Sawing Circle
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When: Monthly on the 3rd Tuesdays from 5:30 pm-7 pm Pacific Time.
Where: Online via Zoom Brought to you by Anneville Studio and Mondo Bop |
Our Sawing Circle is like a book club but instead of reading books, we take in metal arts demos, review tools, and tackle techniques. In this interactive format we present a topic each month to discuss, bringing in various resources from instructors to videos to books. Are you an instructor? Contact us to do a brief demo and connect with students! Are you a student? Join us to learn and discover! With a new topic every month there's always something cool going on. Totally free, no need to RSVP. For more details see our Sawing Circle page.
Hammer Yammer
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When: Monthly on the 1st Tuesdays from 4:30pm-5:30 pm Pacific Time.
Where: Online via Zoom Brought to you by Anneville Studio and Mondo Bop |
Does your family roll their eyes when you talk rolling mills? Do you wish for friends who speak sawing? Do you pine over patinas?! Check out our Zoom Hammer Yammer! It’s a free online gathering for metal arts folk but unlike our Sawing Circle, there’s no demo or agenda, instead we share works in progress, troubleshoot tricky bits and offer encouragement & consolation. If you've been looking for support in moving forward on your projects, this is for you. Join from your studio to work in the good company of like-minded friends. Totally free, no need to RSVP.
Sawing Circle IRL Lunch
Do you like metal arts? Do you eat lunches? You're invited to join our Sawing Circle lunch. To get on the mailing list for dates and locations, drop us a line.
Sawing Circle themes and dates for 2025
Volunteer hosts: Ame, Anne, Dale, Annette, Karen R. and Dusky. If you have a topic idea , let us know!
June 15: Designing
How do you come up with fresh, interesting designs? Do you draw? Use Google images? Rearrange bits on your bench? Bring some sort of source (book, pinterest, YouTube) to share - could be a jewelry design/history book, a video or even an artist whose work you find inspiring. (Ame and Anne will be away)
*July 19: Tool time!
Share an old or new favorite tool, and how it helps your work. Images of work made with that tool would be great too! (Anne will be away).
Aug 16: Fiddly Bits
Bails for pendants, bands for big stone rings, brooch backs, jumprings. Those small but necessary findings are sometimes where our creativity gives out. Who has interesting creative solutions to share? Bring your almost-finished pieces, we'll brainstorm ideas!
Sept 21: Forming & Forging
Show us examples of adding dimension to metal, from dapping a disc to forging a neck torque. Can be a favorite artist, an example you made in a workshop, or your favorite process (hydraulic press, raising, score/bend), etc.
October 18: Finishing Techniques
Ah, the tedium of that last 10%. How do you make it fun, effective and satisfying to put the finishing touches on your work? Share your process (and favorite abrasives) with us.
December 16 - Our Annual Zoom Holiday Party and Gift Exchange - featuring Metal Arts Jeopardy!!
Bring your festive attire and/or decor, pour yourself a cup of good cheer and join in the fun.
Previous 2025 meetings:
January 21: Why we make what we make
What drew you to the technique you use most often? How did you get there? Or are you still searching for your favorite technique? This is meant as a little introduction to each other, fresh for the new year. If you want, take this as an opportunity to do your 'elevator pitch' about your work- with a very easy-going, forgiving audience!
February 18: Melting stuff (on purpose)
Do you melt down your own scrap and/or alloy your own materials? Do you outsource your casting and/or refining? Who do you use? How do you prep for it? Show a process you do or would like to try or share a cast piece you've made or admire.
Special guest - to be announced.
March 18: Soldering
Show us a tip/trick; yours or from a class/book/post, bring your tricky soldering job questions, disasters or triumphs.
*April 15: Piercing, Commissions and Custom Works
Who likes sawing? Really? Show us your saw! Are the new-fangled saws worth it? Is it really all that important to use the specific size blade for the thickness of metal? Any class/teacher you'd recommend to improve sawing technique? Share an image of a pierced piece you admire or made. How you do you go about doing commission work? Pricing, designs, expectations, timelines. Share your successes and/or warnings of what not to do!
May 20: Upcycling/Recycling/Found Objects
Re-using vintage jewelry, incorporating recycled materials like sea glass, printed tin, typewriter keys. Any tips/tricks for setting or cold-connecting these materials? Share your favorite artist that uses recycled materials. Show a piece you've made.
