Even if you have never made a pen before, Barry will make you feel at home in this course! Students from basic to advanced are welcome to learn an assortment of techniques to take their pen making to the next level. Thinking creatively, the key to enhance your pen making abilities, will be discussed throughout the course. Students will work with a variety of materials including, but not limited to, exotic wood, stabilized wood, biologicals and acrylics. Students will learn how to cast their own clear acrylic pen blanks (without a pressure pot!) which will open their mind to a wide range of creative ideas. Segmented pens, closed end pens and laser-cut kits will be made. Many different finishing techniques will be stressed throughout the course including a very easy Super Glue finish. By the end of the week, each student will have made a minimum of eight different pens with emphasis on quality of fit and finish. After finishing the pen masterpieces, Barry will discuss the best way to market one-of-a-kind works of art!

Key Points:

• Achieve a perfect finish on pens
• Work with stabilized and non-stabilized material
• Learn how to cast your own clear acrylic pen blanks
• Learn the best way to work with acrylics and other materials
• Gain a working knowledge of segmented pens
• Adjust a fountain pen nib with proper alignment of tines

Copper Bangle Bracelet with turquoise

Turning bangle bracelets are fun and easy! Barry will show you everything you need to know and then some on making unique and stunning bangle bracelets; from the raw wood to a finished product in just a short weekend. Material selection will be discussed; do you use acrylics, wood or a combination of wood and acrylic? All these materials will be thoroughly reviewed. How to stabilize your own bangle bracelet blanks will be demonstrated and the students will have a solid understanding on how to make their own blanks from material of their choosing by stabilizing the blanks themselves!

Stainless steel bangle bracelet kit

Using a four jawed chuck and turning the blank is easy and fun (that is actually the shortest part of making a bangle bracelet).

By the end of the weekend, each student will have made a minimum of two different bangle bracelets with emphasis on quality of fit and finish.

Key Points:

• Learn how to stabilize your own bangle bracelet blanks
• Achieve a perfect CA glue finish on the bangle bracelet
• Learn the best way to finish acrylics
• Learn how to use a four jawed chuck

This weekend class is being held at Marc Adams School of Woodworking near Indianapolis, IN