We buy used jewellery tools and supplies
​ and gratefully accept donations
[email protected]

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What's it going to be?  One day?  Or day one!

More 2026 in person and online workshops are being updated. 
  
​Don't miss out!  Sign up for our newsletter! 
​ ​



​  ABSTRACTING THE LANDSCAPE
​NATURE RE-IMAGINED 
SELF-PACED ONLINE VIDEO WORKSHOP 

- YOU WILL BE GUIDED THROUGH 4 COMPLETE PAINTINGS
-BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE
-PAINT AT YOUR OWN PACE AND ON YOUR OWN SCHEDULE
-SAVE MONEY, USE MOSTLY INEXPENSIVE ACRYLIC STUDENT GRADE PAINTS
-ALMOST 5 HOURS OF CONTENT
-WORKS IN PROGRESS: EXAMPLES OF WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS
DON'T GO AS PLANNED
- A FUN AND ENTERTAINING WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE- ENCOURAGING YOU TO PLAY WITH PAINT!
NO REFERENCE IMAGES REQUIRED, WE MAKE IT ALL UP
-LOOSEN UP, USING NONTRADITONAL TOOLS 
-LOTS OF TIPS AND TECHNIQUES THAT YOU CAN BRING INTO YOUR OWN WORK
​-LIFETIME ACCESS
FREE BONUS-CONNECT WITH GREG AND STUDENTS IN OUR PRIVATE COMMUNITY SPACE
​$399.00 CAD plus tax where applicable. 

 Thumbnails are actual or approximate representations of video demonstrations 

About Greg:​ As a successful commercial illustrator and fine art painter Greg has sold more than 1500 paintings to date! His beautiful abstract landscape paintings resonate with his collectors and painters alike. Greg taught part time at the Milwaukee Institute of Art And Design and later at Hawkeye Community College for almost five years all the while working as a professional Illustrator. And he recently taught two, week long workshops for us on Vancouver Island.
​He paints with a humorous, lighthearted approach and refers to his painting style as just "Playing with Paint". 
He has been represented by galleries in North and South Carolina, Iowa and Wisconsin but now prefers to sell to his collectors and world wide through his Etsy shop at  HargreavesArt.

SPRING SILVERSMITH JEWELRY WORKSHOPS WITH KELLY ALLANSON


Register for one, two, three or preferably all 4 days! 
​
$149.00 plus GST of $7.45 per day=  $156.45 for EACH day

Plus a $50.00 material fee per day
to be paid directly to Kelly upon commencement.

Dates:
​Friday OCT 30,2026
Saturday OCT 31, 2026
Sunday NOV 1, 2026
Monday NOV 2, 2026

If there is enough demand we will repeat these workshops the following Friday, Saturday Sunday and Monday. November 6,7,8 &9)
​

​Join us for our fun, skill building workshops and leave proudly wearing what you make! 
Or make something for someone special as a treasured gift
If you know, you know.  We sell out fast! This is our 11th year!
 
GORGEOUS FOLDFORMED CUFFS  Day  1  Friday, OCTOBER 30th
​​Time to play!
You'll find this workshop fun and easy... And pretty!  No two are ever the same! ​
​ 
Spend the day exploring several key approaches to the element of foldforming.

The techniques utilized in foldforming through the manipulation of a single sheet of metal truly bring your pieces to life just with simple folds and bends that are built on top of each other. 
​
We will step it up a notch by incorporating hammer textures and cut outs, which will bring a whole other dimension to your creations. 
​Not to mention when we stack torch fired patinas on-top of all your folds and textures, the cuffs continue to build in both design and beauty.

Flame patinas can create a varity of beautiful colours on your metal as seen in the photos. Kelly will share how to protect them and keep the colors from changing. 
​ 
Join us and make some really eye catching cuffs all while learning the art of fold forming. ​
For an additional fee you can make your cuff in sterling silver! ​

HINGED SOFT SQUARE PENDANT   Day 2  Saturday October, 31

​

When fun meets function!
​This soft square pendant is a great opportunity to learn how to work with soft-cornered bezel-set stones.

By shifting our design focus from the pendant itself to the bail is what makes this pendant a little different from the usual.  Sometimes, going with the unexpected can add quite an impacrt without actually having to add a lot of embellishments. 

We will create visual and tactile interest in our pieces just by playing with the bails.  Through a few adjustments and with a bit of imagination, we will learn a few different ways to bring interest to those simple pieces we all love to wear,
Kelly will go over a couple of hinged bail options with you and you will each select one style to make for yourselves. One option is that the stone is able to twirl on its bail! 
​ As always, there will  be a nice selection of natural cabochons for you to choose from and everything will be fabricated in sterling silver.

