Description:

In this six week class students will learn basic and intermediate blacksmithing operations techniques as they work to create functional kitchenware. Examples include spatulas, flesh forks, spoons, skimmers, and more. Topics covered include shouldering, fullering, splitting, punching, drifting, and finishing. Open to all levels, previous metalwork experience is helpful but not required.

Cost: $495, materials included. Class meets 3 hours a week on Wednesday evenings. Limit 8 students.

Schedule: Tuesdays, 6 - 9 pm, March 31st - May 5th, 2026. Six Sessions.

Location:

Smith Shop, 180 Victor St, Highland Park, MI 48203

Instructor Biography:

Gabriel Craig has been a metalsmith for 22 years, starting his career as a jeweler and gradually becoming interested in larger and more varied metalworking techniques. His work is often influenced by medieval and gothic ornament and architecture. Gabriel’s work has been exhibited nationally including exhibitions at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., The National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, TN, and the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, OR. He has held artist residencies at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and Warren Wilson College. Gabriel received his BFA in Metals/ Jewelry from Western Michigan University and his MFA in Jewelry and Metalworking from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Description:

In Intermediate Jewelry students will continue to build upon the foundational techniques learned in the Beginning Jewelry course, with emphasis on more complex soldering, fabrication, and stone setting. The skills taught in this course can be applied to a variety of jewelry forms including rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. This class will focus on tab and tube settings. Students will complete 1-2 projects during the course. Limit 10 students. Classes meet 3 hours once a week.

*Completion of Beginning Jewelry Class or equivalent experience required.*

Schedule:

Tuesdays, 6-9pm. March 10th- April 14th, 2026

Location:

Smith Shop, 180 Victor St, Highland Park, MI 48203

Instructor Biography:

Amy Weiks is Co-owner and Co-founder of Smith Shop. She began her art career as a photographer before studying printmaking at the Glasgow School of Art in Glasgow, Scotland. She discovered metalsmithing in 2004 and has been a practicing metalsmith since. Amy’s innate sense of form and composition along with her detail oriented nature help drive Smith Shop’s exacting standards of quality. Amy has shown her artwork nationally and internationally including exhibitions at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft in Houston, TX, The Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, WA, and Galerie Marzee in Nijmegen, Netherlands. In 2013 Weiks had a solo exhibition at Velvet da Vinci, a noted jewelry gallery in San Francisco, CA. She received her BFA from Western Michigan University her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Description:

In this two day workshop couples will learn how to make their own wedding rings using silver, gold, platinum or palladium. All of the basics will be covered including measuring, sawing, forming, soldering, filing, sanding, texturing and finishing. Each student will fabricate a practice ring before making the final ring in their chosen material. No metals experience is needed. Safety equipment provided. Limit 5 couples. Cost: $495 per couple + materials.

Schedule:

Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th

9am - 3pm. 2 days, 6 hours with a break for lunch.

Materials and Design Meeting: TBD, scheduled with each couple upon registration. See note below.

Note: For this class students must order and pay for material in advance. Please email us after registering to confirm material choices and arrange payment.

Location:

Smith Shop, 180 Victor St, Highland Park, MI 48203

Instructor Biography:

Amy Weiks is Co-owner and Co-founder of Smith Shop. She began her art career as a photographer before studying printmaking at the Glasgow School of Art in Glasgow, Scotland. She discovered metalsmithing in 2004 and has been a practicing metalsmith since. Amy’s innate sense of form and composition along with her detail oriented nature help drive Smith Shop’s exacting standards of quality. Amy has shown her artwork nationally and internationally including exhibitions at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft in Houston, TX, The Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, WA, and Galerie Marzee in Nijmegen, Netherlands. In 2013 Weiks had a solo exhibition at Velvet da Vinci, a noted jewelry gallery in San Francisco, CA. She received her BFA from Western Michigan University her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art.