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MJSA’s At the Bench Live
There’s nothing like learning from the masters—and jewelers who attend MJSA’s At the Bench Live seminars do just that. Featuring the industry’s most renowned experts, At the Bench Live offers a blend of best practices and innovative ideas. It creates an atmosphere in which questions can be posed, solutions offered, and problems solved. And it ensures that attendees can walk away with new ways of solving common problems with uncommon solutions.
But you don’t have to wait to attend a session before you begin participating. Suggest a topic now for a future At the Bench Live demonstration.
MJSA At the Bench Live takes place at MJSA Expo New York, MJSA Expo West (at AGTA GemFair Tucson), and JCK Las Vegas. All seminars are FREE of charge. The current listing of seminars is given below. Please check back for updates!
Sponsored by:
At the Bench Live at JCK Las Vegas
All sessions will take place June 5-7 in the rear of the Galileo Ballroom in the ET&S Pavilion, Sand Expo and Convention Center. Click here for more information about the event.
Bench & Tool Sponsor: Stuller Inc.
Saturday, June 5
Waste Not: Economical Repairs and Shop Practices
Susan Eisen, Susan Eisen Fine Jewelry and Watches
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This session will demonstrate how retail store owners can oversee and implement bench practices and policies-from using pre-cut sizing stock and solder to installing effective dust collection to improving shop organization-that result in less metal waste and more economical repairs.
Creating Custom Designs in Alternative Metals
Chris Ploof, Chris Ploof Studio
1:30 to 3 p.m.
The growing consumer demand for customized jewelry, coupled with high metals prices, has led many designers to begin using alternative metals-all of which have their own benefits and challenges. Learn tips on working with Damascus steel, palladium, and mokumé gane.
Sunday, June 6
Old Becomes New: Three Approaches to Repurposing an Heirloom Gem
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This year, in response to the growing trend among consumers to re-work inherited heirlooms, MJSA Journal created the "Old Becomes New" challenge: It chose a beautiful Art Deco brooch and asked several designers for their takes on repurposing it. Hear from three designers who took the challenge, and how they approached the project.
Working on Heirloom Jewelry: Recycle, Repurpose, Rejuvenate
Gary Dawson, Goldworks Jewelry Art Studio
1:30 to 3 p.m.
Heirloom jewelry often has endured years of abuse, faulty repairs, and overall neglect. Learn how to best work on such heirlooms by identifying the hidden challenges in such pieces, safely removing the gemstones, and either recycling or repurposing them to create modern jewels.
Monday, June 7
Mastered Models: Modifying Milled Waxes
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kate Wolf, Kate Wolf Designs, Wolf Tools
As more jewelers rely on CAD/CAM to produce their wax models for casting, they must also learn to evaluate and modify those models as needed to ensure smooth production. Learn how to examine, evaluate, and revise milled wax models to ensure a smooth, trouble-free casting.
Palladium Repairs and Fabrication
Chris Ploof, Chris Ploof Studio
1:30 to 3 p.m.
Palladium jewelry continues to gain recognition among consumers: It’s durable, lightweight, and has a platinum pedigree. It also poses unique challenges to bench jewelers, which can be overcome with the proper preparation and techniques.
At the Bench Live at MJSA Expo New York
Sessions will take place March 14 and 15 on the Expo’s third floor, Hilton New York. Click here for more information about the event.
Bench & Tool Sponsor: Stuller Inc.
Working with Alternative Metals
Presenter: Chris Ploof, Chris Ploof Studio
1 to 2 p.m.
As the prices of precious metals climb and consumer demand for customization grows, many jewelry designers have turned to alternative metals and techniques, such as Damascus steel, palladium, and mokumé gane. Learn tips and tricks for working with these increasingly popular materials.
Creating Custom Finishes
Presenter: Lee Krombholz, Krombholz Jewelers
1 to 2 p.m.
