Ceremonial
Bindings
& Architectural Settings
The art
of holding.
What happens when the way we hold something becomes just as meaningful as the object itself?
Ceremonial Bindings is an exploration of unconventional prong settings, architectural structures and the beautiful possibilities found in joining materials together.
Rather than hiding the mechanics of jewelry construction, we allow them to become part of the design. Wire, handmade prongs, scrap metal and cold connections become visible expressions of strength, movement and intention.
Crossing, wrapping, binding and holding stones, fragments and found objects in unexpected ways, we create jewelry that feels less constructed and more discovered.
Build beyond
the expected.
Over five days, we will explore an intuitive and sculptural approach to setting stones and found objects.
We will work with handmade prongs, wire, metal fragments and cold connections, learning to build structural elements that become part of the visual language of each piece.
This is a time for experimentation. We will look at construction differently, working with form, balance, texture and movement while discovering the unexpected beauty of visible connections.
The goal is not simply to secure an object. It is to create something that could only have come from your own hands.
The architecture
of adornment.
Handmade Prong Settings
Explore expressive prong settings that respond to the form of stones, fragments and unusual found objects.
Architectural Structures
Build sculptural metal frameworks where the structure itself becomes a visible and beautiful part of the design.
Wire & Cold Connections
Discover ways of crossing, wrapping, binding and joining materials without hiding the construction.
Intuitive Composition
Combine found objects, stones, scrap metal and personal materials into raw, expressive and deeply individual jewelry.
“The beauty is not only in the object being held, but in the way we choose to hold it.”
There is something beautiful about allowing the structure to be seen. The connections, the tension, the imperfect lines and the small decisions made by our hands.
In this workshop, we move beyond the idea that technique should disappear into the finished piece. Instead, we celebrate the process and allow our methods of construction to become part of our artistic voice.
Structure
becomes
ornament.
Think of a setting as a small piece of architecture.
Every wire has a purpose. Every connection creates a line. Every prong becomes part of the composition.
We will investigate how objects can be supported, suspended, surrounded and bound together in ways that are both functional and expressive.
What emerges is jewelry with presence — raw, sculptural and entirely personal.
Discover the beauty
of what holds us together.
May 26–30, 2027
Lakewood, Ohio
Registration and secure checkout take place through Shopify. Please confirm tuition, availability and workshop details on the registration page.