Jewelry Boot Camp

An Exceptional Jewelry Making Experience

Jewelry Boot Camp is the perfect way to kick off a summer of creativity! Explore 13 different workshops with 8 different jewelry artists.

Treat yourself with a handmade gift you create. Shop the Friday night JBC Showcase—special creations by our instructors, students, and volunteers. It’s a sparkling celebration of the Shake Rag Alley community!

Registration deadline is April 21.

Jewelry Boot Camp Instructors

Julie Lukosaitis

Glass art has unlocked a door for Artwork in any medium is born from a spark of intention like a dance fully emerging from thought, passing through hands, and eyes. Torch fired glass has been with me for over 24 years. It has taught me focus, given me happiness and failures, challenges and successes. Meticulously constructed, I use the torch to melt the glass layer upon layer, reading the heat and applying ancient techniques and skills. I strive to capture beauty within my glass art. Glass art has unlocked a door for me. In 2014, Beadazzled By Julz, LLC was born out of the desire to teach the ancient art of glass bead making skills and art jewelry. I’ve since expanded to include glass blowing and enameling.

What sets me apart as a creator and teacher is my 29 years of experience working in public education. I am grateful for the opportunities to foster creativity, make friends, and share my skills. My charitable donations include “Beads Of Courage”.

Instructor Website

Workshops

Making Glass Beads for Beginners – May 1

Making Glass Beads for Beginners – May 2

Making Glass Beads for Beginners – May 3

Create Sparkling Dichroic Glass Beads in the Flame

Beginning Glass Bead Making

Intermediate Glass Bead Making

Linda Seebauer Hansen

Linda Seebauer Hansen is an artist and educator working in metal to create sculpture and jewelry. She earned an MFA at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and BA from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. Linda’s teaching experiences include: Metals Department Head at the Worcester Center for Crafts, MA, and faculty appointments at St. Catherine University, St Paul, MN, University of Wisconsin – Whitewater and Madison, and Milwaukee Area Technical College. She has also taught youth and adult enrichment courses at Quench Jewelry Arts in the historic, vibrant Northeast Minneapolis Arts District and the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, MN. Her curiosity and innovative nature took her to a residence and two assistantships at Penland School of Crafts, NC and provided a scholarship to attend the Women’s Art Institute at St Catherine University followed by a teaching assistant. She has over ten years experience as an arts leader working for two small local, culturally rich Minneapolis based nonprofit organizations. In addition she exhibits in a variety of shows and works with clients on one-of-a-kind commissions. Her achievements also include: scholarship to attend the Women’s Art Institute at St. Catherine University and invitation as a teaching assistant; the Barrett Morgan Award for exemplary leadership and teaching at the Worcester Center for Crafts, and an Individual Fellowship Award from the Wisconsin Arts Board. In addition to her metal work, Linda pursues mixed media sculpture and works on paper in her St. Paul, MN studio, and is the Communication and Engagement Specialist for the Department of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Macalester College.

Instructor Website

Workshops

Chain Making Bracelets

Beautiful Earrings

Sterling Silver Bead Necklace

Sherry Viktora

Sherry Viktora is a senior instructor in silver metal clay. 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 Silver Metal Clay

Fine Silver Rings in a Day

Fine Silver Leaves & Pods from the Garden

Fine Silver & Dichroic Glass

Fine Silver Link Bracelet

Fine Silver Rings in a Day

Holly Rasmussen

I have a BS degree in art education, and taught art in the Stevens Point school district for over 20 years. I am a jewelry designer, using beads, chains, and vintage elements in my designs. I became interested in metal clay when I took a Shake Rag class years ago, taught by Sherry Viktora. Since then I have taken every class she has taught, and continue to explore the medium in my home studio.…Read More

Workshops

Intro to Silver Metal Clay

Fine Silver Rings in a Day

Fine Silver Leaves & Pods from the Garden

Fine Silver & Dichroic Glass

Fine Silver Link Bracelet

Fine Silver Rings in a Day

Denise Anton Wright

Denise Anton Wright has made three really good decisions in her life: becoming a librarian, marrying her husband, and dabbling in jewelry-making. Since retiring from Library Land in 2015, Denise spends her days creating, taking care of two high-maintenance cats, and watching lots of classic old movies while working on jewelry projects. Her growth as an artist and creator has been helped immeasurably by the wonderful classes that she’s taken at Shake Rag Alley (a big shout-out to Lorraine Reynolds).…Read More

Instructor Website

Workshops

Boho Wire Bead Crochet Necklace

Jessica Curning-Kuenzi

I create one of a kind stainless steel chainmaille jewelry. Chainmaille is made by weaving different sized metal rings around each other to form a pattern, I then take that pattern and add different sized rings, natural stones, Swarovski crystals, or delicate chains to make a unique statement piece. I use stainless steel because it is strong, durable, hypoallergenic, will never rust, tarnish, change color, or make your skin change color.…Read More

Instructor Website

Workshops

Helm Weave Chainmaille Bracelet

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

Workshops

Fused Loop Earrings

Embossed Enameling

Enamel Buffet

Greg Greenwood

Greg Greenwood lives and has his studio in the Kettle Moraine in southern Wisconsin. Greg earned his BS in Education from Eastern Illinois University studying under the silversmith Garret DeRuiter. He has taught high school, Jr. college, and adult students in addition to workshops at Peninsula School of Art. Greg is a member of Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) and Wisconsin Metalsmiths (WIM). For the last 5 years, Greg has been producing metalsmithing and jewelry educational videos on his channel on YouTube. I love to form and fabricate flat sheets of metal into extraordinary 3-Dimensional forms. Foldforming is the perfect technique to do this, making it a fascinating departure from traditional metalsmithing techniques.

Instructor Website

Workshops

Introduction to Foldforming

Advanced Foldforming Techniques

Accordion Content

A Jewelry Making Retreat

May 1 - May 3, 2026

Explore a new art form, or grow your skills with new techniques! Beginners and experienced students alike can choose from a variety of classes with a range of styles from funky to fine. Weaving metal and making chains, hammering and firing, the bright colors of enamel & glass—use this weekend to explore new materials, be inspired anew, and network with other jewelers. You’ll leave with new ideas and something stunning. Come for the weekend and enjoy our gem of a town.