Review a range of techniques—from hammering and texturing to stippling engraving, and sandblasting—that will add a decorative finish to custom jewelry.
MJSA Expo West (at AGTA GemFair Tucson)
Bench & Tool Sponsor: Southeastern Findings
Feb. 2 to 7, 2010
All demonstrations below took place place outside the Grand Ballroom of the Tucson Convention Center.
Tuesday, Feb. 2
Beginners’ Way to Micro-Pavé
Presenter: Lisa Krikawa
Award-winning jewelry designer Lisa Krikawa will demonstrate a pavé setting technique that, through the use of unique gravers, can help you to bead-set small diamonds and gemstones securely and accurately. Suitable for work on any scale, this information will set you on your way with your pavé practice. Read more about Lisa Krikawa
Wednesday, Feb. 3
Craft and Creativity: Improvisation at the Bench
Presenter: Alishan Halebian
A master goldsmith renowned for bold and often provocative designs, Alishan will demonstrate how he improvises at the bench to create designs that best showcase specific gems. Read more about Alishan Halebian
Thursday, Feb. 4
Setting Fancy-Cut Gems 1: A Traditional Approach
Presenter: Lee Krombholz
Fancy-cut gemstones, with their subtle cut variations, present setters with numerous challenges. In this session, custom designer Lee Krombholz demonstrates traditional wax-working techniques to create cast settings that are appealing, secure, and lasting. Read more about Lee Krombholz
Friday, Feb. 5
Setting Fancy-Cut Gems 2: A CAD/CAM Approach
Presenter: Lee Krombholz
Lee Krombholz has won numerous awards for his computer-aided designs. Here, he shows how he uses CAD technology to create a wax model, then applies traditional bench techniques to ensure that model becomes a finished piece that safely and securely holds a fancy-cut gem. Read more about Lee Krombholz
Saturday, Feb. 6
Working on Heirloom Jewelry: Recycle, Repurpose, Rejuvenate
Presenter: Gary Dawson
More and more customers are asking jewelers to re-work the heirlooms they’ve inherited—jewelry that often has endured years of abuse, faulty repairs, and overall neglect. Goldsmith/designer Gary Dawson shows how to identify the hidden challenges in such pieces, safely remove the gemstones, and either recycle or repurpose them to create modern jewels. Read more about Gary Dawson
Sunday, Feb. 7
Creating Unique Settings for Unusual Stones
Presenter: Gary Dawson
Jewelers often must fabricate their own settings to accommodate unusually shaped gemstones. Gary Dawson shows how to make the wire or sheet metal they need for a specific job, and how to create a secure and attractive setting. Read more about Gary Dawson
About the Presenters
Lisa Krikawa is the founder, designer, and CEO of Krikawa Jewelry Designs Inc. Her designs have won numerous awards, and in 2009 the company was named one of “America’s Best Jewelers” by National Jeweler magazine and received a Southern Arizona Ethics Award from the Better Business Bureau. Go to seminar description
Alishan Halebian is a self-taught goldsmith who brings Eastern and Western world cultures together in his distinctive designs. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including several AGTA Spectrum awards, the Contemporary Design Group High Achievement Award, and “Designer of the Year” honors from the Armenian Jewelry Association. Go to seminar description
Lee Krombholz is the owner of a third-generation jewelry studio in Cincinnati, Ohio, and he spends most of his time designing jewelry using computer-aided design and interacting with clients to create “heirlooms of the future.” He has won several major design awards, including awards from the Columbus Jewelry Show and Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America. Go to seminar descriptions
Gary Dawson is the founder and co-owner of Goldworks Jewelry Art Studio in Eugene, Oregon, who specializes in creating custom designs that capture the personalities and stories of his customers. A master goldsmith, he is a frequent contributor to MJSA Journal and has delivered seminars and presentations at numerous events, including AGTA GemFair, Portland Jewelry Symposium, and the Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology. Go to seminar descriptions