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Kate Richbourg's Metalsmithing At Home Craftsy Class Review and Giveaway

Metal work doesn't have to involve expensive tools or a studio. Often metal smiths will tell you that it can be done in a small space such as a kitchen or even dining table. So this Metalsmithing at Home Craftsy class by renowned instructor, Kate Richbourg aims to show how it can truly be done in your home.


Kate Richbourg is one of the best metal work instructors out there. She teaches efficiently, concisely and clearly - all with such a fun, relaxed manner that students are not at all intimidated.   The most striking thing about this well taught class is the 4 carefully designed projects, each of which introduces techniques and tool use in a progressive manner.

I also like the Craftsy format very much as learners are able to watch either the entire lesson or 30 second repeats again and again to make sure they understand key points. This instructor is also very responsive with answers on the platform.

Lesson 1 
Meeting the instructor.

Lesson 2  
She covers all the basic tools including her simple soldering set up in a baking tray.  Kate's explanations on how to use micro torches are the best I have ever seen.


Also covered are cutting tools (shears and the jeweler's saw), hole punchers, hammers and files. Other tools are introduced in the lessons as appropriate which is a good thing.  It is easy to get overwhelmed otherwise.

Lesson 3
This is all about the common jewelry metals to use.  As with wire work, Kate's advice is sound - work with copper before you go on to precious metals!

She also explains the use and types of paste solder. Paste solder has flux so is easier to handle rather than working with flux and little metal solder pieces separately.

Lesson 4
Safety and set up points are covered.  She has a good suggestion for a check list before you start.

She never mentioned aprons. But Kate clearly shows how useful these can be as she wore a number of them in different colors which coordinated with her outfits!  They are not just for protection but can also hold tools etc. Hers were custom made by her friend.

Lesson 5
This lesson is the first part of how to make awesome earrings. The techniques include how to use the jewelry saw to cut out sheet metal, punch holes and solder the decorative round elements.



Lesson 6
This lesson demonstrates the soldering parts of the earrings project including the spiral ear wire part. Kate does not use round nose pliers to create the wire spiral - but the chain nose pliers for really tight spirals.

Lesson 7
The stacking ring project was outstanding. A series of 3 thick wire rings were created using round and square wire. The approach for each type of wire was different. A clear lesson in how to anneal (soften) the thick wire used.


Little punched out metal discs and granulated round balls were used to decorate these simple rings. They look great worn together.



Lesson 8
This simple bracelet lesson is a more challenging one due to the care needed in planning and measuring out the design. The bangle design includes a hinge which consists of pierced holes and fold over tabs and a tension clasp.

Metal shears make quick work of cutting out the bracelet blanks. I particularly like Kate's reassurance that if measurements are a bit off, it is possible to correct many of those imprecise areas with filing!!



Lesson 9
This lesson is about how to make a tube setting for a crystal/gemstone. The other techniques such as cutting out metal pieces and soldering them together are once again used in the creation of the flowers and leaves.


This tube setting technique is so different from that of metal clay work although the end result is the same. It's about how to make sure the gem stays put.  The tools are not difficult to use. However, the lesson shows clearly how setting burs and the tube setting tool should be used correctly.

Lesson 10
This is just a recap of her key teaching points.

Lesson 11
Bonus ear wire making class using a pen.  I've used this common technique (before I got my large bail forming pliers) but Kate's nifty tip makes it much, much easier. Really clever solution on how to hold the wire as you curve it around the pen!!

Conclusion
I've reviewed a number of Kate Richbourg's books and other Craftsy class before (see links at the bottom). She never disappoints. Her books are excellent to have as resources as they are well laid out with lots of information.  But watching her in this class really simplifies the learning process and goes a long way in removing the fear factor for those who are intimidated by torch work.

This class is particularly good for beginners as she lays out the foundation of how to do metal work at home. The first 2 projects alone - the earrings and the rings - are enough to get you started on those crucial techniques.  The bangle and the tube set crystal flower projects are more for intermediate and advanced metal work people but they are there for beginners to strive for.

Highly recommended for those wanting to get into metal work.

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Giveaway
If you want a chance to win a free access to Kate's Metalsmithing at Home Craftsy class (and ask her any question),  please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info below if you do not have an online shop or blog.  The class is currently on sale too.

Email subscribers need to scroll down the post they receive, click on Share Comment and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank.

This giveaway is international.

Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments. (The exception is Facebook - just like/comment on the giveaway status there!!)

It ends in a week's time at 6 pm EST Monday, January 23, 2017. I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck!

Disclosure
I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.

Before You Go:
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips  -Jewelry Business Tips 

43 comments:

  1. Kate is a great teacher! Have taken one of her classes...would love to try this one!

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  2. Ooh this looks awesome! Have done some more basic metalwork classes but would love this more specific jewellery making one under the belt! Subscriber, Facebook fan & blog follower, I can be reached at retro-grrl@hotmail.com.

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  3. I'd love to take this class. I took the intro course torch course and loved it!

