Do you teach classes? July 17, 2025
For the TLDR, scroll down to where the images start
“Do you teach classes?”
If I had a FAQ page, that would be the top Q. In bold. Underlined. Highlighted.
Especially in the new studio, it’s one of the first questions people ask me. And for some reason, this question trips me up and I find myself stumbling over the answer.
The thing is… I’ve taught classes. LOTS of classes. I’ve taught classes on hinges, lockets, etching, book making, stone setting, hollow forms, kinetic pinwheel earrings, bubble blowers.
I’ve taught at Georgia O’Keefe’s beloved Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu NM and I’ve taught toy makers from Hasbro. I’ve taught kids and adults, in studios, in classrooms, in hotel conference rooms.
So why is that question so HARD?
In part it may be that many of these teaching gigs have been in other people’s venues. They did all the leg work, figured out the pricing, lodged me, fed me, collected payments and paid me.
I would STRESS FOR MONTHS before every single teaching gig, because of how much went into it. Making samples, photographing samples, writing up the class, coming up with a kit, pricing the kit, sourcing materials, buying materials, cutting materials for the kit, writing the notes. Editing the notes. Adding step-by-step photos to the notes. Editing the notes again. Printing 8+ pages of notes for 15 students. Finding a mistake. Reprinting the notes. Wondering “do I even like teaching?!”
And then, because teaching in someone else’s space (which often meant setting up an entire studio in a hotel conference room) meant I had to remember everything, I also had to remember to bring my tools as well as tools for students. I would pack two suitcases, a small one for clothes, and a huge one, at max weight, for tools and supplies. I’d ship boxes to the venue weeks in advance, maximizing the USPS’s flat-rate shipping (and then stress about a box getting lost in the mail).
I’d like to think I’m relatively detail-oriented. But nothing will strike fear in your gut like realizing you’re one kit short and don’t have material for one of your students. Or the crucial tool you need is still sitting on your workbench at home. Or the entire kiln load of work melted. Or your suitcase didn’t show up so you had to wash your unmentionables in the sink and dry them with a hairdryer.
And then the class would happen and it would be a blast, so I'd agree to do it all again.
I like control. I like it a lot.
Now I have COMPLETE CONTROL mwah hah hahah (maniacal laughter) — but I still couldn't quite seem to answer that question.
I’ve been making jewelry for over 20 years. I’ve learned SO much in that time, it’s hard to know where to begin.
I took my first metal-smithing class the summer after my senior year of high school. (Which actually makes it ahem 27 years of making jewelry.)
It wasn’t just a single class, but a series of lessons, where we gradually built our skills. Learning to saw, learning to solder, learning to come up with our own design and putting it all together. Turns out, that was a pretty good way to start because, well, here I am today!
But I tend to have a touch of the perfectionitis, meaning I want all the details and everything worked out perfectly before I commit. So when people ask “do you teach classes,” I hesitate, because it doesn't feel “perfect” yet.
A friend, fellow metalsmith, and mentor wrote an email earlier this week, and it resonated so perfectly with these feels:
“Whether we're making art, having hard conversations, or choosing what to share with the world, we so often get tangled up in the urge to say it perfectly, to be understood fully, to do it the “right” way…. But trust that those who need and want to understand us, your words, your gifts, your choices… will.
Say what you mean. Make the ask, name the thing, show yourself. And do so in the language you have, not the one you think you should.” — Jessica Coté
So, let's try that again, shall we?
“Do you teach classes?”
YES! And here's how that works.
I teach a few introductory classes as well as lessons.
Right now, these workshops, classes and lessons are all in beta mode. They're gonna be a teeny bit unpolished, a tiny bit chaotic but massively fun and informative.
I’ll be fine tuning things WITH you (throwing that perfectionism out the window) so you’ll be part of crafting a more “perfect” experience.
I'll be teaching:
- An Introduction to Jewelry Workshop (6 hours). You can start with stone setting or etching.
- Lessons* in stone setting or etching (run over 4 weeks). *Prerequisite of one Intro to Jewelry class or equivalent.
I'm really excited to finally be offering this to you, so keep scrolling to see what is upcoming!
Thanks for being here 🩵
erin
Earring Etch-tasy
Another make and take class — participants will learn to etch and saw out a pair of earrings (we'll all be making the same design, so you'll have some silver soul siblings). Sample in progress, photo coming soon — check the link to see a sketch of the earrings we'll be making!
Tuesday, August 26 • 12–4
The Lessons Sessions
The first session of lessons starts Wednesday, July 30th with Stones and Thursday, July 31st with Etching from 5–8 pm. (Please reach out if interested, as there is no Intro to Etching prior to the lessons beginning.)
I would LOVE your feedback! Please let me know what may or may not be working here — love a class but the day doesn't work? Not sure about the samples? Day works but time doesn't? Etc. Let me know what's holding you back!
Thanks so much for your time, reading this, reaching out and replying! It’s so appreciated ❤️
erin