Mountain Pendants Metalsmithing & Jewelry Class

With Liz Covert

Capture the beauty of the mountains in a unique piece of wearable art. This workshop guides you through the process of creating a stunning, layered pendant by combining sterling silver and copper. You will learn to saw intricate mountain silhouettes and fuse them together with a torch, creating a miniature landscape you can wear. This class is designed to introduce beginners to the joy of fabricating jewelry from sheet metal. Join this supportive beginner-friendly workshop, discover a new creative art, and connect with a community of fellow makers!

What You’ll Make:

  • You will create a beautiful, handcrafted pendant featuring a copper mountain range set against a sterling silver background. The pendant will be finished with a bail and chain, ready to wear or gift.

Skills & Concepts You’ll Learn:

  • Essential studio safety and proper tool handling

  • Designing and transferring a pattern onto metal

  • Using a jeweler's saw to cut precise shapes

  • Layering different metals (bi-metal fabrication)

  • Sweat soldering to join two pieces of sheet metal

  • Applying a patina to create contrast and depth

  • Filing, sanding, and polishing for a clean, professional finish

Equipment & Tools You’ll Learn:

  • Jeweler's saw, soldering torch, files, hammers, stamps, and polishing equipment.

Class Outline:

  1. Safety & Design: Overview of studio safety, project design, and transferring your mountain design to the copper sheet.

  2. Fabrication: Students will use a jeweler's saw to cut out their copper mountain silhouette and the silver backplate.

  3. Soldering: Instructor demonstrates the sweat soldering technique; students then solder their copper mountains to the silver backplate.

  4. Finishing: Students will add a bail, apply a patina to enhance the design, and complete a final polish.

  5. Wrap-Up: Review, tips for jewelry care, and Q&A.

Other Class Details:

  • Prerequisites: None. No Experience Required.

  • Class Capacity: 8 maximum, 4 minimum

  • Materials Provided?: Yes

  • Age Limit: 14+. Guardian required if under 18 (info)

  • Partner Ticket Available?: No

  • Clothing/Equipment Requirements?: Closed toed shoes, an apron, and tie your long hair back if needed.

About the Teacher

Liz honed her skills while earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in small metals and sculpture. Inspired by the world around her, she continued her education with a Masters in Cultural Studies. Liz’s extensive experience in metal work includes welding, blacksmithing, and a career in sculpture conservation, including working at the Smithsonian. Liz is the owner and creator behind Covert Metals, a one-woman metalworking studio located in Denver, Colorado. You can find her work at CovertMetals.com or on Instagram and Facebook @covertmetals.

What People Say about Liz Covert's Classes….

“Liz as the instructor immediately made the space feel safe, fun, and welcoming. She explained the process in a way that felt doable for all skill levels.”

“Liz is possibly the most enthusiastic and engaging human I’ve ever met!”

“I took two jewelry classes in college and struggled, but Liz gave tips and pointers my college professors never did that helped me be so much more successful.”