Student Comments
Beginning Silversmithing
Thank you so much for the amazing beginning class. I learned so much and it was a lot of fun.
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I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my soul for this class. 2 years ago I paid &1,000 to learn less. Being on S.S.I. my income is only 450.00 a month, and after doing some scrimshaw work & turning out nice,&
wanting to make some nice jewelry for the Fossil Ivory to sit in & also to give it a backing-you're the one that's teaching me & I really appriciate it-I also get idea from the rec.jewelry disscusion group-and I think I've
read some of you're things there. Don what I'd like to say is thank you for giving me hope of a future without S.S.I. supporting me. You haven't demanded the last doller in my pocket to teach me-I really appriciate it. If there's a piece of scrimshaw you'd like let me know I'd rather share then get taken.
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Your classes are done so well you leave nothing to chance and I am very impressed with your ability to remember we are learning from ground zero. Thanks from people like me for that. You are obviously a born
teacher.
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I am learning a great deal from the On Line Silversmithing Class. It is such a fantastic way to take a class. I usually attend a jewelry class at our technical school during the winter months. But, I am enjoying your class
much more. I can come home after work and spend as much time as I wish on my sliversmithing projects. I highly recommend your classes to everyone interested in learning an exciting age old craft from a true artist. Thank you Mr. Norris for all you are doing to make a variety of classes available to the WORLD. Your student from
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Don, Your directions for soldering are so terrific.
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Greetings to all students of Don Norris. I have been debating whether or not to join the NEW LIST. Sure don't need more e-mail to sort through at the end of the day. I'm sure most of you feel the same way. I would rather be at my workbench creating. What I have found with the classes I have taken, Bean Casting, Wire
Sculpture, and Beginning Silversmithing, is that Don always throws in an extra free lesson or two plus tips. I have learned a great deal from these lessons and the classes have all seemed to intertwine. They compliment each other. I have taken evening classes at our local technical school for three years and have not learned as much, so fast, as with Don's classes. I strongly feel that the Internet has greatly benefited from people like Don who give so much of themselves for their students.
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Thank you thank you thank you...I am now such a happy jeweler /beginner again.you're right. gotta get it hot. Thanks
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Thank you, Don, for the educational entertainment. It is always a pleasure to receive your lessons! I look forward to the next installment. I believe the project will be a success!
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I just wanted to say thank you again for teaching me how to use hard solder. Today I had a less the perfect fit in a bezel and never would have solder if it hadn't been that I now use hard solder exclusively...What do i do with ten feet (yes) of medium solder wire???anyways like you say the bezel looked cast it was seamless. thank you..It certainly makes me feel like I'm going to get someplace when I learned that from you..Have a Merry Holiday !!!! LEARN THE RULES SO YOU KNOW HOW TO BREAK THEM PROPERLY.
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I have not completed my first class yet because of an arthritus flare-up in my hands but I have really enjoyed your class. I have learned a lot about silversmithing and the tools and techniques of using them that only comes from hands on experiance.
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I am nearly through with my PhD in Special Ed (so it is very true what they say about taking someone out of
their field and you have an idiot on your hands! ;-), part of my dissertation research involved quite a bit of research and study of effective teaching techniques, and I dont' say that for any other reason than to state my credentials for making this next statement: You use very powerful teaching techniques in your online classes; I am really impressed with your teaching skills. I feel so very fortunate to have found you as an instructor. Keep up the good work, and thanks for putting up with the likes of folks like me!
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Don, You are doing such a good job already that we were all just sitting back, reading what you write, and accepting the wonderful offerings.
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I love this... the points to think about in making a design. One of the great beauties of your laying it out like this is that, when we want to go against the rule for some reason, we know what we're doing, what the effect and implications are, and then can perhaps handle them some other way. Instead of running blind. Thanks!!!!!!!
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"I cannot tell you how much of a blessing your classes have been to my life, silly as it seems I really needed the outlet and the extra income is so great! I sold so many cabochons with custom bezels for Christmas that I was actually able to pay the tuition for my son's computer tech course! Being a single mom makes this especially important, and I have stopped going so BIG and guess what the smaller one's sell better - just like you said. Before I found your class I was working two jobs and away from home way too much, but now I am down to one job. Of course I am still kind of away - since my garage has now become a full blown studio. I was able to purchase things from dental labs that were closing like the polisher with a hood even! In the beginning all my profits went towards supplies and the flexi etc...but now things are paid for and I am reaping the benefits of the course! My mom lives with me, she is 85 and this year I will be able to take her to LA to see my niece and my mom's great grand-daughter. I couldn't afford to advertise or really take the time to promote my things, so I decided to make a few items and give them to some of the wives of the doctors I work for they showed them to their friends and now two of those friends have contacted me to put items in their stores! So now I am getting a stock together to show them. I know this is a bit long winded but I just
had to let you know what you have made possible. Thank you so much for taking the time to share all your talents and for making the courses affordable!
May God Bless you and your family. I wish I could attend your classes in person, maybe some day :).
Many Blessings! "
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List
I am really enjoying the list. The shorter classes work great for me and I love the
abstract ring lessons.
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As far as the articles go, I have enjoyed every one of them and have learned something new everytime (what a CONCEPT!) I amanxious to see what your new articles will cover. There is so much information that I don't know to ask for that I just have to rely on you to tell me.
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You are doing a great job and we are all busy with the projects you have sent us, therefore many of us have probably not taken the time to respond to your subject list.
