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Private Jewelry Lessons

Have you ever wanted to try making your own jewelry? Did you make jewelry in the past, and want a refresher course to get back up to speed? I'd be happy to help you!

My studio is not set up for teaching large classes, but is perfect for one on one instruction. The beauty of private lessons is that they are not only one-on-one, they can also be planned to fit our existing schedules. If you've never been able to make it to a formal class, private lessons are a wonderful alternative.

The structure of the lessons will depend on your starting skill level, and what you want to accomplish! For example, a beginner could expect something like this:

-Studio safety (there is a liability waiver I'll need you to go over and sign)
-Sawing with a jeweler's saw
-Filing, drilling, and sanding
-Soldering techniques with a small propane/oxygen torch
-Textures and finishes
-Polishing
-Advice on where to get tools & supplies, good reference books, and answers to other questions you may have

Good projects for beginners are: hammer-textured bangle bracelets; pendants and/or earrings sawed out of roller printed copper sheet; twisted wire rings; a cabochon stone set as a pendant or ring; and enameled pendants.

If you have some jewelry making experience already, perhaps you'd be looking for something more like this:

-Help and/or troubleshooting with a particular project or technique you've been struggling with
-Finishing a piece you started elsewhere, but just don't have the tools to do so on your own, or you need a refresher to feel comfortable doing so
-You have some basic skills, but want to learn more advanced techniques (stone setting techniques, working with gold, or enameling for example)

General pricing is $30/hr and includes the use of my tools, torch, solder, kiln, some enamels & stones, and copper sheet/wire. (I recommend at least a 2 hour time block, 3 being ideal).

Interested? Email me at heatherwangjewelry (at) gmail (dot) com, and we'll figure out a date! I'm available most weekdays/evenings, and most weekends as well. Want to meet me first? I think that's a great idea, too! Feel free to stop by during a First Saturdays Open Studios event, or contact me to set up another time to stop by.

Contact Heather

I'm very sorry for the inconvenience--It has been brought to my attention that my contact form was not delivering the emails being sent from it. I'm so, so sorry if you have written and I have not replied to you! I've disabled the contact form, and will rely on regular email from now on.

To contact me, please email me at heatherwangjewelry (at) gmail (dot) com.

Any information provided to me will be kept strictly confidential. I don’t like spam or junk mail either!

Mailing address:
Heather Wang Jewelry
122 Western Avenue
Studio # 319
Lowell, MA 01851
(Please note that if you use the USPS to mail me something that requires a signature, it will be delayed in delivery as I will need to go to the post office to retrieve it. I don't mind doing so--it's just that the postal delivery people can't come upstairs to obtain signatures).

Google Voice number: (978) 905-8319
(This number is only answered during normal business hours: weekdays 10am to 6pm, EST. Please feel free to leave a voicemail during off hours, so I can return your call the next business day. Or email me instead!)

Visiting My Studio:
My studio is open by appointment and on most First Saturdays Open Studios events here at Western Avenue Studios. I am located on the 3rd floor of the C-Mill. Enter through the green door in the parking lot (you'll be in the A-Mill). Take the elevator up to the 3rd floor, take a right from the elevator and go up the hallway/ramp, and through the closed light green door. (This will bring you to the C-Mill). Take a right after going through this door, and I'll be the second studio on the left (painted light blue, with small paper lanterns & framed photographs on the wall). Please visit the WAS website for driving directions and further information: http://www.westernavenuestudios.com.

Where to Shop & Useful Links

Shop online:
http://heatherwangjewelry.bigcartel.com/

You can also purchase my work at the following locations:

13FOREST Gallery Arlington, MA
Cambridge Artists Cooperative GalleryCambridge, MA
Craftland Providence, RI (Shop Craftland online here)
Fruitlands Museum Shop Harvard, MA
Karenna Maraj Jewelry Collection Belmont, MA
Worcester Center For Craft Gallery Shopd Worcester, MA

Social Media
Follow me on Twitter
Like on Facebook

Press:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/chronicle/23083486/detail.html
http://www.jewelryoftheday.net/
http://www.larkbooks.com/catalog?isbn=9781600593451
http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_10523255?IADID
http://www.lowellsun.com/videos
http://thephoenix.com/News/62607-Unappealing-zoning/
http://southendopenmarket.typepad.com/marketblogger/2008/03/index.html

News

For the must up-to-date news, check out my Twitter feed! Tweets by @hmwang4


New Website Launching Soon!
My website is being completely redesigned! I can't wait for it to launch, I've seen the previews and it's looking great. Functionality will be vastly improved (scrolling through photo collections and such) with a more up-to-date and dynamic layout. Thanks, Stellar Web Studios!

