When porcelain clay meets sterling silver and sterling silver meets porcelain clay, “Silveramics” is born.  Merging the respective media of clay and metal, this playful approach to jewelry making has been created by husband and wife team David Voorhees and Molly Sharp.

David starts off having students “play” with the fresh, colored porcelain clay and then teaches them how to combine the colors to create marbled elements of various shapes and sizes which are then molded into pieces that are fired, sanded and tumbled into a silky smooth surface. Students will also be making an assortment of beads and have a chance to paint colored slips (very wet clay) onto other pieces which will then be scratched through with tools (Scraffito) to create patterns and designs.  All these pieces get fired in a tiny kiln.

Molly will then show students how to drill holes into the fired porcelain pieces and ways to create and attach sterling silver findings and chains to make into bracelets, necklaces, pendants and earrings.  She’ll also demonstrate how to file, saw, form, texture and solder silver to create prong and bezel settings and other various components.  Each piece will be refined and finished to completion.  Students will complete at least four or five pieces during the week.  All materials and most tools will be provided by either Hacienda Mosaico or Molly and David.

While no prior experience with clay is necessary, some soldering experience is helpful but not required.   Students should have good eyesight or bring magnification.