ORBIT RING  Day 3 Sunday , November 1st​

​Bring a little whimsy and a whole lotta wow into your ring creations!
​
With so many ring designs out there, we can always find a way to set stones a little differently that will bring attention to your design and steer away from the traditional. 
 
This project is all about that.  You will get to explore using positive and negative space, which is always a favorite! 

You will create a "floating stone" that's suspended off the ring band using balls that will serve as function but also become part of the design. The balls will add decoration but also security.
​First, you'll select your round or oval cabochon. (Kelly will have plenty to choose from.)  Then, its time to  melt some uniform balls to use as embellishments. These will also secure the stone onto the ring after which you will cut out a negative space to really make the gemstone pop!  From here, you'll be adding wire and more balls to act as a counterbalance to the floating cabochon and the negative space.   Balance isn't the main focus when it comes to jewelry, but it's definitely an underlying theme that jewellers use every day without even really thinking about it.

SAND CASTING WITH STONES IN PLACE - Day 4   Monday, November 2

​​Come play in a fiery way!
Spend the day exploring casting stones in place.   
You will have the chance to create cute little pendants or charms with accent stones or sterling silver rings.  Each student will receive 15 grams of sterling silver for one project (or tiny projects) but additional silver can be purchased if you have the time and desire to make additional pieces.

You are welcome to bring your own scrap silver to melt if you like!  Must be examined and okayed by instructor before use to avoid contamination, etc.
​The first half of the day you will spend learning the the ins and outs of the sand casting process. See what shapes and forms work well for this process.  You will then learn how to include stones (cubic zirconias) and the best ways to get them to stay put during casting!  You will also learn about the different types of stones that are suitable for high temperature casting. 
Once your casting/s have been created, we will add bails or final touches and learn how to best polish and finish off your creations.  Kelly will have lots of items you can use as forms in the sand but you are welcome to bring your own treasures to cast too.  Think twigs, shells, game pieces, etc.  Kelly will have 3D ring molds on hand to use too but this may require more than the supplied 15 grams of silver! 
​​DAY 1 FOLDFORM CUFF -  FRIDAY October 30
DAY 2 SOFT SQUARE PENDANT   Saturday, October 31
DAY 3 ORBIT RING  Sunday, November 1
DAY 4 SAND CASTING WITH STONES IN PLACE  -  Monday, November 2

​$149.00 plus $7.45 GST  =  $156.45 for EACH day
​(Plus $50.00 EACH day cash upon commencement paid to Kelly for kit materials and consumables.)

Deposit of $50.00 for EACH day is required or pay in full
Balance due September 1, 2026  
E transfer to [email protected]  And indicate which dates you signed up for. 
or if you prefer to pay with credit card via Pay Pal there is an additonal 4% handling fee added.  Please email me for the total.  Prefer a payment plan?  Email me here:  [email protected]
Hours 10-5 daily
​Nanaimo - 1520 Stewart Avenue

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD ABSTRACT PAINTING WORKSHOP
with 
JASON HACKENWERTH


​​
​IN THIS WORKSHOP YOU WILL:
-Focus on preparation, process, and pushing past thought.
-Explore modes of bold mark-making that lend to immediacy and intensity.
-Consider the use of words as figures or forms for seducing the audience.
-Employ layering to generate unpredictable metaphor and allegory.
-Utilize wiping and rubbing to explore vulnerability and reveal hidden beauty and strength.​

​GOALS FOR THIS WORKSHOP ​
​To develop courage and confidence in yourself, your practice and your mark-making.
Learn the difference between common work that is “easy,” and distinctive work that grabs viewers and makes a lasting impression. 
Initiate a process-oriented practice that will build trust and faith in your ability to make bold and memorable work. 
Jason will share tips and tools for moving past thought, breaking through blocks and shattering doubt while overcoming procrastintion.​​
 You will define what you truly hope to achieve in your art practice and set a course to reach it.  ​
​
Jason Hackenworth is a multidisciplinary artist working in the fields of painting, sculpture and installations.
His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world including:
Solomon Guggenheim Museum, New York
Victoria and Albert Museum, London 
National Museum, Scotland
​

​www.jasonhackenwerth.com
IG @hackenwerth
​
​5 Day Workshop    OCTOBER 22 - 26, 2026  THURSDAY TO MONDAY
$2,500.00 + $125.00 tax (GST 5%)  = $2,625.00
Payment in full or deposit with balance due July 1, 2026  Details on registration page. Use register button.
12 spaces max
​Acrylic only.  Jason loves oils but they dry slowly and limit progress in this workshop environment. 
1520 Stewart Avenue, Nanaimo, BC  
Hours: 10 - 5 daily with Jason
1 hour lunch
Studio is open 9 AM to 9 PM except Saturday evening when closed at 6
48"X 60" max stretched canvas. Wall space to hang and 6ft table ea
Supply list upon registration
​Prefer a payment plan?  Email me here:  [email protected]