Pocosin Arts Hosts:
Engineering Your Way Out

Summer workshop 2027
July 19 to 23rd in Columbia, North Carolina
Registration Opens October 31st
https://pocosinarts.org

Engineering your Way out - 5 day In Person
Develop your ability to solve jewelry fabrication problems and learn solutions to common design and construction challenges. Students design and build a hinged bracelet or necklace with a hand-made freeform box clasp, working through each engineering decision along the way.

Students will:

    •    Create a "map" of their project before fabrication begins

    •    Make irregular-shaped bezel settings for unusually shaped stones, and set them using a hand-made punch you will fabricate in class

    •    Add hinges, and learn how to place them on irregular pieces so the work moves correctly

    •    Solder sterling terminations onto stainless steel cable

    •    Incorporate the clasp into the overall design

Instruction is supported by discussion, case studies. We will investigate the interplay of movement and functionality from the wearer's point of view: Does it sit funny on the neck? Is it too heavy? Does the pendant flop over? The real benefit of this class is learning how to engineer your jewelry — anticipating problems at the design stage and resolving the ones that surface during fabrication.

Step-by-step handouts and finished samples are provided.

Prerequisites: Basic fabrication and soldering experience required.