Education Direct

[geodig70]

Ok what do you all think of this program? worth it or not? I
cannot go to classes in my region because there are no classes in
my region. So to learn basic soldering and repair on my own or pay
893 dollars for this course?

Hi Teri and all Orchidians,

I completed the jewelry repair technicain program through Education Direct in 2003. (Back then it was called Harcourt Learning Direct.) I was pleased with the course and the materials, which included a decent set of basic beginner bench tools. (No torch, however. I started with a dual gas benzomatic costing roughly $30.00.) You may proceede with the lessons at your own pace and the instuctors were not difficult to reach for questions, and were actually helpful. There are eight projects (not including written tests ), four of which must be turned in and graded. This forces one to actually practice the skill sets. Also, the course delves into more than just soldering, including starting your own business, marketing, casting, lessons on colored stones and diamonds, stone setting, and common jewelry store repairs. As with any learning experience you get out what you put in. This course provided me with the confidence to start a small on-line jewelry business and to provide local repair services and even some custom work. In my opinion the course was well worth the tuition and I do recommend it.

Scott T. Fischer, CHMM
ebay link removed

[Teri]

Thanks everyone for your input. I cannot contact arts guilds as
there are none. Most of my income is from drawing. (starving lol
want it to be from my cameos) The support for artists in Pittsburgh
PA is atrocious. There is only one building that rents studio spaces
in downtown and the suburbs have even less. The community colleges
for each county have drawing and painting and ceramics, but no
jewelry courses. There are 2 silversmiths in this area and I have
been on waiting lists for their classes since 2002.

I am an oldtime member of SCA umm ok not a paid member right this
minute, but I know most of the Scadians in the tri-state area and
can think of only one who may be able to help me...if I can find
him.

I will get some dvd courses I did not know Tim M had videos. I was
looking at the one on bezel setting from the Alternate School.

In any case looks like I really do need Tim Mcreights Bible.

Teri

[Teri]

Scott,

What is your ebay link Orchid edited out? I sell gemstones on ebay
as

Ebay link removed. Sorry, No Ebay links on Orchid!

I don't think the Orchid list people understand poverty at all or
disabilities. I have trouble learning since my brain injury.

I also think there were some pretty snotty responces to my
correspondance school question. I know it is over priced but then it
is $40 a month I could spend $40 a month buying one pice of equipt
at a time with no idea what I truly needed.

I think it is worth giving up a few lunches to take the course. I
have low aspirations. Food rent and clothes would be nice

On SSI that is a good goal.

I think your response was the key I am plunging forward with the
class.

Teri

[Zen_Sojourner]

    I don't think the Orchid list people understand poverty at all
or disabilities. I have trouble learning since my brain injury.

I certainly do. I bet you're making more on SSI than I'm making
working - currently $100 a week, due to drop to $60 a week this
summer. I've got a son in college, too. I live in a 14x7 camper
with no running water and only an oil-filled radiant heater for heat.

As for trouble learning, I understand that, too. I am hypothyroid,
but it took 20 years for our highly-payed professional well-educated
doctors to figure that out. So until I finally got some thyroid
meds, I suffered a continued and unexplained loss of intellectual
ability, memory, concentration, ability to focus, all out the window.
Now I'm a member of the working poor, that health care that our
wonderful president claims everyone has access to is out of reach for
me - in order to get my thyroid meds renewed, I'd have to pay the doc
$100 for an office visit and $300 to $400 for tests he wants to run.
That's more than a month's salary for me - I haven't got it, hence
I'm on half-rations and about to run out. When I DO run out, and the
fatigue and confusion hit me again full force, I expect I will lose
the crummy part time job I have. There's not a thing I can do about
it.

    I also think there were some pretty snotty responces to my
correspondance school question. I know it is over priced but then
it is $40 a month I could spend $40 a month buying one pice of
equipt at a time with no idea what I truly needed.

That's what we're here for. These correspondence courses are a
waste of money, don't buy into them! You can get a pair of lindstrom
cutters for $14 from Alien Spirit Aviation. These are "used", but
in good condition, I know someone who has used them for years.
They're model #8148. The e-mail address is alienspirit@att.net

Rio Grande has a good assortment of moderately priced tools.

