The Perfect Hollow Silver Bead

Class A: Round Beads Beginner

Learn the fundamentals of creating perfect round beads with sterling silver sheet. This class covers:

- Silver thickness and cut-out considerations
- Using Disc Cutters, Dapping block, & hand tools
- Tool preparation
- Soldering supports and security
- Torch skills and safety
- Clean-up, including grinding, sanding, and polishing

We will practice with copper for the first bead, as the techniques for doming and soldering are identical for both copper and silver, except for pickling, which we will do in a separate container. No experience necessary but helpful. The class is 8 hours over 2 days. Book with a friend! Each class has 2 persons only. Email info@saramontogmerydesigns.ca for more information and to reserve dates. 

Class A2: Advanced Round Beads Beginner +

Take your round bead-making skills to the next level. In this advanced class, you will learn:

- Wire adornment
- basic Gold and Silver granulation 
- Shape attachments
- Interior tube supports
- Connectivity techniques
- Saw Piercing designs
- Textured beads
- Using the rolling mill for added texture

Experience with bead formation, soldering and clean up are skills needed for this class. Please take Class A before taking this class. If you have experience making round beads and would like to jump to this class, please email with examples of a few of your beads. If you are not sure about your skills or bead fabrication please make an appointment to drop by at the studio to meet and discuss your work. The class is 8 hours over 2 days. Book with a friend! Each class has 2 persons only. Email info@saramontogmerydesigns.ca for more information and to reserve dates. 

Class B: Geometric Beads Intermediate

Once you are comfortable with creating consistent, quality round beads, we will progress to making geometric shapes such as squares, rectangles, and triangle hollow beads. 

We will:

- create templates in card stock
- (optional) fabricate a hand held scoring tool
- practice using cutting discs &/ or scoring tool in thick copper sheet
- using the rolling mill for added texture

**Understanding how to fold different angles is essential. Intermediate jewellery saw skills are essential for this class. If you are unsure where your skills sit, please make an appointment to visit the studio or send examples of your work. 

If you would like to advance your sawing and saw piercing skills, please register for a one-on-one class to learn skills you can practice at home or during a studio rental period which is only available for current students. Copper sheet is included for your first few geometric beads. The class is 8 hours over 2 days. Book with a friend! Each class has 2 persons only. Email info@saramontogmerydesigns.ca for more information and to reserve dates. 

Class B2: Geometric Beads Intermediate +

Master the art of geometric beads and explore working with various bead dimensions, from 5mm depth to 40mm depth, in which the larger size are ideal for creating capsules and pendants. The class is 8 hours over 2 days. Book with a friend! Each class has 2 persons only. Email info@saramontogmerydesigns.ca for more information and to reserve dates. 

You will also learn:

- Adorning flat & angled beads with granulation
- Using the rolling mill for added texture
- Saw piercing shapes, layering sheet designs
- Interior bezels & lids for boxes & capsules 

Class C: Freeform & Anti-Clastic Pendants (Advanced)

After mastering geometric beads, move on to creating anti-clastic freeform beads and advanced hollow form shapes. This advanced class focuses on the skills needed to mirror & replicate tops, bottoms & sides of shapes to make complex, sinuous, or articulated beads and forms.  

For example:

- Hollow flower petals & leaves, water droplets, body shapes
- Flared tube beads, fusing,  
- Multi-shaped beads (e.g., geodesic forms with protrusions) like stars and other imaginative designs
- Hollow boxes

This class utilizes all previously learned skills, encouraging you to view metal as a fluid and malleable medium, allowing your creativity to shape your work. Enquire for price. 

Requirements:

No experience necessary for the 1st class, Class A: Round Beads Beginner. However, basic metalworking/silversmithing skills are an asset. One-on-one classes available in your studio or mine. 

Materials: 

- 22 gauge Sterling Silver sheet
- 24 gauge Sterling Silver sheet
- 26 gauge Sterling Silver sheet
- 32 gauge Sterling Silver sheet 

- 20 gauge Sterling Silver wire
- 22 gauge Sterling Silver wire
- 24 gauge Sterling Silver wire
- 26 gauge Sterling Silver wire

We will be using 22 gauge Sterling Silver sheet in the formation for most of the beads. While practice beads in copper are included in the class registration, silver sheet is a separate cost and payable at the time of registration. Each segmented class has its own materials cost.  Cost for the silver will be less than retail cost. As costs for precious metals are constantly changing, costs for silver sheet will change throughout the classes. 

32 gauge Sterling Silver sheet is used to punch identical dots to make granulation. Different gauges of Sterling Silver Wire are used to form designs, jump rings and adornments to the beads. 

All solder, tools and other materials are included in the cost. This includes copper & brass sheet and wire. Each class is 8 hours over 2 days. Book with a friend! Each class has 2 persons only. Email info@saramontogmerydesigns.ca for more information and to reserve dates.