Last Term Teaching at the Brookline Arts Center: May 2013
After 6 years and countless wonderful students, I've decided to leave the Brookline Arts Center to focus completely on my business. As much as I love teaching there, the commute and total hours out of my studio each week have become too hard to balance with the amount of time I need to devote to my custom work and craft show schedule. I wish the BAC the best of luck, and hope that if you're in the Boston area, you'll check them out if you're looking for art or jewelry classes! Karenna Maraj, Ashley Vick, and Lauren Blais are all fantastic jewelry teachers there.

If you are in the Merrimack Valley area, I've decided to offer private lessons in my studio! This way I'm still be able to teach, but on a smaller, one-on-one scale.

TV Interview! April 2013
Check out my interview on Liz Smith's local access show, Makers in Business.
Thank you, Liz! And thank you all as well--my wonderful, quirky couples, fabulous customers, and fellow makers for watching!

Check out Liz's other Makers In Business interviews on her Vimeo page: http://vimeo.com/madeinlowell/videos

Boston Sunday Globe article: March 11, 2012
This link is complete with a goofy picture of me wearing my safety glasses:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/03/11/for-jewelry-maker-nature-fuels-inspiration/fjXEeHu2SeHMPx83NTQ3HL/story.html

My "On the Job" interview is up on Boston.com today! March 7, 2012
You can read it here: http://www.boston.com/jobs/news/jobdoc/2012/03/artisan_community_inspires_thi.html
The print version with photographs will be in this Sunday's Boston Globe (March 11, 2012) as well!

On WGBH this morning!
Western Avenue Studios and Western Avenue Lofts were featured this morning on one of Boston's NPR stations, 89.7 WGBH! http://www.wgbh.org/articles/index.cfm?tempid=5543

Podcast Interview by Nicole LeLacheur
Nicole, a communications major at Endicott College, conducted a series of interviews with a few WAS artists, and one of them was me! You can listen to the podcast here. Thank you for the interview and write up, Nicole!

Merrimack Man Pops The Question With Help of Muppets
Congratulations to Sid and Sara!! Sid created this amazing movie trailer proposal, and check out her ring! They are one of the nicest couples I've ever met, I'm so happy for them!
http://www.wmur.com/video/26179788/detail.html

Beantown Bride Jewelry Giveaway Feature
Congratulations to Melissa, the winner of Beantown Bride's jewelry giveaway, featuring my Lace Earrings!
http://beantownbride.com/2010/06/jewelry-giveaway-1.html

Karenna Maraj Jewelry Collection in Belmont now open!
My friend and fellow RISD graduate has opened up her own jewelry gallery in Belmont, MA! I'm very excited for her, and happy to have my work in such a great new space. Her store's website is coming soon, but for now you can check out her site: http://www.karennamaraj.com

"Art Colonies" on Channel 5's Chronicle
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/chronicle/23083486/detail.html

March 30, 2010: Channel 5's "Chronicle" visits WAS...and interviews me!
http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_14791554
The episode featuring WAS should air in a couple of weeks, I'll let you know when it will be on.
Thanks so much to everyone at Chronicle for coming to see us and featuring the studios on their show!

Bloom Necklace to be Featured on "Jewelry of the Day" Blog
Check out http://www.jewelryoftheday.net/ on May 30th!

500 Enameled Objects: A Celebration of Color on Metal from Lark Books
My "Lace Plique a Jour Dish" is one of the pieces featured in this book! It will arrive in bookstores in April of 2009.
To see the piece, check out my Commissions page. For more info on the book, visit http://www.larkbooks.com/catalog?isbn=9781600593451

I'm in the September 21 2008 edition of the Lowell Sun!
A story about the upcoming Lowell Open Studios by Nancy Tuttle appeared in the Sunday edition of the Lowell Sun, featuring WAS artists Don Sullivan, Linda Williamson, and me! You can click here http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_10523255?IADID to read it.

Lowell SunCast Video Interview
The Sun also recorded a short video component of their interview with me for the above article. You can see me sawing out fine silver flowers for my "Twin Bloom" earrings! You can click here http://www.lowellsun.com/videos to view it. (I'm in between a feature on a "Chocolate Massage" from a local spa, and brick oven pizza :-D)

Lowell Zoning Board of Appeals Approves Live/Work Lofts on Western Avenue!!
You can read the Lowell Sun's article here: http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_10305579
After 8 months of disappointment, hard work, Dirty Smelly Noisy, and most importantly, compromise, this is great news indeed!

Order Policies & Jewelry Care

First of all, thank you for your interest in my jewelry!

To purchase my work directly, you can visit my studio during a First Saturdays Open Studios at Western Avenue Studios, or email me at heatherwangjewelry (at) gmail (dot) com to schedule an appointment to come by at another time. My work is also available online here on my website, and at several local galleries listed on the Shop page.

To inquire about custom orders and commissions, please feel free to email me at heatherwangjewelry (at) gmail (dot) com. Please also note that custom work will take several weeks to complete, as everything is handmade to order by me. Completion time will vary depending on what you’d like, as well as order volume at the time, and is subject to change. I will provide you with a more precise time frame when I confirm your order.

