Turn Your Gem Collection into Wearable Jewelry
Texas has one of the strongest gem and mineral communities in the country — from the Dallas Gem & Mineral Society to the Houston shows, San Antonio rock shops, and Austin lapidary clubs. If you’ve been collecting turquoise, agate, jasper, or other cabochons, silversmithing is how you turn those stones into finished jewelry you can wear, gift, or sell.
SilverSmithingClass.com offers intensive weekend workshops on the Oregon Coast where you learn real silver soldering, professional bezel setting, and stone mounting in just two days. Bring your favorite cabochon from a Texas gem show and set it in sterling silver before you fly home.
What Texas Students Get from Our Classes
Real soldering, not wire wrapping. Most short jewelry classes in Texas teach wire wrapping, bead stringing, or metal clay — techniques that don’t involve a torch. Our class teaches hard silver soldering, the professional technique that Navajo, Zuni, and contemporary silversmiths use. It’s what separates craft jewelry from professional jewelry.
Bring your own stones. If you’ve been stockpiling cabochons from the Austin Gem & Mineral Society show or the Tucson show, bring your favorites. You’ll learn to fabricate a custom bezel and set your stone permanently in silver during class.
A weekend is all it takes. Fly into Eugene (EUG) or Portland (PDX) on Friday, drive to our lakeside studio on the coast, take the class Saturday and Sunday, fly home Sunday night or Monday morning. Texas students have been doing this trip for years — several have gone on to sell at craft fairs and art shows back home.
Small class, personal attention. Our classes are limited to 5-6 students with one instructor — David Lee Smith, a silversmith with 35+ years of experience who has taught thousands of students from across the country. This isn’t a crowded community college workshop.
Getting Here from Texas
By air: The most common route for Texas students is to fly into Portland (PDX) — direct flights are available from DFW, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. From Portland, it’s a scenic 4-hour drive south to our studio on the coast. Some students fly into Eugene (EUG) for a shorter 2-hour drive, though Eugene has fewer direct flight options from Texas.
Make it a trip: Many Texas students turn the class into a long weekend getaway. The Oregon Coast is a dramatic change of scenery — rugged cliffs, old-growth forests, lighthouses, and fresh Dungeness crab. It’s nothing like home, and that’s the point. Visit our Planning Your Trip page for lodging and local recommendations.
Classes Available
Beginning Silversmithing — 2 Days ($399)
Learn silver soldering, bezel fabrication, stone setting, and polishing. Leave with a finished sterling silver pendant. All tools provided, no experience needed.
5-Day Bracelet Retreat — All-Inclusive ($3,499)
Our most immersive experience. Create four unique bracelets over five days using cuttlefish bone casting, straw casting, and freeform wire work. Lodging, meals, transportation, and a complete professional tool set are included.
Online Streaming — 21 Hours, Your Schedule
Start learning from your Texas workshop before you visit. Stream our complete video series on any device, with or without a tool kit shipped to your door.
A Student Story
“I won 1st place in the Cherokee Nation Trail of Tears Art Show. And I won 1st place in the Cherokee Homecoming Art Show this summer. I’m still amazed at how one weekend learning from you has changed my life.” — Tyran C., Oklahoma (took our class in Broken Arrow, OK)
Ready to get started? Register for the Beginning Silversmithing class →
Don’t see a date that works? Subscribe to our schedule list and we’ll notify you when new dates are posted.
Questions? Call Dave at 916-548-7361 or email Dave@SilverSmithingClass.com.