Learn the Secrets of the Fine Art of Wire Wrap Jewelry  with Ann Turpin Thayer

This six week hands-on course teaches everything you need to know to master this popular jewelry art form. In Ann's beginning course you will make 30 pieces of jewelry! Your portfolio will include bangles, earrings, pendants, rings and a pin - perfect for selling or giving as gifts.

Artisans have been making wire wrapped jewelry for thousands of years. Now you can learn these ancient techniques plus all the modern methods from acclaimed jewelry artist and teacher Ann Turpin Thayer.

Fine Art Wire Wrap Jewelry Course - Beginning 101 Syllabus for In-State Students - Six-class course taught by Ann Turpin Thayer; four hours per class. Build your jewelry knowledge and skills to make beautiful wire wrap jewelry. By the end of this program, you will have created 30 pieces of jewelry to sell or give as gifts.

PROJECTS  This course has ten projects covering bracelets, earrings, pendant/sliders, rings and pins. Students will make one of each project during class sessions and then complete two additional examples of each project before the next class.

This structure allows students time to learn, practice, ask questions, and problem-solve while Ann help them find solutions to their wire entanglements.

SO MUCH MORE!  In addition to jewelry making, Ann covers cleaning, polishing, and pricing the finished pieces. She also offers beginner information and insights of the jewelry business including particpation in juried art shows.

Fine Art Wire Wrap Jewelry Course - "Beginning 101" Syllabus for Out-of-State Students.  To accommodate Ann's many out-of-state students, she offers a compressed-schedule course four times a year. Ann calls this "seven in Eight": seven classes in eight days.

This course offers the same learning content as the traditional course, but at a much faster pace - perfect for people who travel to Arizona to study with Ann.

Please see the Class Schedule for details on the next eight-day Beginning 101 course. If you have further questions, please call Ann at (480) 598-9090.

- All courses are taught in Ann's Ahwatukee studio.

When the Student is Ready...

• Ann Turpin Thayer, Gemological Institute of America (GIA) graduate with two degrees, Accredited Jewelry Professional and Graduate Pearl degree, will teach her in-depth beginning course in Wire Art Jewelry.
• Ann Turpin Thayer is a featured artist in Wire By Design: Modern Wire Art & Mixed Media by Barbara McGuire (Krause Publications, April 2001).
• Wire jewelry is made using thin sterling silver, and/or 14K, 18K, or 22K gold wire without using solder or glue to hold it all together,
• A juried artist and past Vice President of Cave Creek’s Sonoran Arts League, Thayer chaired the Sonoran Festival of Fine Art in Carefree, AZ in 2003 and 2004.
• Ann participates in the juried art show circuit and has done as many as 27 shows each year  in 5 states around the Southwest.
• Her exquisite jewelry can be seen locally when she returns for her 9th season at the Celebration of Fine Art show, January 16 – March 28, 2010. Some of the finest artists in the country are featured at this art show, which is sometimes referred to as the “Big White Tents” on Scottsdale Road.

Cancellation Policy: I will refund all money paid if you cancel before three weeks before the first class. It must be understood that other people are turned away when class size reaches 8 students.

Course Syllabus - Not necessarily in the order of occurrence. Not all course projects are pictured

Session 1   Overview of metals used

  Shapes & Tempers of wire used, Exercises with wire - binding,       Make a bangle bracelet - 2 styles

Session 2 - Review of homework,  Make a pair of earrings, set a pair of faceted post earrings

Session 3   -  Review of homework,  Make a border wrap pendant and earrings

Session 4 -  Review of homework,  Set a facetted gemstone –            2 styles,  Make a faceted gemstone pendant

Session 5 -  Review of homework,  Make a cabochon pendant

Session 6 - Review of homework,  Make three rings, Wrapping the shank

Session 7 - Your time with my gem dealer and my lapidary friends.