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

  • Available for a Private Class?: Yes (info)

  • 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. Her teaching background ranges from first grade art classes to private jewelry lessons and has spanned over a decade.

Liz is the owner and creator behind Covert Metals, a one-woman metalworking studio located in Denver, Colorado that has roots reaching from New York to Texas. Covert Metals emphasizes unique one-of-a-kind design that melds contemporary styling with hand-forged detailing. You can find her work at CovertMetals.com or on Instagram and Facebook @covertmetals.