At Gallery: Introduction to Handcrafted Jewelry

Making handcrafted jewelry is one of the most popular pastimes. There is great satisfaction in designing a piece that is one of a kind. Learn the little secrets of creating a piece of jewelry that looks professional and remains intact. In this workshop you will learn all the basics of stringing a bracelet or necklace. A list of bead choices you will need to bring to class will be sent after you register.  Tools are supplied by the gallery and instructor.  Lynn Sheft has been a jewelry designer and instructor for over 20 years. Her expertise includes wire work, basic stringing including multiple strands, kumihimo, pearl knotting and chain maille.

Date:  Sunday, October 4

Time:  1:00-4:00pm

Cost:  $45 Basic materials fee paid to the instructor: $10.

Lynn Sheft has spent her adult life in the creative field, first as an award-winning senior copywriter and creative director for South Florida’s leading advertising agencies responsible for such major accounts as Burger King,Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Orient Lines, Carnival,Crock-Pot,Mayor’s Jewelers, and Aronow Powerboats.While raising her daughter, she discovered her other creative talents. Having watercolor paints out for her little girl, she tried them herself and enjoyed the challenge.Consequently, she took evening classes for two years learning the method of dry glazing to create realistic still life, landscape and portrait painting. When her daughter became a teen, the two of them took a basic class in making jewelry.She has been designing jewelry ever since. Her expertise includes:

• Rosary wire wrapping and wire work
• Pearl knotting
• Bead crochet
• Precious metal clay
• Kumihimo (Japanese method of braiding with beads)
• Chain maille
• Loom and off-loom weaving

It has been 25 years that Lynn made her first necklace.She has sold her jewelry in gift shops, fashion boutiques and commissioned pieces in South Florida up until 2012 when she moved to Connecticut.Her designs are one-of-a-kind and feature natural semi-precious stones, pearls, Czech glass beads, Swarovski crystals, seed beads, and artistic lampwork beads. Metals of choice are sterling silver, Argentium silver, 14K gold and gold-filled, silver plate, pewter, brass, copper, and bronze.In 2017, she found her “happy place” when she was recruited by Bead Hive proprietor Rena Mulrain. She teaches classes there on a regular basis and shares many of her design ideas with her customers. Today, Lynn’s jewelry may be found at gift shops and Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT. When Lynn isn’t making jewelry, she is wool felting or writing fiction. She has written two suspense novels that are looking for a home with a literary agent. Her current project is ahistorical novel. Lynn makes her home with her family in Madison, CT.