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Metal Merriment: Simple Repousséd Holiday Gifts
The holiday season has a way of sneaking up on all of us—but handmade gifts are always worth the effort! Spend a fun, creative weekend making a collection of thoughtful keepsakes while learning the surprisingly simple art of repoussé on lightweight metal foil.
Using easy-to-learn embossing techniques and a handful of inexpensive tools, you'll transform thin sheets of metal into beautifully textured picture frames, bookmarks, ornaments, garlands, plant tags, and other one-of-a-kind treasures. We'll explore ways to create depth, pattern, and dimension through chasing and repoussé, then discuss simple finishing techniques to make your pieces shine.
This workshop is designed to be relaxed, playful, and accessible to makers of all experience levels and abilities. Projects can be completed quickly, making it easy to build a stash of meaningful handmade gifts while experimenting with your own designs. You'll leave with a collection of finished pieces, the skills to continue creating at home, and plenty of inspiration for future celebrations and special occasions.
Whether you're looking to fill your gift list with handmade treasures or simply enjoy a weekend of creative making, this workshop is sure to become a new seasonal tradition!
Please be advised: Due to the need to order supplies, we customarily close registration for our on-site offerings one week before the start date. If you wish to join the class after registration closes, please contact us at [email protected] or 781-891-3854.
Meet the instructor
Kristin Mitsu Shiga (she/they) is a maker, educator and small business owner with more than 30 years of experience currently living and working in rural Oregon.
Throughout her career, Kristin’s desire to balance her individual studio practice and working as part of a larger team allowed her to build an unusual skill set that includes everything from nonprofit arts administration and bookkeeping to armature-building for stop-motion animation studios. From a long line of educators, Kristin is passionate about teaching and has shared her knowledge with students at venues all over the US including Penland, Arrowmont and Haystack Mountain schools of craft, along with programs she established in New York, Oregon and Hawai’i.
Kristin believes that service is a crucial component of any career and has served in a variety of volunteer roles and on numerous nonprofit boards since 2001. She currently serves on the boards of the Hawai'i Artist Collaboration and Frogwood Artist Collaboration, and is in her second term as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the American Craft Council (ACC).
Kristin has shown her work internationally, and is included in several notable collections, including the Kamm Artful Teapot Collection and the Permanent Collection of the White House. You will find her work published in numerous books and magazines, including Art Jewelry Today, The Art of Enameling, Metalsmith’s 2017 Exhibition in Print, and several of Lark’s 500 Series books. Learn more about Kristin’s past work on Oregon Artbeat (segment originally aired in 2010).
Materials & Tools
There is a $42 materials fee for this workshop that is payable upon registration. The materials kit includes three colors ("silver," "gold" and "copper") of heavy embossing foil and set of ball-end embossers for students to keep, an assortment of wire for forged ornament hooks, two picture frame blanks, 4 wood bookmark blanks and a variety of finishing products.
Note: Metalwerx has available all that you will need, but these tools and supplies need to be shared, and are not always in "mint" condition. Be sure to clearly mark any tools you bring from your home studio so they are easily identifiable.
- REQUIRED:
- Well-Fitting Leather or Rubber-Palmed Gloves (gardening gloves work well and are sometimes easier to find in a good fit)
- Joyce Chen Kitchen Shears (or similar)
- 12" nonslip ruler
- Heavy-Duty X-Acto Knife
- Pencil
- Closed-toe shoes - required in the Metalwerx studio
- Notebook or sketchpad
- Lunch – there will be a 1-hour break for lunch on each day of the workshop
- Metalwerx has a fridge, toaster oven, and microwave
- There is a deli/sandwich shop within walking distance of the studio.
- OPTIONAL:
- Metal or leather design stamps
- Design Templates
- Design inspiration (patterns, photos, etc.)
- Paper punches or decorative scissors you don't mind using on metal
- Clearly labeled personal tools
- Additional materials to use in your project(s)
- Vision aid (e.g. Optivisors)