I would strongly recommend that you save your $800 for tools.
THere's a guy who gives lessons online, he's kind of a guerilla
silversmith, he teaches his students to solder with a $10 propane
torch you can buy at the hardware store. His website is at:

http://silversmithing.homestead.com/SilverClasses1.html

He charges $120 for his classes. Save your money to invest in tools
instead of wasting it on expensive correspondence "lessons", ask us
when you don't know, get some books through the library (for free),
try this guy's online classes. If you have difficulty learning,
you'll do better hands-on anyway.

Start out with wirebending, which doesn't take much in the way of
tool investment, build up slowly, try the guerilla silversmith route
above. Nobody's trying to dissuade you from learning, only to use
your resources to get the greatest possible benefits.

I've seen these courses and they are NOT worth the money. Please
reconsider and try some of these other resources.

Sojourner

[Douglas_Zaruba]

Teri,

Not far from you, about 1 hr south, is a truly fantastic school

operating during the summer months. The Touchstone Center for Crafts
has undergone a metamorphosis in the past few years, and now boasts
an excellent metals studio. They offer beginning classes, as well as
advanced classes, by some of the top instructors. I know they have a
web site, so check it out. You may even be able to get a scholarship
or work-study grant. Because it is "in the woods," it is a total
emersion type program. That means, you will start at 9am and you can
work until 11pm, or later. I have taught there several times. The
students in the classes were all very committed and seemed to LOVE
to work! You will probably learn more here in 1 week that you would
at a community college in a full semester.

You can learn a lot from videos. I have all of Blaine Lewis'

excellent stone setting videos, and I still review them from time to
time. Even an old master like me can still pick up a trick or two.
But there is still no substitute for working with someone who can
guide you through the process, even if it's only for one week.

Check out their web site: Touchstonecrafts.com I see that Tim
McCreight hisself is teaching casting July 25-30....

Douglas Zaruba
33 N. Market St.
Frederick, MD 21701
301 695-1107
@Douglas_Zaruba

[docktor]

    I don't think the Orchid list people understand poverty at all
or disabilities. I have trouble learning since my brain injury. I
also think there were some pretty snotty responces to my
correspondance school question. I know it is over priced but then
it is $40 a month I could spend $40 a month buying one pice of
equipt at a time with no idea what I truly needed.

Teri, I hope you don't think I was being snotty with my response to
your question. You asked for opinions, and I honestly believe you
could do better with self-instruction.

James in Sofl who is also a disabled veteran, living on a fixed
income that is far below the poverty level, and most certainly does
understand. That's why I mentioned that I'm a self-taught
fabricator.

[Deewo]

I don't think the Orchid list people understand poverty at all or
disabilities. I have trouble learning since my brain injury.

Don't be discouraged..There are a heck of a lot of disabled people
on the Orchid list. Just because a few of the more fortunate folks
are insensitive to the trials and tribulations of some of the
others, it isn't fair to generalize about the whole list. There are
lots of good people there, disabled or not.....and most of us are
but one accident or one serious illness away from disability or
poverty . You have a lot of grit, sticking to your goals, and I wish
you success.

[dcdietz2]

Zen,

Bless you. I've known a number of people who have, like you,
overcome all kinds of difficulties so they could pursue their
dreams. One young lady used to stay up almost all night making
filigree items so she could coax her aging motor home to the next
show and make enough for gas, food and table fee at the next show.
When she started, she could hardly solder two things together.
After about 2 years of that, she really bloosmed and produced some
very nice stuff....did it with an ancient old acetylene torch yet.

Keep the faith friend.

Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL where simple
elegance IS fine jewelry! @coralnut2

[tam2819]

Zen,

I get the feeling we are knocking on the wrong door. I have twice
reached out to Teri off line and was somewhat shocked to read the
commentary about snotty comments.

We are a wonderful giving community. Scratch a few of us and you
will not find Blue blood. Quite a few of us live very tight to the
belt, and even more for some of us.

People reached out to me when I had a catastrophic loss of all my
tools. I was for the most part too misguidely (sp) proud to accept
most help offered. I did waste time feeling sorry for myself, and
yes that was a big waste. It also was a big lesson.

Teri will do what Teri will do, we did try to give her good
the rest is up to her.

Medicine, are you aware you can use your computer and locate the
manufacturer of the specific medicine you need. Go to the web site
and look for "Compassionate Need." there are different requirements
with different Pharmaceutical companies. You can get this medicine
without charge. Look for a Community heath department for needed
services.

Good luck,
Hugs
Terrie