Trade the City for a Creative Weekend on the Coast
Portland has a thriving metalsmithing scene — studios like Ninety Twenty, Multnomah Arts Center, and others offer excellent multi-week evening classes. But if you want to learn silversmithing in a single weekend and come home with finished jewelry, that’s a different experience entirely — and it’s what we specialize in.
SilverSmithingClass.com is located at Saunders Lake in North Bend on the southern Oregon Coast. Portland students make the four-hour drive south on a Friday evening and spend Saturday and Sunday learning to solder, set stones, and create sterling silver jewelry from scratch. By Sunday afternoon, you’re heading home with a finished pendant, bracelet, or ring you made yourself — plus a scenic coastal weekend behind you.
Why Portland Students Make the Drive
One weekend instead of weeks of evening classes. Portland metalsmithing studios typically run 6-10 week sessions meeting one evening per week. Our format compresses everything into two intensive days. You learn faster because you’re immersed — there’s no week-long gap between sessions where you forget what you learned.
You go home with finished pieces. Many multi-week programs focus on tool fundamentals first and finished projects later. In our class, you’re soldering silver by Saturday morning and polishing your completed piece by Sunday afternoon.
Five students, one instructor. Portland community classes often have 12-20 students sharing equipment and instructor attention. Our classes are capped at 5-6 students. David works with you individually throughout both days.
The drive is part of the experience. The route from Portland to North Bend through the Coast Range and down Highway 101 passes through old-growth forests, past Heceta Head Lighthouse, through charming coastal towns, and alongside some of the most dramatic ocean scenery in the Pacific Northwest.
The Route from Portland
Option 1: I-5 to Eugene, then Highway 126 to the coast (4 hours)
The fastest route. Take I-5 south to Eugene (2 hours), then Highway 126 west through the coastal mountains to Florence (1 hour), then Highway 101 south to North Bend (1 hour). The 101 stretch from Florence to North Bend is the scenic highlight.
Option 2: Highway 101 the whole way (5.5 hours)
The scenic route. Head west to the coast at Tillamook or Lincoln City, then follow 101 south the entire length. More time, but you’ll pass through Cannon Beach, Newport, Florence, and every coastal town in between.
Tip: Many Portland students drive down Friday evening, stay overnight near our studio, take the class Saturday and Sunday, then either head home Sunday night or stay one more night to explore. The Planning Your Trip page has lodging recommendations.
What You Can Take in a Weekend
Beginning Silversmithing — Learn silver soldering, bezel setting, and stone mounting. Create a finished sterling silver pendant in two days. $399, all tools provided.
Intermediate Rings & Bracelets — For students who’ve completed the beginning class. Create an interchangeable bracelet and a double split band ring. $399.
Hammered Silver Earrings — A 4-hour workshop perfect for a half-day trip. Go home with four pairs of fine silver earrings.
Want a longer experience? The 5-Day Bracelet Retreat is an all-inclusive creative vacation — lodging, meals, transportation, and a complete tool set included.
Can’t Make the Drive?
We offer a 21-hour online streaming course that covers everything from beginning through intermediate techniques. Stream on any device, at your own pace. Available with or without a tool kit shipped to your Portland address.
Questions? Call Dave at 916-548-7361 or email Dave@SilverSmithingClass.com.