Don and Louise Coulson
50040 Deer Road
Aberdeen, MS 37930

662-436-7153

wireweavers@gmail.com

jewelryspectrum.com

Don and I are very excited to present a new class we have developed for William Holland School of Lapidary Arts. We have always used metals as if they were rope, yarn or thread, and the 12 projects in this class are no exception.

We hope to have a class of 12. We will split the class and teach our own specialty for 2 days to each group. On the extra day, we will combine the classes and teach together on some projects we have designed that blend the techniques.

Jewelry artisans, Don & Louise Coulson use ancient textile, nautical and fiber techniques in precious metals to create fine, knotted, woven and braided jewelry. Each piece is hand crafted from original designs.

Their work is rooted in history and the natural world. They have been married for 40 years and moved 43 times. They have traveled thousands of miles on their boat and settled on the banks of the Tombigbee. They have seen wilderness from Canada to Mexico. From bears to orchids, they have observed nature. The beauty of the architecture, art, water, stones, sky and nature influence their designs.

Don is a Civil Engineer. He brings attention to detail and precision in craftsmanship to everything he does. His knotted and braided designs are inspired by his years of experience aboard boats and developed through painstaking planning, experimentation and research.

Louise has a background as a teacher, writer and fiber artisan. She definitely has both feet firmly planted in mid-air. She designs "outside the box" with a fanciful constant questioning of the materials and their possibilities both accidental and by design.

Their design process is a journey of discovery. It consists of sketching, modeling and making practice pieces to get the proportion, technique, and detail set before the pieces are rendered in gold or silver wire. They incorporate the historical tradition and techniques for knitting, weaving, lace making, knotting, braiding and nailbinding in the work. Working closely together, they design and create each piece of jewelry using their combination of natural skills and learned expertise.

CLASS DESCRIPTION

We teach only original projects that we have designed. Six of the projects are new for this year. They will introduce you to a wide array of traditional and original techniques for using metals in jewelry. We have listed 13 projects and should manage to get 12 of them finished, though we hope to do all 13 in the class.

Flourishes Pendant
Flourishes Earrings
Woven Bezel Setting
Woven Wave Ring
Nalbinding Bezel Setting (time permitting)
Tucuman Bracelet
Tucuman Pendant
Plaited Earrings
Knotted Post Earrings
Flat Wire Woven Pendant (time permitting)
Stone Pendant with Nautical Knot and Woven Bezel
Traditional Rush Woven Pendant
Traditional Rush Woven Earrings

We will provide all equipment, hand tools, metals, stones and beads needed for the class. The projects will use sterling silver, .999 fine silver, and some projects will use a combination of silver and copper.

If you have special hand tools, you are welcome to bring them as well as your own stones and beads if you prefer. Please be sure your own items are clearly marked.

Suggested possible tools and materials to bring, but we will have everything but the task light and the visual aid (Optivisor):

Jewelry Cleaning Cloths
Ruler or tape measure
Chain nose pliers
Flush cutters
Round nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
Favorite stones
Beads for accent if you like
Visual aid (optivisor or magnifying glasses of some kind if you need one)
Task Light

These materials fees will be charged separately if the student wants to participate in the extra projects. The projects may include Knotted Chain, Celtic Knotting,Chinese Knotting and Knotted (Possibly Sennet) Post Earrings among other possibilities.

Total Class Cost for Materials for the basic projects - The combined lab and materials fee for the class is $120. This covers use of all tools, consumables and materials needed for each of the 12 projects planned for the class.

These materials fees will be charged separately if the student wants toparticipate in the extra projects. The projects may include Knotted Chain,Celtic Knotting,Chinese Knotting and Knotted (Possibly Sennet) Post Earringsamong other possibilities." We had not included this option for this year,but I can teach extra pieces if time permits and if you want us to.

Maximum Number of Students: 12 (6 in each class)

Pre-requisite: This class can be taken by beginners with good manual dexterity. You will not need a background in wire work or fiber work to enjoy the class. Along with the usual skills related to working with metals, you may encounter some skills that are not familiar.

Round wire weaving
Knotting
Rush weaving
Flat wire weaving
Braiding
Plaiting
Drilling
Oxidizing