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I am interested in anything you have to say about stones and pricing your jewelry, tools, etc. . Anything you put out is worthwhile and I get something from each letter.
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I love the monthly projects. I'm new to the list, and haven't gotten a chance to make any yet, but my self-taught silversmithing efforts have gotten better results just through the simple hints you give in these monthly projects.
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Don, Enjoy reading all your articles. I always learn something from them. Thank you
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I find all of your articles entertaining and informative.
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I appreciate your cheap and easy bench tips to work around investing inexpensive tools, and your ideas for make-yur-own tools stuff and "found" materials and supplies.
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Keep up the good work. I couldn't accomplish what you do without a load of
amphetamines. Bottle that energy and you can make a fortune. How do you do
it all?
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I suspect that you've received no feedback because everyone is pleased with the topics and your coverage of them.
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I admire and appreciate the dedication you have for this list -- you are putting a lot of time and effort into it. Up to this time I have done beading, bead stringing and wire wrapping, but no soldering. I now have the supplies for the free-form pendant and plan to give it a try as soon as I have enough free time. Thank you for the
encouragement.
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Applause!! and Kudos',
i have only been playing with silver for about two years now and thanks to viewing your site and newsletter i have gone even a step beyond your teachings, i fuse almost everything. i love it when you demonstrate that hard solder will do everything and put the "greater than thou Mucky-mucks " back on earth. i would have never started casting had it not been for your free steam casting class. i now have a vacuum( home made) and centrifugal casting machine. i cast maybe 3 oz. a week on good weeks and am ever so happy to some one challenging the "Dogma " of past teachers. i also have a friend who is a repair jeweler and she thinks bridging a gap in the joint of silver pieces is not much harder than in gold. keep up the good work (fight). you won't change the world but you made a difference for me and for that i thank you!!!!!
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I look forward daily to reading your post. I enjoy them very much. I wish I had more time to participate in your projects. I have had some silversmith training and am an amateur jeweler for many years. I am currently
enrolled in my 6th semester of glass blowing and hotglass work at a local university. Next semester, I intend to start an investigation of using the polymer metal clays and glass. I don't expect this to be a subject of any of your classes, but I did want you to know how useful I find the information that you pass on. Perhaps someday, I will be able to pass some information on to you about how the clays and glass work together. Just keep on keeping on doing what you do best .... Sharing, and I know you will be making me happy.
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I'm anteing up for the new list for the practical, experienced based learning's that you offer. My wife took a metal smithing class at KU last semester and learned some good things. But with what I've learned from you, I'm making jewelry in 1/4 the time, and better. Thanks. I also love the simple, saleable, designs. I've
made four of the square wire pendants, and sold them all. With you help, my rocking / silversmithing hobby just might at least pay or itself soon. <grin>
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Ihave been receiving you email, AND I LOVE , LOVE THEM. PLEASE PLEASE KEEP SENDING, I NOW WILL CONSIDER AN ONLINE EDUCATION.
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I have never seen a more precise list with such humor ever. After being away from this wonderful craft I found your suggestions very helpful. I have a lot of the small hand tools already and a few of the more silversmith related tools from the many years past. But Your list gave me the much needed guidance to make sure that my new workshop is fully equiped and up to speed. I didn't realize just how much I had forgotten until I read your list.
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I am very much enjoying your articles. Keep them coming. I'm pretty much unable to get anything done with silversmithing due to work. I bought one of our deceased club members silversmithing equipment and haven't even had the time to check out everything I got with it let alone give the torch a test drive. I do hope to take some of you online classes later on. I like the common sense approach you use - an eye for artistry combined with the reality you need to sell some things to make a little money to keep up the hobby or business.
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Don, It looks like you have picked great topics. I guess no one feels the need to respond when you are doing a great job. You always hear when you're not. You're ideas are well thought out, because you live silversmithing, and I think you know what it is that we need and want to learn. I defer to your experience and when I have questions or suggestions, I will ask. Thanks for all the work, time, effort, that it takes to run this list.
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Web Sales
I just wanted you to know I'm alive and have enjoyed your class very much! I am really enjoying the online format and think you are a great teacher! This class has to be the bargain of the century when I consider how much we are all getting out of it!
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Steam Casting
Hi Don, enjoy your site very much and have done some very good steam casting and am now working on a larger steam cast to hold a frog fetish on a flute, will send picture when finished.
PS. The steam casts that I do, sell right away.
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Wire Sculpture Class
I thought you might like to hear this. This past weekend I participated in a local craft fair. I just took a card
table, a chair, a couple of tools, a little wire Christmas tree and about 400 twisted wire sculptures that I had made up as Christmas tree ornaments. The fair took place Saturday and Sunday, and by 11:00 AM Sunday morning, all I had left was the sample of each of the sculptures that came with the kit I bought from you and a few ornaments on the tree. I kept a few of those ornaments in case somebody wanted to order some.
Well, I received orders for 55 ornaments and I want to buy from you 200 twisted copper wires. I am sending my order in the mail with a check for $54.00. (From one piece of wire I can make 2 ornaments) I guess that I don't have to tell you (but I will), that I have recouped my original $150.00 investment and have some money left to invest in my brand new jewelry business. I sold the most of the ornaments for $2.50 a piece, and some for $3.50. For the orders that I took, I am charging an extra $3.00 for shipping. I took to the fair $30.00 in change plus $40.00 to pay for my space. I came home with $1,175.00 Not bad for beginner's luck.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!a
