uncommon jewelry designs, fine art photography &  adult and youth jewelry classes

San Diego, CA  Visual Artist  & Educator Denise J. Bonaimo

Jewelry Classes for Adults

• Private and semi private Lessons, Duets and Home Parties for kids, adults and senior citizens available by appointment at your place or mine! Please email artdiva@bonaimo.com to inquire.

Let's Make Some Jewelry!

Chain Mail Jewelry	Wire Pod Cages	Wires and Hammers and Pliers... Oh My!	Tool Stamping & Joining Metal	Wire Coiled Beads	Crocheted Wire Jewelry	Wire Wrapping Beads with Ease	Bead Master Strategies
Knotting Like A Pro	ABC's of Tool Stamped Jewelry	Earring Workshop	Recycled Jewelry Party	Egyptian Spiral Design	Wire Bead Rings	Intermediate Bead Stringing

Knotting Like A Pro

With a little practice of the methods you will learn in this class you will be able to create beautiful beaded jewelry that moves with fluidity on silk/nylon thread. Learn the tips and tricks to mastering your knot placement and various finishing techniques. Work with bead tip (knot covers) and wire bouillon and clasp-less strands. We will warm up with a couple of more simple knotting projects like the double strand 'tin cup' (floating) necklace. Our ultimate goal is to complete one continuously knotted necklace of Chinese freshwater pearls.

Material kits available for $25 on day of class. Feel free to bring gemstones, pearls  and clasps to use in your projects.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

Bead Master Strategies

Beginner and intermediate beading enthusiasts will delight in this comprehensive class that focuses on elements of design, creation and finishing techniques. Explore techniques for creating beaded necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Learn 3 methods and the benefits of each: soft flex, silk/nylon string and memory wire. Proper use of jewelry tools will also be addressed. If you have them, bring any beads, round nose pliers, chain nose pliers and wire cutters.

Material kits and access to tools can be purchased from the instructor for a $15 fee on the day of class.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

Chain Mail Jewelry

Learn to create jewelry for men or women using various combinations of linked metal jump rings using jewelry pliers. We will be working in base metal jumprings such as copper and brass. Suitable for all levels. Ages 13 and up.

Material kits can be purchased for $15. All tools provided by instructor.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

Cold Connections

Forget the soldering torch, learn how to join layers of metal with clever flameless alternatives. We will start of with a few technique based mini- projects involving nuts and bolts, staples, lashing and rivets and spend the rest of the class creating a final project utilizing our new skills. Feel free to bring any repurposed sheet metal to use in your project.

*Material Kit can be purchased from instructor for $25 on first day of class. Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

Intermediate Bead Stringing

Tackle more complicated stringing projects such as multi-strand necklaces and bracelets. Learn to work with spacer bars, cones and chain. This workshop is suitable for anyone who has previous classroom experience with bead stringing. If you have them, please bring 6 strands of coordinating beads, round nose, chain nose pliers and cutters. Tools available for use during class.

*Material Kit can be purchased for $15. Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

Wires and Hammers and Pliers... Oh My!

From basic wire wrapped beads to hammered wire links, beaded wire rings and wire coiled beads, wrapping stones without holes, forging and finishing- this class will round out any jewelry makers skill set. We will experiment with different gauges and types wire. We will address as many techniques possible depending on the time frame.

Material kits and access to tools can be purchased from the instructor for a $5- $25 fee on the day of class.

Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

ABC's of Tool Stamped Jewelry

Poems, lyrics, prose, affirmations, names: what do you want to say? Using steel letter tool stamps we will hammer letters, numbers and designs onto copper “blanks” and sheets of metal we cut, oxidize, file and polish. Then we will join the shapes with tiny nuts and bolts to create a layered project. Think of what you want to say and let’s create it! 

Private Classes: Individual, Duet and Group available. Click this Link for Pricing.

*Material Kit can be purchased from instructor for $10- $25

Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

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Crocheted Wire Jewelry

Let's take a simple crochet stitch and apply it to very thin gauge wire. We will weave in beads and attach a clasp to create a couple of different versions of this delicate looking, yet sturdy design.

Private Classes: Individual, Duet and Group available. Click this Link for Pricing.

*Material Kit can be purchased for $10-$20.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

 

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Wire Coil Beads

Learn to create dramatic beads out of coiled wire. A few different techniques will be explored as well as a variety of mixed metal combinations and varied gauges. Pairs well with wire wrapped beads, which we will explore as well. 

Private Classes: Individual, Duet and Group available. Click this Link for Pricing.

 

*Material Kit can be purchased for $18.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

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Wire Wrapping Beads with Ease

We will learn the basics of wire wrapping: (simple loop, wire wrapped loop, wire wrapped loop with a twist, figure eights, bails) to create a beautiful wire wrapped bracelet and a pair of earrings. If time permits, we will also create a handmade clasp, make a few versions of the spiral and learn to wrap top drilled beads as well.

Private Classes: Individual, Duet and Group available. Click this Link for Pricing.

*Material Kit can be purchased for $15.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

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Wire Pod Cages

 

Delicate and bold at the same time, the wire pod cage design makes a beautifully dimensional center piece. If time permits we will also make a pair of earrings. Bring objects to cage (shells, stones, sea glass…)

Private Classes: Individual, Duet and Group available. Click this Link for Pricing.

*Material Kit can be purchased for $15.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

 

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Egyptian Spiral Bracelet

Recreate an ancient design with a contemporary twist.  You will learn to use jewelry pliers to form and link Egyptian Spirals (sometimes called Etruscan Coil). Learn to wire wrap beads to link your coils. Attach your handmade clasp for a timeless design.

 

Private Classes: Individual, Duet and Group available. Click this Link for Pricing.

 

*Material Kit can be purchased for $18.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

 

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Recycled Jewelry Party

"One man's trash is another man's treasure"

(formerly Franken-Jewelry Swap and Create Party)

Let's upcycle our old, dated, broken jewelry into new fabulous creations. Have a broken necklace? An orphaned earring? Bring 'em! Trade with your new jewelry making friends. In this free flowing class we will learn basic wire wrapping and bead stringing techniques.*All tools provided.

Private Classes: Individual, Duet and Group available. Click this Link for Pricing.

*Bring any recyclable jewelry to trade, or $5.

Denise has tray and trays of recycled jewelry parts to choose from. No experience necessary.

All skill levels welcome. Join the fun! email Artdiva@bonaimo.com to reserve your space.

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Game Piece Jewelry

Take repurposed jewelry to a new level. Using simple jewelry making techniques, we will take these otherwise discarded pieces and turn them into fantastic jewelry. If you have some game pieces, bring them, but if not, no worries, Denise has tons of game pieces you can choose from.

Private Classes: Individual, Duet and Group available. Click this Link for Pricing.

 

*Material Kit can be purchased for $15.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

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Earring Workshop

Make a pair of earrings for every day of the week.  Learn to work with headpins, components, wire, chain, beads and findings to create a variety of contemporary earring styles. Join the fun! All levels.

Private Classes: Individual, Duet and Group available. Click this Link for Pricing.

 

*Material Kit can be purchased for $15.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

 

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Wire Bead Rings

Fun and funky, or delicate and petite, we will learn to wire wrap our way to create several varieties of rings. Using a ring mandrel, we will wire wrap anything with a hole (beads, stones, found objects) as well as learn some fun mixed metal wire coil wrapped designs.

Private Classes: Individual, Duet and Group available. Click this Link for Pricing.

*Material Kit can be purchased for $15.
Email artdiva@bonaimo.com for a supply list.

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