For engagement rings, a minimum of eight to ten weeks from the date on which you choose the final design is necessary (ten to twelve if it is the holiday season, November though January). If you wish to propose in less than eight weeks, I will do my absolute best to accommodate you, but it may not be possible to finish your ring in a shorter time frame. In such a case I would not be able to guarantee the short delivery date for you, so please bear this in mind and plan accordingly! Engagement rings and wedding bands are some of my favorite pieces to make, just remember that they take more time to design and create.

Pricing is very dependent on the metal(s) and stone(s) you choose, as well as the complexity of the design, and includes the cost of preliminary drawings and models (if any models are necessary). These figures are meant to serve as a ballpark range for the metalwork, labor, and drawings--stones vary in their pricing so much that it's not possible for me to give a ballpark figure here. If you tell me what stones you're interested in, we can go from there! If you have a stone or stones already, then these are a closer indication of what your total would be.

Silver: $400+
Palladium: $1000+
Gold: $1400+
Platinum: $2200+

Payment Options

For direct sales at my studio or craft shows, I accept cash, personal checks, and all major credit cards. I also accept all major credit cards via PayPal in my online shop. (You do not have to have a PayPal account in order to purchase from my website!)

Massachusetts residents must pay the MA state sales tax.
All of your information will be kept strictly confidential.

Shipping

I ship via insured USPS Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. If you prefer another shipping method, please let me know when placing your order (I'm also happy to use FedEx or UPS). Please note that I cannot be responsible for loss or damage during transit, so I recommend adding insurance.

Return Policies

I want you to be happy with your jewelry! Please contact me as soon as possible if you are not, so we can work out a solution together.

Returns or exchanges may be made within 7 days of the original purchase date. Items must be in the original condition and packaging. In the event of a return, you will be refunded your original total payment, less any shipping costs. Please note that all sales of custom orders are final.

Repairs

While I am happy to repair my jewelry for you should the need arise, I don't accept repairs for other jewelry. Thank you for your understanding!

Jewelry Care

If you purchase an enameled piece of jewelry, please take extra care not to drop it—enamel is glass and it could crack. If this happens though, don’t panic! Contact me and we’ll figure out your repair or replacement options.

For cleaning tarnish from sterling, I recommend liquid silver cleaners that you can dip the jewelry into, rather than polishing cloths or creams meant for silverware. (I use Tarn-X myself). If there are nooks and crannies you need to clean out, dip the piece into the cleaner and then scrub it gently with a soft toothbrush. Just follow the directions on the bottle, and be sure to close the drain and/or put a towel at the bottom of the sink in case you drop anything. These liquid cleaners tend to smell pretty terrible, but they work well and quickly. You can also use them to brighten fine silver and different gold alloys.

To clean any of the bronze jewelry you purchase from me (Blooming Branch & Morning Glory collections) Tarn-X will also clean and brighten the bronze. However, it does tend to make it more matte than it may have been when you purchased it. My favorite thing to clean bronze with is a polishing cloth--makes it clean and shiny, and can be used on the silver too. Bronze darkens naturally to brown with time, which may actually suit the branch pieces quite nicely!

Sterling will also tarnish less if you store it in a sealed bag, as tarnish forms when the copper in the alloy is exposed to air.

Please remember to never put pearls, turquoise, amber, opals, or other soft stones into jewelry or silver cleaner!

If you're having trouble keeping your Cherry Blossom hoops closed, gently push the wire ends past each other, til the metal springs back to the closed position. Sometimes if they get caught on your hair or clothing, the wire gets pulled out of shape, and they may come open more easily than before.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me at heatherwangjewelry (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thank You for Contacting Me!

Your email has been successfully sent. Thanks so much for your interest, and I will get back to you very shortly!

About the Artist

Biography

I knew that I wanted to be a jeweler when I was 14 years old.  I was lucky enough to attend a high school that had an “art metals” class, and I haven’t looked back since.

I received my BFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from Rhode Island School of Design in 2002.  Afterwards I went straight to graduate school, at the Royal College of Art in London, England. I left the RCA with a MA (equivalent to a U.S. MFA) in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery in 2004.  After spending the last of my money traveling around Europe, I returned home to Massachusetts.

Upon my return I found work as a costume jewelry designer, and then briefly as a high end flute maker. Along the way, I found my current studio space at Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, MA.  When everything started to fall into place, I took a deep breath, and jumped at the chance to start my own business in early 2007.

Inspiration

What I love most about jewelry is its ability to contain and spur memories.  I love to make lockets and other memento jewelry, so much so that this was the subject of my dissertation and focus of my work at the RCA. 

Nature is also an ideal muse, always different, always inspiring. Trees have played a recurring role in my work from the very beginning, even though I wasn’t always conscious of this fact!  I also love to work with color, so enameling is one of my favorite techniques. All of the jewelry is hand fabricated by me, using a wide variety of gold and silversmithing techniques.

Past Exhibitions