Having studied goldsmithing at Vancouver Community College and photography at Langara College, she loves the challenge of combining her technical and creative sides. She looks forward to sharing her passion for art and metalsmithing with her students at Soigne.

For more classes schedule click HERE

First class is scheduled for April 20th from 11am till 3 pm.

4 hours of great creative fun !!!!

Electrochemical etching is a safe, non toxic way to etch copper and other non ferrous metals. Using metal salt solutions and low voltage electricity, you can create crisp, clean etchings with precise detail. This involves no acids or toxic chemicals and is safe to do even on your kitchen table.

Share on Facebook

Andrea, a certified goldsmith, studied at the prestigious College for Goldsmiths in Pforzheim, Germany. After her graduation in 1989 and working in the trade she moved to Vancouver 1996 where she established her own studio.

Since 1999 she is teaching intermediate and advanced Jewelry Techniques to aspiring students at VSB Continuing Education and private study programs for all levels in her studio. The same year she became a Circle Craft Coop member selling her art work at the Granville Island store.

Her love for unusual and rare Brazilian gems are often incorporated in her designs. Andrea addresses her work to people who claim jewelry as a formal idiom of their own and is specialized in one-of-a-kind designs.

To Andrea, art is a reflection of a person’s soul. Her own inspirations are drawn from nature, materials, forms and people. She uses techniques such as roller-printed textures to transform and shape her sculpture like jewelry to give a piece character and depth.

In 2002 her piece “flower of the universe” was given to the Queen of Norway by former Governor General Mrs. Adrienne Clarkson as a present of state representing Canadian Arts and Craft.

I am excited to be invited to Octopus Studios in collaboration with Beata Kacy/Director sharing some 25 years of my professional experience in the jewelry making and designing field and 15 years of mentoring aspiring students exploring their creative potential with fun and never ending curiosity.

Share on Facebook

Tracy is a self taught glass artisan who has been working with the craft for over 20 years. On a trip to Montreal in 91 she discovered the art of stained glass and has been hooked ever since.

Tracy’s fascination with jewelry started early in life so combining the two was just natural. Some of her clients have included Aritzia, below the belt, Made in B.C Art Gallery and North Vancouver Arts Gallery.
You can currently find her work at Arts off Main Gallery, Place des Arts and Maple Ridge Art Gallery.

Tracy is so excited to share her love of glass with you.

“Fusing Glass is my key to transformation, my way to change, my escape.”

Discover the brilliance of Fuse Glass in this introduction to fused glass jewelry course. You will have the opportunity to use different colors, textures and patterns of  glass along with noodles, stringers, confetti, rods, frit and cut glass in your jewelry pieces.

The 6 hour course will give you the fundamental method behind glass fusing. No prior glass experience necessary. You will learn how to cut glass, prepare and program the Kiln and fire glass into durable glass cabochons for jewelry making as well as attaching bales to your glass creations. You will leave the class with at least 3 pendants, 2 pairs of earrings and a ring. All supplies and tools supplied.

For class schedule click here.

Share on Facebook

Monique has been making things for longer than she can remember. Born and raised in New Zealand she completed  her degree at the University of Auckland’s School of Visual Arts, and was fascinated with building sculptures that had a level of functionality. She loves the idea of taking art out of the gallery space and into the realm of everyday life, where everyone can use it and enjoy it.

In 2007 after her studies, her sculptures evolved into jewelry – a true form of functional art! Using a needle as her only tool, she began sculpting miniature figurines from special blends of polymer clay. A born perfectionist, coupled with tiny hands, Monique loved the challenge of working on a small scale. At this time she was teaching these new found skills at one of Auckland’s highly respected art gallery/community centre and it was then that her jewelry line began to grow.

Moving to Vancouver in 2010 her business expanded with the launch of her successful Etsy website littlelampsculpture.etsy.com and she is also regularly involved in local craft markets around the city. Her jewelry line has developed into something quite unique and she continues to work towards an even greater originality.

Monique is excited to share her skills and experience at Soigne and hopes that you will have as much fun with clay as she does.

Create wonderfully quirky jewelry that will have people stopping you on the street to ask where you bought it from (trust me, it happens all the time). In a world of mass production, unique, handmade jewelry is rapidly becoming sought after, learn how to make your own!

