When we started in March of 2020, Metal Arts Adventures with Anne and Ame (MAA) was just a way to stay connected as the pandemic pushed us into isolation. We thought we'd do the show a few times, never imagining it would take on a life of its own for over a year. Together we've virtually traveled the world, learned tips & tricks, celebrated holidays, found solace and shared inspiration. As the world reopens, it's time to pursue exciting new endeavors. In this show, master metalsmith Earl Bushey shares top-notch mokume gane tips and Bette Barnett introduces us to the fascinating world of powdered metals. For links to resources and classes mentioned by Bette, visit her at studiomigoto.com.

As for us, watch for future updates from here on  sandiegojewelrylab.com and on annevillestudio.com as well our social media channels and if you haven't done so already, do sign up for our mailing list. Be  well and keep in touch!

Oh my gosh, we had so much fun at tonight's Sawing Circle. We had 16 attendees on hand talking tricky soldering jobs, patinas, gold alloying and other metalsmithing particulars at our first March Sawing Circle. Isla joined us from London, Julia joined from Michigan, Ann was on deck from Alabama with the rest Zooming in from the U.S. west coast. As always there were some really valuable links shared.

We still have spots available for Anne's Stamped Mokume Gane Pendant live online workshop in March but March 5th is the deadline to order your kit for U.S. shipping (March 12th for local pick ups). This is a great opportunity to create - from start to finish - a beautiful mokume gane pendant to wear or give as a special gift. It's also a rare chance to get your hands on one of Anne's exclusive mokume blanks in a color combo she usually reserves for her own works - silver/copper/brass. These photos are from her previous class last year. Keep in mind that you also get a handsome Certificate of Completion and a ticket for our famous end-of-class raffle where we give away gift certificates and sometimes...mokume goodies! All details and registration at annevillestudio.com/classes-and-workshops.html.

The past two days have been great fun hosting a group of 15 students learning mokume gane chisel patterning. Jewelry metals instructor Anne Wolf totally updated this class with new techniques and high-res video and the quality really showed. Plus it was just so much fun with students in attendance from California to Alaska to Washington DC and points in between. We even had the fabulous Francesca Urciuoli Zooming in from Berlin. The students shared a lot of great info (like using old hex keys for chisel stock) and fun photos (MKaye bundled up for a snowy outdoor lunch), but mostly we all enjoyed learning about patterning mokume from Anne...and each other. The work speaks for itself, here are just a few of the pieces created.  

From November 2018 to March 2020, San Diego Jewelry Lab was known as Anneville Jewelry Lab because it was a brick & mortar jewelry metal arts school and co-work space located next to Anne Wolf's studio in Liberty Station - a part of the NTC Arts District. We offered multi-week classes, independent study and 1-5 day workshops. Topics covered a wide range of the jewelry/metals field, from absolute beginner basics taught by Jessica Andersen and Julie Monroe to advanced specialty techniques such as Japanese metalsmithing taught by Ford Hallam, stone setting by Alexandra Hart, keum boo taught by Bette Barnett and mokume gane taught by Anne Wolf. Many of our students took classes multiple times to perfect their techniques and gain inspiration from each other. Our workshops drew students from around the U.S. and internationally. In addition to classes we had Open Lab time where jewelry metal arts makers worked together, enjoyed our little "Broken Sawblade Cafe" (which became the Peg and Pickle Pub after hours) and shopped for tools and supplies in our small General Store. We also hosted a monthly First Friday Open Studio where makers and the public nibbled tasty snacks, watched live demos and shopped our Gallery Case featuring work by our teachers and students. All of that changed on March 19th, 2020.