Jewelry Boot Camp

An Exceptional Jewelry Making Experience

As the “gateway to jewelry arts,” workshops during Jewelry Boot Camp feature opportunities to study with Shake Rag Alley instructors at lower prices than you’ll find during our standalone jewelry workshops.

This lovely weekend of workshops is just in time to prepare you for Mother’s Day. Plan to treat the special women in your life with a handmade gift you create or shop our Artisan Marketplace — a showcase of jewelry creations by our instructors, students, and volunteers. It’s a sparkling celebration of the Shake Rag Alley community!

Click here for a printable Jewelry Boot Camp schedule.

Gateway to Jewelry Arts

April 30 - May 2, 2021

Explore jewelry making methods!

Choose from introductory level jewelry classes offering a range of techniques and styles from funky to fine. Use this weekend to explore different approaches, learn new skills, network with other jewelers, and leave with a lot of new ideas and jewelry. Come for the weekend and take several classes.

Jewelry Boot Camp Instructors

This year we welcome nine talented instructors to Jewelry Boot Camp.

Marianne Biagi

Instructor Profile Forthcoming

Deborah Donaghue

Deb Donaghue

Deb Donaghue took her first metal class in her early 20s. Study and research took her and her husband, Jeff, to India. While her intention was to continue working with metal, when she returned, life, jobs, a child, and then their own business intervened. Deb and Jeff moved to Mineral Point from the Twin Cities in 1996 and opened The Brewery Creek Inn and Brewpub in 1998. In 2007 her daughter introduced her to chain maille and from there her long-buried interest in working with metal grew. Deb continues her studies independently as well as weekly at Madison Area Technical College. She has jewelry for sale at Longbranch Gallery here in Mineral Point and teaches several basic metalworking classes each year at Shake Rag Alley.

Workshops

Byzantine Chain Maille Bracelet

Stacking Wire Bangles

Stone Capturing Setting Stones without Solder

Julie Lukosaitis

Julie Lukosaitis has been making glass beads for many years, and has been a glass flameworking instructor for almost 20 years. She is the owner of Beadazzled By Julz, and travels with her glass art studio around Wisconsin. She has many years of experience working in public education and teaching to different learning intelligences. She believes the best reward for a teacher is seeing the joy her students feel with their own creativity and building on their skills.…Read More

Instructor Website

Workshops

Making Glass Beads – May

Making Glass Beads – November

Leslie Perrino

Leslie Perrino is an artist and “art evangelist” who loves to share the power of art and creativity with people, particularly in her beloved areas of metals and enameling. Her artwork is a quirky mix of traditional and found objects, most recently combining computer/electrical components with enamels. She is a charismatic and effective teacher who encourages skill building and exploration of the medium.…Read More

Instructor Website

Workshops

Fused Fine Silver Earrings

Band Rings

The Beautiful Basics of Bezel Setting

Embossed Enameled Pendants

Cheryl Smeja

Cheryl Smeja is a Mineral Point leather artist, nationally known for her pioneering work in wet-formed leather sculpture. She has appeared on The Carol Duvall Show, taught at national leather conventions and has had articles published in The Leather Crafters and Saddlers journal. For over 25 years she sold her formed leather masks, wall hangings, jewelry, pots, and more at art fairs and from her Mineral Point gallery/shop. Now semi-retired, Cheryl enjoys pursuing other interests such as needle felting, wire jewelry, polymer clay, paper making, and Photoshop image manipulation. Cheryl serves on the Shake Rag Alley Curriculum Committee. A versatile artisan and dedicated teacher, Cheryl is ever ready for a new challenge.

Workshops

Working with Wire

Sherry Viktora

Sherry Viktora is a senior instructor in precious metal clay for PMC Connection. She brings a love of nature and gardening to her art and an enthusiasm for sharing to her teaching. She combines metal clay with glass and organic materials to create unique work. After receiving PMCC Certifications and Art Clay Instructor Certification, Sherry retired to become a full-time senior instructor.…Read More

Workshops

Intro to Precious Metal Clay

Fine Silver Rings in a Day – May

Reversible Fine Silver Lentil or Pebble Bead

Natural Stones Set in Silver Metal Clay

Fine Silver Rings in a Day – October

Precious Metal Clay and Dichroic Glass

Katie White

Katie White grew up on a farm in Stockton, IL. She graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2012 with a BFA degree in Ceramics. She has participated in ceramic residencies throughout the country including The Cub Creek Foundation in Appomattox, VA, Red Lodge Clay Center in Red Lodge, MT, as well as at Wichita State University in Wichita, KS. White moved to Mineral Point in June of 2017 where she worked as studio assistant at Bruce Howdle Studio. She continues to create her pottery and sculpture in the Sardeson Pottery Studio and wood-fires in the Mineral Point area.

Instructor Website

Workshops

Textured Slab and Slump Mold

Basics of Ceramics

Broken China Pendants

Intro to Throwing on a Potter’s Wheel

Pottery Open Studio

JoEllen & David Wollangk

David Wollangk

“As life-long crafters and artists, we try everything. We have done workshops on both Viking Knitting and Fold Forming numerous times. We like helping others learn the basic techniques and provide a creative outlet.” Workshops Simplified Locket for Pendant or Ornament Copper Leaf Fold Form Leaf Earrings Bottle Cap Fish SculptureRead More

Workshops

Simplified Locket for Pendant or Ornament

Copper Leaf Fold Form Leaf Earrings

Bottle Cap Fish Sculpture