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  4. This looks like a great class.I subscribe to blog, FB, Twitter,
    Thanks Pearl,
    Carol
    carol.langston@gmail.com

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  5. This looks fun. I have watched her videos before and she is very informative.

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  6. I'd like to learn how to make the hinged bracelet and the tube setting. I have two of Kate's books and her teaching methods are very clear.

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  7. I have been hesitant to do this on my own. so I would really love the course. I am going to try the free class.Thanks for doing this for us.

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  8. Kate Richbourg is a very inspirational teacher, an I have tried some of her projects from one of her books. It would be lovely to follow a course and
    get some new ideas. Copper is so nice to work with.

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  9. Kate Richbourg's teachings are so clear and fun...this one will be great to learn from, karlynr@gmail.com

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  10. This certainly sounds like an exciting class which would be very valuable and fun to take. Would certainly be something I would like to take.

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  11. I would love to take this class! I've done some minor work, this class looks very fun.

    vkiss@nethere.com

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  12. Tried once, was too intimidated - but would love to try it again!! She makes it look like fun!

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  13. Have the equipment, but have never used it yet. Must start trying this!

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  14. like her teaching. cherylgrinnell@yahoo.com

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  15. Soldering totally intimidates me. Must get past this!
    cmbmattos@aol.com

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  16. I'd like to win an entry, looks like great fun

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  17. Do I want to with this?????????????? You're kidding right?????

    I LOVE Kate Richbourg! Plus - I love metalsmithing!!

    And as I've said many times before - it doesn't matter how much you already know you always - without fail - learn something new! And what's obvious is that Kate keeps experimenting and improving her own techniques and she loves passing those tips on to others!

    Yes yes yes - chuck my name in that random.org thingy and press the button. I'm going to keep everything crossed for the next week so that my name comes up!!

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  18. Wowzer, just got several custom requests that I have no experience in and this would be fantastic to win and or take the class. Thanks for all of your great Reviews and the chances to win classes, products and more.
    Subscriber
    follower

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  19. This would be awesome!! via FB

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  20. Kate's an excellent teacher. via FB

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  21. Ruth at lotsoftinybeads@gmail.comJanuary 16, 2017 at 6:31 PM

    What an excellent write-up of this course. I hope to win but if I don't, I'll ask for it for my birthday.

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  22. This looks like an amazing class that would take my simplistic and minimal metal work to the next level!

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  23. Looks fantastic. Thanks
    Marlene Strait
    mlsjewel@yahoo.com

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  24. This looks like a fantastic opportunity ! I have recently started working with wire and would also love to learn the art of metalsmithing! Judy mkjj6266@gmail.com

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  25. Happy New Year to you Pearl :)

    This is a Craftsy class I have been coveting.

    victoria_farrell at hotmail.com and a FB and blog follower

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  26. Kate's classes are just what I need right now! Metalsmithing has always intimidated me, and just reading your review makes me feel like I can tackle it and love it. :)

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  27. Awesome, you made me discover a great teacher. Thank you

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  28. This looks like a brilliantly thorough class for a beginner. I've only done wire work so far and I'd love to give this kind of metal work a go!

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  29. I've always been interested in metalsmithing, even have some of the tools and materials, but always hesitate to actually start. Something like this might get me going.

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  30. Always wanted to learn metalsmithing.I never got around to it cause the prospect of collecting the tools and such is daunting.. What i need is a good teacher to tell me what to do and what is not really necessary. This class promises to be all. Hopeing to win
    srisen2001@yahoo.co.in

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  31. Would love to win this....thank you for the opportunity!

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  32. Hi pearl,

    Kate is one of my favorite teachers and artists, and I am just getting up enough courage to use a torch, so this would be my wish class. Thanks

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  33. Oh yes, please! I'd love to win this class! Thanks for the opportunity! ttangles@yahoo.com

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  34. Metalsmithing! I would love to win this class!

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  35. I have never been on time to enter a give away. However, I feel that I have already won because of a previous post of another jeweler whose post you shared, Pearl on a new way to cut jump rings. It worked! I have tried many other ways. Bought many products all in the name of saving money by not purchasing a jump ring maker. This time I spent $8 at Home Depot. I digress from Kate Richbourg wonderful talent. I have several of her books and a great respect for her teaching ability. I just needed to thank your for the jump ring cutting post.

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  36. I would LOVE to learn metalsmithing thanks for the chance to win this class.
    sally0630@frontiernet.net

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  37. I'm an email subscriber
    sally0630
    Facebook
    Sarah Scott Oswald
    pinterest.com/sally0630

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  38. Would love to be the winner of this drawing!

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  39. I'd be ecstatic if I won. Thanks for the offer Pearl.

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  40. My birthday is Thursday and I sure would love to learn some new metalsmithing techniques as a gift.

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  41. Thanks so much for this opportunity. One of my jewelry goals this year is to learn metalsmithing, so the timing couldn't be better!
    deborah.collyar@gmail.com.
    https://collyarpics.smugmug.com/CollyarCreations

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  42. Love her work, and would love to win the class!

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  43. Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful class. DoinWire at gmail dot com

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