Don Norris
Has taught Silversmithing in person:
in all 50 states,
for 45 years and
more than 5,000 adult students.
Has written 9 books, and
sold over 11,000 of these books.
Has made over 100 hours of video instructions, and
has sold more than 2,000 sets.
Testimonials
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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Tool, Equipment and Supplies list