June 15: Designing
How do you come up with fresh, interesting designs? Do you draw? Use Google images? Rearrange bits on your bench? Bring some sort of source (book, pinterest, YouTube) to share - could be a jewelry design/history book, a video or even an artist whose work you find inspiring. (Ame and Anne will be away)
*July 19: Tool time!
Share an old or new favorite tool, and how it helps your work. Images of work made with that tool would be great too! (Anne will be away).
Aug 16: Fiddly Bits
Bails for pendants, bands for big stone rings, brooch backs, jumprings. Those small but necessary findings are sometimes where our creativity gives out. Who has interesting creative solutions to share? Bring your almost-finished pieces, we'll brainstorm ideas!
Sept 21: Forming & Forging
Show us examples of adding dimension to metal, from dapping a disc to forging a neck torque. Can be a favorite artist, an example you made in a workshop, or your favorite process (hydraulic press, raising, score/bend), etc.
October 18: Finishing Techniques
Ah, the tedium of that last 10%. How do you make it fun, effective and satisfying to put the finishing touches on your work? Share your process (and favorite abrasives) with us.
December 16 - Our Annual Zoom Holiday Party and Gift Exchange - featuring Metal Arts Jeopardy!!
Bring your festive attire and/or decor, pour yourself a cup of good cheer and join in the fun.
Previous 2025 meetings:
January 21: Why we make what we make
What drew you to the technique you use most often? How did you get there? Or are you still searching for your favorite technique? This is meant as a little introduction to each other, fresh for the new year. If you want, take this as an opportunity to do your 'elevator pitch' about your work- with a very easy-going, forgiving audience!
February 18: Melting stuff (on purpose)
Do you melt down your own scrap and/or alloy your own materials? Do you outsource your casting and/or refining? Who do you use? How do you prep for it? Show a process you do or would like to try or share a cast piece you've made or admire.
Special guest - to be announced.
March 18: Soldering
Show us a tip/trick; yours or from a class/book/post, bring your tricky soldering job questions, disasters or triumphs.
*April 15: Piercing, Commissions and Custom Works
Who likes sawing? Really? Show us your saw! Are the new-fangled saws worth it? Is it really all that important to use the specific size blade for the thickness of metal? Any class/teacher you'd recommend to improve sawing technique? Share an image of a pierced piece you admire or made. How you do you go about doing commission work? Pricing, designs, expectations, timelines. Share your successes and/or warnings of what not to do!
May 20: Upcycling/Recycling/Found Objects
Re-using vintage jewelry, incorporating recycled materials like sea glass, printed tin, typewriter keys. Any tips/tricks for setting or cold-connecting these materials? Share your favorite artist that uses recycled materials. Show a piece you've made.
What's New & Different?
5/20/25 Sawing Circle: Upcycling/Recycling/Found Objects
This fun session was all about re-using vintage jewelry, incorporating recycled materials like sea glass, printed tin, typewriter keys and other found objects into metal arts designs. We had some great show & tell and enjoyed hearing about a mind-blowing double-bladed saw! View photos and read the recap.
This fun session was all about re-using vintage jewelry, incorporating recycled materials like sea glass, printed tin, typewriter keys and other found objects into metal arts designs. We had some great show & tell and enjoyed hearing about a mind-blowing double-bladed saw! View photos and read the recap.
5/6/25 It's our first Hammer Yammer
With 20 folks on deck from San Diego to Boston and points in between we had a lively conversation! Topics: help with warped solder joints & tips for soldering stations, the mysterious properties of titanium, pricing and selection of mokume gane works for a gallery, new class announcements, a review of Battle of the Rings, recent travel adventures, and more! Read the recap.
With 20 folks on deck from San Diego to Boston and points in between we had a lively conversation! Topics: help with warped solder joints & tips for soldering stations, the mysterious properties of titanium, pricing and selection of mokume gane works for a gallery, new class announcements, a review of Battle of the Rings, recent travel adventures, and more! Read the recap.
San Diego Jewelry Lab hosts free, real life and online metal arts events featuring tips & tricks, guest artists, metal arts history, live studio tours and more.
#EmbraceYourVises
