Kim St. Jean
Graduated from USC Aiken with a degree in Education and a minor in Art Appreciation. After teaching in the public school system for 10 years, Kim decided to explore jewelry making and it was not long after that she combined her creativity with her love of teaching and began teaching others how to make jewelry. Kim has taught at Wildacres Retreat for SFMS in 2007 and 2008, and has taught several sessions at William Holland in 2008. Kim will have taught 5 years for Swarovski’s Create Your Style Tucson Seminars in 2009. She has been an instructor for the prestigious Bead and Button Show going on her third year. She also teaches at the Beadfest shows sponsored by Lapidary journal and instructs regularly at the Down the Street Bead Shows. Kim was invited to be a guest on the Glass with Vickie Payne Show, showcasing her Cold Connection techniques. The episode aired in June 2008 on PBS/UNCTV. Ms. Payne also invited Kim to submit some of her original designs to be included in her new book. Several of Kim’s designs have been published in national beading magazines and Kim is now working on her own book to be published by Kalambach Publishing on Intermediate Jewelry Making Techniques. Kim and her husband, Norm, own Expressive Impressions, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, Swarovski Crystal’s first recommended bead store in the USA. A full service bead store offering many disciplines of jewelry making and designing classes along with tools, findings and beads.
Cold Connections – Kim St. Jean
Cold Connections are the processes of using various different materials as attachments to connect two or more pieces of metal. In this class you will explore several techniques in assemblage using cold connections. You will learn how to make rivets of non-conventional materials and apply them to your project. You will also learn how to set eyelets, lash and tie, and use a variety of micro hardware, including screws, washers, nuts and tacks. You will spend time exploring texture and forming techniques including fold forming, hammering, and the proper use of the rolling mill. You will experiment with various patina techniques to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your metals, and also delve into etching. We will briefly explore the use of resin and its place in jewelry design. The projects in this class are guided by technique. Every student’s work is unique to their tastes and abilities. The class fee is $125.00 and includes all materials, literature, consumables, and supplies to be used throughout the week. Each student goes home with 6 to 12 finished pieces. Any additional cost incurred would be in the purchase of tools and/or materials that the student may wish to acquire from the instructor to continue their designing at home with cold connections. We will use torches and hammers, but this class has no prerequisite, all levels welcome.
Work Completed in These Classes
