The Ethics of Materials

The Ardagh Chalice

Basic Approach to Product Design

Anodizing Principles Update

CNC Milling vs. 3D Printing

Safer Pickle Alternative

What Causes Casting Marks?

Platinum Consideration Factors

The Digital Tool Debate Continues

Craftsmanship Improvement Method

Notes on Presto-Lite Torch

Important Principles of Casting Safety

Production Project Proposal

Depletion Gilding Notes

The Enamelist’s Vocabulary

Confidential Disclosure Form

Basic Chemical Storage Principles

Jewelry Workshop Safety Report

Chemical Inventory and Profiles

Cracks in Jewelry Manufacturing

Basic Fire Safety for Jewelers

Learning Metalsmithing Process

Maintaining Good Workshop Air Quality

Structuring for Efficiency in the Studio

The Teachers’ Role

The Hard Facts of Sapphires and Rubies

Sample Consignment Agreement Contract

How Jewelers Approach Work Materials

Studio Lighting Considerations

Solder Flow Retardant Notes

The Artists as Curators and Critics

Art vs Craft

Justifying Art for Art’s Sake

Patination Safety Considerations

3 Details of Jewelry Refinement

New Generation Gallerists

Goldsmithing in the Future

Pickling Notes

The Effects of Global Warming on Pearl Oysters

Hammering and Forging Safety Guidelines

The Trouble with Pyrite

Recycling Gold from Electronics

Technology’s Relevance to Jewellery Design

Jewelry making covers art, commerce, and science. In Critical Notes, experts address these facets and give advice to both beginners and professionals.

Critical Notes

3D and CAD/CAM Jewelry Services and Products

Gemstone Related Products and Services

Jewelry Business Software

Jewelry Makers

Jewelry Making Supplies and Tools

Jewelry Mass Production Services

Jewelry Repair

Jewelry Schools

Jewelry Stores and Galleries

Jewelry Trade Associations

Miscellaneous Jewelry Related Products and Services

Diamond Manufacturers

Preserving Rusted Objects for Jewelry

Feedback on a Pavé Design

James Miller Jewelry Gallery

Clasps for a Bolo Tie

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6 Basic Wire Skills to Make a Necklace

Metal Engraving Tools Explained: How To Choose And Prepare Gravers For Jewelry Work

Jeweler’s Torches Explained: What Kind Do You Need?

Hollow Ring Project

How to Make a Paper Clip Bracelet

How to Make Threader Earrings

How to Set a Stone, Polish and Finish a Bezel Set Ring

How to Solder a Bezel Cup to a Ring Band

Master goldsmith <a href="http://www.brainpress.com/LewtonBrain.html">Charles Lewton-Brain</a> trained, studied and worked in Germany, Canada and the United States to learn the skills he uses. Charles Lewton-Brain is one of the original creators of Ganoksin.

Charles Lewton-Brain

Mechelle Lois is a professional bench jeweler who was classically trained in jewelry making and repair at the highly regarded North Bennet Street School in Boston MA. Now based in her hometown of Pittsburgh PA, she enjoys stone setting, repair work, and creating custom designs. When not making jewelry, Mechelle enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Mechelle Lois

Cynthia Downs

Alessandro Aria

Chris Ploof

Gerry Davies

George W. Fischer

Kelly Jean Conroy was born in 1983, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Growing up in New England and being raised by an artist mother who emphasized making and painting, eventually led her to attaining her BFA from Syracuse University in art education and painting. She completed her MFA in Jewelry Metals from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2013. She is currently teaching metalsmithing at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School and Metalwerx. She has previously taught Continuing Ed Jewelry courses at Massachusetts College of Art, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Peters Valley School of Craft, Snowfarm, and the Worcester Center for Crafts. Her personal work focuses on life cycles in nature within a jewelry format. Her specialties are enameling, working with natural materials: carving bone, piercing mother of pearl, laser cutting, and casting.

Kelly Jean Conroy

Pattie Parkhurst has been pursuing jewelry craft since she was a young child.  This passion led her to pursue metalsmithing in college.  After graduating, she worked as a jeweler and continued her education by taking a multitude of workshops taught by master metalsmiths, which expanded her skills tremendously.  By 35, Pattie became part owner of a metalsmithing school that specialized in master workshops.
After college, Pattie served on the board of The Colorado Metalsmithing Association (COMA) where she learned the anticlastic raising metal technique.  This process involves hammering different metals, over and over on an antler-like form.  By immersing herself in this ancient technique, she combines her love for nature and metalsmithing into cohesive nature inspired metal forms.
Her work is mastered and constantly evolving through observational learning, a continuous process that comes from having many jewelry-related businesses.  Pattie loves outdoor adventures, guest lecturing, and teaching.
Richard Sweetman is an artist and teacher with a BFA degree from Colorado State and an MFA degree from the University of Oregon.  He worked as a goldsmith for George McLean Goldsmith in San Francisco.  Richard then taught for many years and has the distinction of starting the Jewelry and Metalwork Program at Arapahoe Community College near Denver.  Several summers he continued to learn and sharpen his skills at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine.  He currently teaches workshops at his studio and for other guilds.

Pattie Parkhurst and Richard Sweetman

Milt Fischbein is an independent metal artist and educator. He is a professional 
engineer who discovered his love of working with precious metals almost 30 
years ago, while taking an introduction to jewellery class at the Alberta College of 
Art and Design.
He is one of only a handful of metal artists in North America whose primary focus 
is the design and fabrication of filigree objects. Milt has been fine tuning ancient 
filigree fabrication techniques in his Calgary Alberta studio, creating a body of 
contemporary silver and gold filigree jewellery. Milt has been passing on his 
knowledge of filigree techniques through in person and online workshops and 
lectures. He is a professional member of the Alberta Craft Council.
His works have been published in Edmonton’s Where Magazine, Alberta Craft 
Magazine and in Victoria Lansford’s 2019 Update of her Russian Filigree DVD. 
A write up on his studio was featured in the July 2017 issue of the MJSA Journal.

Critical Notes

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