Description
Create a sculptural bangle with personalized charm details.
In this beginner-friendly ARIMAS Metal Lab workshop, you will shape, hammer, texture, finish, and personalize metal into a wearable piece made by hand.
We will begin with a short visual introduction to sculptural jewelry and modern adornment, looking at how artists use line, movement, negative space, and the body to transform simple metal forms into wearable art.
This workshop is designed for curious beginners, creative adults, friends, date nights, and anyone who wants to make something personal, stylish, and wearable inside a small working jewelry studio.
No previous jewelry-making experience is required.
Adults 18+ • Beginner friendly • In-person workshop
Length: 3.5 hours • Class size: Maximum 4 students
Location: ARIMAS Studio at the Village of Industry & Arts, 320 South Broad Street, Space 151, Philadelphia, PA
Materials: Copper, brass, and basic project materials included
Techniques: Forming, hammering, annealing, cold connections, and optional instructor-assisted soldering
Founding class price: $120
What You’ll Make
Each participant will create one sculptural brass or copper bangle with personalized charm details.
You may choose to create an open cuff with separate ends or a closed bangle with the ends joined together.
Open cuffs do not require a soldered seam. Closed bangles may include an instructor-assisted soldering step when the design, metal, and remaining class time are appropriate.
Your bangle may include hammered texture, curved linework, stamped metal tags, bead or stone accents, chain details, jump rings, wrapped elements, or small symbolic charms selected from the available studio materials.
You may create a piece that feels clean and minimal, layered and playful, softly organic, or richly detailed. The goal is to develop a wearable design that reflects your own taste while working within the structure of the workshop.
The primary class project is one fully finished sculptural bangle with personalized charm details.
Because every piece is shaped and finished by hand, small variations in form, texture, and finish are expected and are part of what makes each bangle unique.
What You’ll Learn
Students will be introduced to beginner jewelry-making and metalsmithing techniques, including:
- How to measure and size a cuff or closed bangle
- How to shape heavy-gauge copper or brass using mandrels and hand tools
- How to hammer and texture metal
- How metal work-hardens during shaping
- How annealing softens metal so it can continue to be formed
- The difference between annealing metal and soldering a seam
- How to file, smooth, and refine metal edges and ends
- How to plan simple sculptural linework and movement
- How to create and arrange personalized charm accents
- How to attach elements using jump rings, wrapped loops, and other cold connections
- How to add chain, beads, stones, or stamped metal details
- How a closed bangle seam may be prepared and soldered
- How to hand-finish and polish a completed piece
- How jewelers turn simple metal forms into expressive wearable objects
Open Cuff or Closed Bangle
Participants may select one of two basic construction paths:
Open sculptural cuff: The two ends remain separate. The cuff can be shaped, textured, refined, and personalized without soldering the ends together.
Closed bangle: The ends are carefully aligned and joined to form a continuous shape. This option may include instructor-assisted soldering at the hot-work station.
The closed bangle option depends on the selected design, metal thickness, seam preparation, available class time, and the instructor’s assessment of what can be completed safely.
Students may still add charms and decorative elements using cold connections regardless of which bangle format they choose.
What’s Included
All basic tools and project materials required to complete the main workshop project are included.
Available materials may include:
- Copper or brass for one sculptural bangle
- Heavy-gauge and base-metal wire
- Studio-approved charm blanks
- Beads and stone accents
- Chain and jump rings
- Basic stamping and texturing materials
- Filing, sanding, and finishing supplies
- Access to required hand tools and studio equipment
- Access to the controlled hot-work station when needed
- Annealing and instructor-assisted soldering when appropriate
- Safety glasses and shared protective equipment
- Step-by-step demonstrations
- Individual guidance in a four-person class
- A small pouch or container for your finished piece
Material selections will vary based on studio availability. Premium gemstones, sterling silver, gold-filled materials, advanced decorative components, and additional large projects are not included unless specifically stated.
Who This Workshop Is For
This workshop is designed for adults ages 18 and older who are new to jewelry making or want a relaxed introduction to shaping and personalizing metal.
It is a good fit for curious beginners, artists interested in wearable objects, friends attending together, date nights, and anyone who wants to leave with something personal made by their own hands.
No previous jewelry-making or metalsmithing experience is required.
The workshop requires the ability to use basic hand tools, participate in hammering and metal forming, follow demonstrations, and observe studio safety instructions.
Registration is for one participant and one scheduled workshop. Seats may not be shared between participants.
Studio, Tools & Hot-Work Safety
The workshop begins with a studio introduction and safety orientation, followed by a demonstration of the complete bangle-making process.
You will then measure, shape, hammer, texture, personalize, refine, and finish your bangle with guidance throughout each stage.
Heavy-gauge metal may be annealed during the forming process. Annealing uses controlled heat to soften metal that has become hardened through bending or hammering.
Students creating a closed bangle may also receive an instructor-assisted soldering demonstration or soldering step when appropriate.
Hot work takes place only at the designated station. Participants will rotate through this area one at a time and must follow all instructions regarding torches, heated metal, tools, surfaces, and protective equipment.
The instructor may perform or directly supervise hot-work steps depending on the project, student readiness, studio conditions, and available time.
Students will rotate through shared tools and equipment during the workshop. Because the class is limited to four participants, you will have space to ask questions, work at your own station, and receive direct support.
This is a hands-on working studio experience involving jewelry hammers, mandrels, pliers, files, abrasives, wire, chain, polishing equipment, torches, heated metal, and other jewelry tools.
Students are expected to follow demonstrations, use tools only as instructed, and observe all studio safety requirements.
What to Wear & Bring
For your safety and comfort, please arrive wearing:
- Closed-toe shoes
- Comfortable clothing that may collect dust or metal residue
- Fitted sleeves or sleeves that can be securely rolled above the wrist
- Long hair fully tied back
Loose sleeves, flowing garments, dangling accessories, scarves, and open-toe shoes are not appropriate for studio work.
You may be asked to remove bracelets, long necklaces, or other items that could interfere with tools, equipment, or the hot-work station.
Bring a labeled water bottle and your creativity. All required tools and basic project materials are provided.
Food and alcohol are not permitted in the active jewelry-making or hot-work area.
Location & Arrival
This in-person workshop takes place at the ARIMAS Studio inside the Village of Industry & Arts.
Address: 320 South Broad Street, Space 151, Philadelphia, PA
Please arrive on time so you can participate in the required studio and safety introduction before hands-on work begins.
Late arrival may limit participation in annealing, soldering, or other safety-sensitive demonstrations.
Registration is valid for one participant and the specific workshop date selected during booking.
This is an in-person studio experience. No physical class kit or finished project will be shipped.
Cancellation & Studio Policies
Because this is a small workshop with limited seating, please review all class and studio policies before registering.
Your booking confirms that you understand the workshop format, safety expectations, arrival requirements, material limitations, hot-work procedures, and studio policies.
About Your Instructor
Samira is a Philadelphia-based jewelry artist, metalsmith, art educator, and founder of ARIMAS.
Her work explores adornment, identity, beauty, memory, protection, and transformation through metal and wearable objects. She brings years of teaching experience into the studio and is committed to creating a welcoming, focused environment where beginners can learn real jewelry techniques with thoughtful guidance.
Through the ARIMAS Metal Lab, Samira teaches students how raw materials become personal objects through skill, experimentation, and the work of their own hands.
