Get creative and add a little sparkle to your style in Twist & Sparkle, a hands-on jewelry-making class led by artist Mary Pat Tate. In this workshop, participants will learn basic jewelry-making techniques while designing and creating their own unique necklace from start to finish. Perfect for beginners and creative enthusiasts alike, this class encourages self-expression through color, texture, and design. All materials will be provided, and participants will leave with a beautiful, handmade necklace to wear or gift.
Registration deadline: Tuesday, Aug. 18
“Ever since I can remember, I have been an artist, but I never believed it until about 20 years ago when I began creating jewelry.
You see, ‘artists’ can draw and paint, but I can’t draw a stick figure without calling a friend for help. I was more into bulletin boards that knocked the socks off my fellow teachers. I would create whole rainforests down the hallway, complete with water features. I once took my students on a field trip where they sheared live sheep. We brought the wool home, and over the next few weeks, we cleaned and combed it, dyed it, and spun it into yarn. We borrowed a loom and a skilled parent, and wove a wall hanging.
Then in 2017, I started teaching at the college level. With no more bulletin boards and no justification for weaving wall hangings during class, I turned my creative yearnings to jewelry design.
Today, I use repurposed and found objects in conjunction with precious metals, to make one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. These are now my bulletin boards. So, no, I can’t draw a dog that anyone would recognize, but guess what? I can make a ring out of just about anything.”
