I feel very blessed and fortunate to have found your group,
thank you so very much for being, you have no idea how timely
this is for me. I want to thank everyone who responded to me in
the orchid format and email. I will answer everyone who
responded gladly. I could not believe it when I opened my mail
box and found all the responses. I did not realize that this
type of kinship still existed, I was (am) a product of the 60’s
and 70’s where people extended their hand unconditionally. I do
not mean to go on and on but I needed to personally thank each of
you and let everyone know how you are all working together and it
does pay off.
Anyway speaking of trusting, gosh this sounds rather
hypocritical but I must inquire. I found on infoseek a website a
home based jewelry business/home study course. It sounds
absolutely too good to be true because part of the study is
teaching lost wax casting which is one of my goals.
The gentleman’s name is Richard W. Sampson of Sampson & Son
Castings out of Auburn Maine, their web site address is http://iaswww.com/sampson/yourbiz.html The home study course
teaches wax design creations, learn to create a home jewelry
business, make rubber molds, wax patterns, lost wax cast
jewelry. You learn to start a home based jewelry business and
info on home based businesses, you receive a free 30 day
consultation package in the course. It is $39.95 and $6.95 for
S&H.
I do not even know if it is cool for me to be asking and listing
his name on the internet but I can’t imagine anyone minding the
free advertisement if it is a straight up deal. You know what I
mean, like I said this sounds too good to be true and I am so
jazzed about it but I spoke with a friend who suggested since I
just joined Orchid on the internet to run it by all of you.
I hope I am not being unethical by inquiring that is not my
intention at all. Thanks for listening and I hope I can get some
response from someone, anyone.
I am not familiar with the gentleman or his course. However, I
would make a couple of general comments.
Firstly, the type of skills you seek are not easily learned from
a home study type class. Diagrams, pictures et. are not the same
as a one on one how to demo done live. In addition someone to
steer you through questions and mistakes. Isn’t there a
community college or high school near you that offers jewelry
classes? Is there a hobbyist or professional club in your area?
Secondly, the charge you mentioned was very small for the
coverage of skills you mentioned. Pick a single skill or two to
approach at a time. There are some good instructional videos
that you can rent inexpensively. ($10 or so) Try Ray Gabriel’s
library of AV stuff. If it doesn’t do the job you haven’t wasted
lots of $.
I am not a very skilled hobbyist but these are some thoughts to
consider.
PS Check out your local library’s text and AV listings.
The home study course teaches wax design creations, learn to
create a home jewelry business, make rubber molds, wax
patterns, lost wax cast jewelry. You learn to start a home
based jewelry business and info on home based businesses, you
receive a free 30 day consultation package in the course. It
is $39.95 and $6.95 for S&H.
Well, Pamela, my advice to you would be to take your 39.95 and
go invest in Tim McCreights “COMPLETE METALSMITH” book. You’ll
have enough mony left over for a nice cup of cappuccino to sip
while you look through it for the first time. I’m always
skeptical about “home study courses” and to be totally honest
with you, what would you think if you took your piece to someone
to have it cast, knowing that their education cost them 39.95?
Most of us have learned from trial/error. I think between the
books/videos available out there and “team” Ganoksin, you can
save your money and still learn to do what you want.
This seems like the old adage, if it sounds too good to be true,
it probably is.
Personally I think it sounds like Mr. Ed poop.
My .02 worth.
-k –
Art is an absolute mistress; she will not be coquetted with or slighted;
she requires the most entire self-devotion, and she repays with grand
triumphs.
Karen Christians
Fly Fish Design
282 Lexington Street
Woburn, MA 01801
781/937-3827
One never knows but I must say it soulds like a huge amount of
info for a pitence of a price. I would go carefully if I went at
all. On the other hand, the guy might have just won the lotto
and is feeling very generous and uses the 39.95 to weed out the
laylows???
John
John and Cynthia/MidLife Crisis Enterprises
Maiden Metals/C. T. Designs/ Bloomin’ Wax Works. etc.
PO Bx 44, Philo
CA 95466
Ph 707-895-2635 FAX 707-895-9332
Sitting still and wishing makes no person great.
The good Lord provides the fishes, but you must dig the bait.
I’m going to quote a part of your letter back to you:
Anyway speaking of trusting, gosh this sounds rather
hypocritical but I must inquire. I found on infoseek a
website a home based jewelry business/home study course. *It
sounds absolutely too good to be true* because part of the
study is teaching lost wax casting which is one of my goals.
The *'s (can’t spell asterisks) are mine for emphasis. Didn’t
you ever learn that if it sounds too good to be true it probably
is.
I am a Dental tech that makes jewelry. I do casting as second
nature to me. I,ve also spent 30 years at it. Where are you
located? I’m in the Western 'burbs of Chicago. I’d be happy to
teach you the process. You may E-mail me personally or on the
forum. I too am a child of the 60’s and 70’s and my
rememberances concern huge groups of people in a drug induced
haze being led by some opportunists.
Regards,
Skip
Skip Meister
NRA Endowment and
Instructor
@Skip_Meister
01/13/9810:57:21
I am also an aging hippie and my recollection is the same as
yours “huge groups of people in a drug induced haze being led by
some opportunists” I wish I lived closer to Chicago. I’d love to
have a willing instructor who volunteers so readily. I am in
Philly. Anyone around here want to teach casting? -Janet B.
hello
Have you tried
University of the Arts
Philiadelphia College of Art & Design
320 South Broad Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
USA 19102
Tel: 215 875-4808 Toll-Free: 1-800-616-2787 Fax: 215 875-5458
Pamela- I thought I’d jump in here and say that I also agree with
Tim about McCreight’s book, as well as any article he has ever
written for Lapidary Journal. And you can’t get a better offer
than Skip’s offer to teach you to cast, not if you wait a million
years. Extremely generous. At the same time, I took a little time
to investigate Sampson’'s site. It isn’t a scam, but it may not be
what you want, either. It is a high-production silver casting shop
that also sells waxes, provides mold-making services, etc. The
$39.95 plus shipping will pay for a book that gives hints on how to
start an at-home jewelry business without the major investment of
casting and mold-making equipment, and even without fabrication
equipment. You do this by using other jeweler’s services
(Sampsons, for example), building up your stock a little at a time,
and creative marketing techniques, all of which the book will
discuss (and probably a lot more). You can get this on
your own. For example, Paul and Sarah Edwards have written several
books on Working From Home. The internet is very powerful for
info-gathering and obviously, Orchid serves as a consulting firm.
I love doing my own casting and wax carving-it gives me a lot of
satisfaction. If you don’t know how or are not set up for it,
though, you might want to let someone else do it. Feel free to
e-mail me on business questions. Sheri LeBeau Lost Art Design @lostart
