Charles will present a free lecture and exhibit of his work

Friday, August 16, 7-9 pm at Creator Haven, 41-B Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076.

Fold-forming uses sheet material, folds it, works it and then unfolds it. Fold forming is a quick, easily learned way of shaping sheet metal with hand tools. It emphasizes forming using the metal’s characteristics.  Shaping is extremely efficient and rapid (many are 3-7 minutes working time). Tools are simple; fingers, hammers, anvil and mill. Complex relief forms are made from sheets of metal often on one annealing.

Charles Lewton-Brain invented fold-forming, a completely new way of quickly forming sheet metal into wonderful 3-D shapes and textures, most from single sheets of metal without any soldering.

Students of Creator Haven can now register with Rio Grande under the Rio for Schools program to receive discounts.

“The Rio for Schools program invests in future designers, metalsmiths and makers by providing extra savings on products and services, educational resources and industry knowledge to educators, mentors, apprentices and students of jewelry design.“

To learn more and to register with Rio, go to Rio for Schools and sign up today!

Master metal clay artist Pam East has created a hinged box project focusing on intricate, delicate details. This challenging, multi-layered project will greatly expand your metal clay skill set as you build a hinged box featuring tiny scenes, tiny gemstones, and tight, unobtrusive hinges with smooth action. The precise work will include rolling, texturing and cutting the clay; sanding and prepping greenware elements; creating and fitting mitered corners; and building small, functional components like hinges, cotter pins, and clasp elements. You’ll also be flush setting tiny stones, designing and constructing an open bail, and learning how to mask stamps and texture plates for unique results. You’ll personalize your box with Pam’s collection of texture plates and design molds!

This workshop is intended for students with recent successful metal clay experience, including rolling clay to an even thickness, working with stamps and templates, and proficiency with greenware finishing and using syringe. We’re providing all the tools, equipment and materials you’ll need to complete the projects, so you just have to bring eye magnification and settle in to have fun and learn with a master!

Click for Details and Registration!

Ricky is visiting Creator Haven for 2 weeks teaching beginning and intermediate enameling and Cloisonné.

Creator Haven is a community of artists supporting and inspiring each other in the design and fabrication of jewelry, silver clay, fused glass, enameling and traditional small metal art. Internationally renowned artists including Pam East, Charles Lewton-Brain and Ricky Frank will all be teaching here again in 2019. Multiple workshops are offered through Cabrillo Community College’s Extension Program. Private and semi-private classes can be designed to meet your personal area of interest, schedule and skill level.

Our members enjoy full access to our extensively equipped studio for one low monthly fee. Hand tools, rolling mill, kilns, torches, metal shear, polishing and grinding machines, glass saws, lapping wheel and more are waiting for you. Check our hours, check our classes and check us out!

After a wonderfully slothful recuperation we are back from a great vacation. Of course we had to take some classes while we were gone. We both enjoyed learning how to cure bacon and Pat had unplanned fun making her own Mardi Gras mask in a little store we wandered into on Bourbon St — anyone want a class on that?

It’s time to go full swing with spring classes. Many are already posted but there are lots more coming (including some of your favorite visiting teachers) so check back often!

Check out our new winter classes! We are offering favorites like Fused Glass Christmas Ornaments, and new classes such as Copper Etching and Rolling Mill Texturing. Through our partnership with Cabrillo Extension, we are offering a new selection of metal clay classes AND we will be hosting Lynette Cederquist for her traditional metalsmithing classes. (Links to Lynette’s classes coming soon!)

Looking for a great gift for a crafty person in your life? We now offer eGift cards as well as traditional paper gift certificates.

November already? WOW! Just one month from now (Sat, Dec 1) is the annual Watsonville Holiday Factory Sale — be sure to visit us that day for great deals on our members’ jewelry and our classes. You are sure to find many perfect holiday gifts!

We have been more than a little busy this fall with the addition of Cabrillo Community College Extension courses to our menu of jewelry making opportunities (watch for the Spring 2019 course catalog to be published here: Cabrillo Extension). And member activity in glass fusing has increased dramatically, complementing our traditional silver-smithing and metal clay focused artists.

We know our schedule of classes is a little empty right now, but we’ll be filling that up in the very near future, so check back later this month! And if you haven’t already, register to be added to our email list for periodic informational emails and updates.

Happy Thanksgiving and don’t forget to mark your calendar for December 1!

Here’s the perfect summer activity for teenagers ages 13 to 18!

Mon, Jun 18, 2018 – Fri, Jun 22, 2018 – 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM 

A full week of hands-on jewelry making using the same materials, equipment and techniques that professional jewelers use.  Each student is encouraged to express her or his own personal style in every project, making every piece unique.

Students will learn a wide variety of jewelry and metal arts skills in our fully equipped jewelry studio; explore enameling, stone setting in bezels, cold connections such as riveting and tab settings, and forging; decorative techniques such as roller printing, adding color to metal, and stamping; and, learn the basics of using a 20 ton hydraulic press, metal shear, and other specialty jewelers’ tools.  Students will even learn to make their own ear-wires, clasps and headpins.

Each student will make a whole wardrobe of new, one-of-a-kind jewelry to wear and/or give to someone special!

Click HERE  for more details and to register for Camp!