[Jewelry making - Article 01027] - Re: [Orchid] How others got started in jewelry making?

[BARBandROB]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

Hi Altana -

    I'm so glad you found Ganoksin and Orchid! The Orchid forum is the
    BEST resource you could ever have. 

    Now, to your question. I am also just starting my serious training
    in metalsmithing/jewelry. It so happens that I ALSO had decided that
    GIA would be where I would get my education. However, like you, I
    soon realized that the money involved with tuition, tools, supplies
    and a large commitment of time in California was just not something I
    could justify, so I put it on the back burner and felt sorry for
    myself. I'm actually very glad I decided against it. Nothing against
    GIA, understand, I've taken a few gemology classes from them and I've
    loved them! 

    As far as I'm concerned, the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts is the
    best jewelry school in the country (some may argue - just my opinion)
    and is well thought of throughout the world. The founder, Alan
    Revere, is a Master Goldsmith, who was trained by old European
    masters. He VERY STRONGLY believes in teaching the "old school"
    methods that have been used by jewelers throughout thousands of years
    of history. You will NOT find a CAD CAM class with his name on it, I
    assure you. I assumed that Revere would be even MORE costly than GIA.
    I was wrong. 

    Tomorrow, I leave for San Francisco. I am enrolled in Revere's
    Graduate Jeweler Diploma Program. It is an INTENSE schedule of 3-5
    day classes that will take me only three months to complete. This
    program is quite a bit shorter than GIA's. It's also less than HALF
    the price you quoted. I am staying an extra month to attend their
    annual Master's Symposium - where they invite masters in certain
    advanced techniques to come give classes. The Master's Symposium
    Classes are between $500-$1,000 each and even with me being signed
    up for FIVE of them (I couldn't resist!), my check to Revere was
    STILL only $15,000.00. So, if you didn't stay for the Master's
    Symposium, it would be considerably less. I've bought an additional
    $2,500.00 worth of required tools for the courses, but the supply
    (gold, silver, platinum, etc...) kit fees are included in the $15K
    figure. 

    Housing options (which they will send you) run between $500.00 per
    month for the YMCA to $1,200.00 a month plus for full service hotels.
    I am staying with a colleague for $700.00 per month. 

    As information, I had the fantastic opportunity to attend two
    beginning metalsmithing classes at "Revere Academy East" before
    committing to San Francisco. I live on the East Coast, so the North
    Carolina location was much more convenient and it would give me an
    opportunity to "test the waters," so to speak. Revere packs up a
    truckload of equipment and supplies, a few top-notch, genius
    instructors (including Mr. Revere himself), grabs an Otto Frei Rep.
    for the ride and sets up a week's worth of beginning to advanced
    classes. You get to pick two that you meet the prerequisites for. For
    about $1,000.00, you get housing at a fantastic mountain resort, 20
    meals and two amazing classes. How can you BEAT that??? I had an
    absolute blast and will go again whenever they offer it. I believe
    the next one will be offered in the fall of 2007. 

    Good luck on your quest! Sorry for the huge post. Can you tell I'm
    PSYCHED?? 

Barb B.
Washington, DC (San Francisco bound!)
Jewelry Arts Student
Voracious Information Sponge
Lurker Extrordinaire

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________