking Rings
✦ Single-Stone Bezel-Set Ring
✦ Double-Stone, Double-Shank Embellished Ring
✦ Simple Pierce & Saw Ring
✦ Intermediate Pierce & Saw Ring
Project photos are examples. Stone shapes, design details and embellishments may vary based on material availability and individual student design choices.
But the projects are only part of what you're learning.
Throughout the course, we'll cover the foundations you'll need to understand how and why jewelry is constructed — not simply how to copy a project.
You'll learn about essential silversmithing tools, metal types and gauges, jeweler's saws and blade selection, piercing and sawing, filing, solder types, soldering, torch and flame control, ring sizing and forming, bezel construction, cabochon stone setting, pickle, finishing, polishing, bench setup, safety, troubleshooting and more.
The goal is to give you a strong foundation in traditional silversmithing that you can continue building on long after class ends.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I ENROLL?
After enrolling, you'll receive your Welcome to Slate Smithery information with everything you need to prepare for class.
This will be your home base for:
✦ Your class dates and times
✦ Zoom information
✦ Required tool & equipment shopping list
✦ Required silver & material list
✦ Rio Grande purchasing information + school code
✦ Slate Smithery educational PDFs
✦ Workspace preparation information
✦ Course information
✦ My contact information for questions
Enrollment closes 14 days before the first class so you'll have enough time to order your required tools and materials and prepare your workspace.
Please order your required items promptly after receiving your course information so everything arrives before your first class.
WHAT DO I NEED TO TAKE THE COURSE?
You'll need:
✦ Your required tools, equipment and materials given to you after purchase.
✦ A sturdy, dedicated workspace
✦ A computer or tablet with internet access
✦ Zoom
✦ A camera and microphone so we can communicate during class
✦ A willingness to learn, practice and probably melt some shit along the way
A computer or tablet is strongly recommended. While Zoom can technically be used from a phone, jewelry work involves small details, and a larger screen will make demonstrations much easier to see.
CAN'T MAKE TUESDAY + THURSDAY?
If the group schedule doesn't work for you, private online beginner instruction is also available.
Private instruction covers the same foundational beginner curriculum but allows us to coordinate class days and times based on my available private teaching schedule.
Private instruction is offered at a higher tuition rate.
BEFORE YOU ENROLL
Please make sure you're comfortable with the following before purchasing:
Course tuition is $650.
Required tools, equipment and materials are purchased separately and currently cost approximately $760.
Your estimated total investment is approximately $1,410.
Silver and retailer prices fluctuate, so actual material and equipment costs may be slightly higher or lower.
You are responsible for purchasing the required setup and having everything ready before your first class. If you do not purchase your tools in time, you can keep your session and follow along or you can do a one time transfer to a later session. Please read cancellation policies below.You do not need previous silversmithing experience.
You do not need a professional jewelry studio.
You do need to be ready to build a safe beginner workspace and invest in the tools you'll use during class and beyond.
And most importantly, you will not be figuring any of this out alone.
I'll tell you exactly what you need, where to purchase it, how to prepare your workspace, and I'll be available to help you get ready before we ever meet for our first class.
CANCELLATION, REFUNDS + TRANSFERS
Because Slate Smithery Online classes are intentionally kept small and each enrollment reserves one of only 6 available seats, all course tuition is non-refundable.
I understand that life happens! If you're unable to attend the session you originally enrolled in, or you didn't purchase your tools and supplies in time, your tuition may be transferred one time to a future available group session, provided you contact me before your course begins.
Transfers are subject to availability and must be used for a future session of the same course. Tuition cannot be transferred to another person or applied toward private instruction.
Once your course has begun, tuition cannot be refunded, transferred or credited toward a future session.
Please make sure the scheduled class dates and times work for you before enrolling.