"Taking the metalworking intensive is the best thing I've
done for myself all year. I have so many projects that I
have been imagining in my head but lack the proper studio
or knowledge for execution. I was able to go to the
workshop, have access to Joe and Anat's endless
knowledge, plus full studio equipment, and complete many
items that have been in my hopper. I highly recommend it!"
- Faris
"I wanted to drop you a note to say thank you so much for teaching me soldering. My life
has changed in so many ways since I took your soldering retreat and I'm finally getting
to do what I've always dreamed of. I wanted to let you know that because I took your
amazing class I was able to teach myself how to do tube setting, and one of my tube set
pieces was included in the new book 'Gemstone Settings: The Jewelers Guide to Styles
and Techniques' by Anastasia Young. You seriously have no idea how thrilled I am
about this! My spinning gemstone bangle bracelet is on page 93, my new favorite
number. Anyway, just wanted to say thank you!"
- Lilian
"Best class is at Silvera Jewelry School in Berkeley. Joe
Silvera is a very good teacher. He is knowledgeable,
straight forward, patient and super helpful. His
demonstrations and notes are fantastic. You are in for a
real treat taking a class from Joe."
- Melinda
"I'm very glad that I took this 3-day enameling class. It was a quantum leap for me! Anat
is a wonderful teacher and it is incredible how much we could do and learn in just three
days, how much information and skills she gave us! I enjoyed every moment of these
days, spent in a creative and friendly atmosphere. Yes, we were exhausted by the
evenings, but it was definitely worth it :). Thank you very much to Anat and Silvera
school!"
- Valery
"The metalsmithing intensive at the Silvera Jewelry School
was a dream come true for me. It enabled me to work on
designs from my imagination and with materials of my
choosing in a positive educational and tool filled
environment! I was able to work at my own speed with no
feelings of pressure. I continued to work at the edge of
my learning frontier and learned new skills and techniques
to meet the challenges that arose from my project. The
teachers, Anat and Joe were ever present to
demonstrate, teach, encourage and suggest innovative
solutions to my work related problems. I have been able
to create pieces I could never have done on my own. It
was a liberating learning experience."
- Natalie
"I'm writing to you today to say thank you not only for the soldering class but, for the
Silvera philosophy of not needing to rent studio space or have thousands of dollars of
equipment when starting out. From the conversations I've had with metalsmiths to
potentially work/study with, it seems as if the general view has been that it is not
possible to create jewelry or practice skills in a make shift home studio. Most don't
believe that basic soldering can be done with a micro butane torch. I believe that if I had
met with them first I would have felt discouraged and might not have moved forward
with my mother's gift or I would be in quite a bit of debit from purchasing equipment.
While there are so many techniques I have yet to learn about, thanks to your class I can
bring a few of my designs to life while I continue to learn."
- Carolyn
"I had a great time! Learned a lot. The best part was being able to have 3 days in a row to learn and absorb."
"Time flew by - comprehensive, high quality teaching in a supportive atmosphere. One on one help speeds up the learning curve. Handout sheets are textbook quality." If you want to learn about and improve your soldering this is great place to go. Joe is a fantastic teacher and is skilled, patient, calm and knowledgeable. I have done a number of courses with him now and I'm always learning new things from him."
"Joe makes you feel at ease with the process of working with a torch and fire, which can be daunting at first, and he makes you feel calm and confident about the whole process. Come take a class here, you will love it! Not only will you find great teachers, (Anat is a skilled metal-smith also), but the facility they teach in is a well ventilated, spacious and bright studio which also stocks tools and supplies for your soldering projects."
"But wait, there's more! Whilst working on your soldering skills you are also served with
yummy snacks like cherries and goats cheese, chocolate, crackers and tea!!"
- Billie
"I appreciated Joe's patience and skill with a rank beginner like myself that allowed me
to make things I couldn't imagine making before. Worth the drive from Seattle!"
- Nancy
"I thought all the enthusiasm about Argentium was just marketing, but it really is
significantly better than sterling silver to work with. It was great that there were so many
tools available to use, both at our work stations and also to share and try out. The
teaching style is very good - easy going, while still making great progress everyday.
Projects were clever and challenging - I learned so much in just a few days!"
- Kelly
"The concentrated time to work was the best part. The retreat offers a better learning opportunity than a single day class - it's easier to focus."
"Really, really liked being able to work on a real jewelers bench. I work at a table at
home and purchased a desk not to long ago specifically for my jewlery making, because
of this I will not be getting a bench any time soon, but working at the bench gave me a
good understanding about how I work and what I need to do to modify my desk. The TV
screen is genius. It really shows how things are supposed to behave. For instance when
standing around watching you solder you really can't see the behavior of the process,
an example would be when the solder drops. Or how the solder looks as it is flowing
around a piece, etc. That really sealed it for me, as I struggled in the one day class
before. Once I took notice of the behavior everything was a piece of cake."
- Yolie
"I attended 2 of your classes at Puget Sound Festival in Tacoma and enjoyed & learned
a whole lot. I also bought your DVD which is absolutely clear and very extensive in
knowledge & skill. One of the best I've seen."
- Linda
"I wanted to thank you both for a truly wonderful bezels class at B&B. I had a great time
and am enjoying all the oohs and ahhs I'm getting when I show my colleagues the
beautiful piece I finished in class. You are both terrific teachers – so patient!"
- Sherry
"As the saying goes, Silvera Jewelry School is "all that and a bag of chips"! Joe and Anat have "it down" in terms of creating and providing a delightful studio space that's roomy, full of natural night, the best of the best supplies, and owner/instructors there at the ready - whatever the need may be. As a shop for purchasing supplies, I have been able to purchased many much needed (and specialized items) through the store - tools and/or material I could not find elsewhere locally, and often at better prices than I could find online."
"But for me, the best is being able to find such talented instructors locally, who are ready, willing and able to "be there" for their students is a treasured and rare find indeed! Joe and Anat are "made of the right stuff" and demonstrate the "best of the best" of small business owners. They have been awesome in each and every interaction/encounter we have had . . . and this is the basis of which I absolutely know we will continue to have a multi-level relationship for years to come!"
- Rhoda C.