Throughout this six hour course you will learn how to mix, shape, join, pierce and detail polymer clay, as well as acquiring techniques needed to create your own figurines. We will also be going through some basic wire work so that you can comfortably hang your new sculptures in a professional manner. Students will walk away with a necklace, brooch and a pair of earrings. No experience needed. All tools will be provided.

Share on Facebook

Demer will be teaching various of jewelry courses including etching, enameling, granulation and 15th hours metalsmithing class level 1 and 2.

Demer received a diploma in Jewelry art and design at Vancouver Community College in 2003. Soon after graduation she won a bench scholarship at Object Design Gallery, where she launched a new line and created a solo exhibit. She also had hands on mentoring under master goldsmith Sako Khatcherian and Tamara Clark, proprietors of Object Design Gallery. In 2005 Demer set-up shop at her home, and continued to create custom made pieces of jewelry, and sell her line at Object Design Gallery, El Cartel on Robson Street and at other various boutiques. Most recently she has solely focused on only creating custom jewelry privately and experimenting with other forms of wearable art.

Demer is inspired by natures organic shapes, textures, and intricate patterns. Art Nouveau architecture and Japanese block prints often influence her style. She thrives to handcraft jewelry that is unique, personal and wearable. She works with silver, enamel, leather, hardwoods and gemstones. She often ornaments surfaces with granulation and etching. Demer enjoys experimenting with different techniques and creating new and inventive ways of applying them. Her goal has always been to push her creative vision into new dimensions, allowing herself the freedom to manifest whatever form it may take. She is excited to be a part of Soigne workshops, and looks forward to sharing her
inspiration!

Share on Facebook

Soigne is please to welcome Paul Tanner. Paul started his jewellery career through the co-op education program at his high school in Victoria, BC. Working at a number of shops, he did a variety of jobs including casting, repairs and fabricating silver jewellery and silverware.

After high-school graduation, Paul continued on the path to becoming a jeweller by working for several companies in the Victoria area and learning a range of skills. He worked at company called Porter Bolton, where he learned mass-production casting by making the brass badges for Princess Patricia’ s Canadian Light Infantry, and learned repair work by working on items for Birks. He also worked at a studio called Goldman Jewellery, where he completed commercial repairs for 13 Peoples Jewellers stores. Paul then moved to Shimmer Design Studio/ Atkinson Diamond Setters where he learned diamond setting in bead, channel, gypsy and pavé styles, and continued to hone his custom work and casting skills.

After many years of knocking on doors, Paul got an apprenticeship with Idar Jewellers, where he completed a four-year apprenticeship in three years and learned how to make hand-fabricated jewellery, to do engraving and stone setting and to fine tune his casting work.

After over five years with Idar, Paul moved to Van Isle Jewellers and Francis Jewellers, where he continued to practice his fabricating skills. Paul retired from commercial jewellery after 10 years in the field, but continues to create special custom pieces for private customers, friends and family.

Share on Facebook

Soigne is pleased to welcome guest teacher Ina Stehle. Ina is a German apprenticed goldsmith and is visiting Vancouver for one year to find new inspirations for her work and to inspire others. She made her apprenticeship at a well known jeweller’s in Aachen from 2001 until 2005 to learn the traditional handcraft of a goldsmith. During this time she participated in additional goldsmith training for special techniques and won several prices from the guild of goldsmithing. After becoming a goldsmith she worked for different businesses to improve her technical skills and became self employed in Hamburg in 2007. She designed and manufactured mainly one of a kind jewellery – fascinated by modern design and the beauty of gemstones. You can see some of her works at www.inastehle.de

She taught several jewellery courses over the last three years in her atelier in Hamburg. The wedding ring, wax carving and casting courses were particularly popular. Now you have the possibility to learn the traditional metalsmith techniques from her.

In the spring Soigne will be offering Metalsmithing level1 and 2 as well as Casting Techniques. More info you can find under section: CLASSES on the right hand side of the blog. Closer to Summer Ina will be teaching Wire Wrapping, Finding, Beading class and Wedding Ring for Two.

12►

Share on Facebook