Jewelry Instructors at Silver Peak Jewelry Arts in Lafayette, CO

We're thrilled to provide you with a great team of experienced jewelry metalsmithing instructors, who are safety-conscious, professional, patient, and fun! Read the bios below to learn more about each instructor who teaches on a regular basis at our studio. Guest instructor bios are listed with their class description.

Questions about a class or a private lesson with one of us? Contact Jen anytime, she'll respond within 1-2 business days.

Jen Lesea-Ames, Owner

After retiring from her health education career in 2014, Jen transitioned her side-hustle jewelry business into a full-time success story as a nationally known jewelry designer and most recently, as an instructor in the jewelry arts.

Jen studied metalsmithing at the Denver School of Metal Arts from 2012-2016 and Gemological Institute of America (GIA) from 2014-2017, where she became obtained her diploma as an Applied Jewelry Professional.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, she saw her 32 art shows cancel in a matter of weeks. After the economic shutdown, she opened Silver Peak Studio in July 2020, where she started teaching jewelry fabrication classes in a small group setting. As demand increased, she expanded the class schedule and hired instructors. In April 2024, she expanded and moved Silver Peak Studio to Old Town Lafayette and opened the jewelry store next door to the school, where locals and visitors can shop the instructors' and students' jewelry as well as locally-made greeting and notecards. In January 2025, she rebranded to Silver Peak Jewelry Arts which more accurately reflects the mission and services that she provides.

As the owner of Silver Peak Jewelry Arts, Jen's "why" is to provide a safe, professional, and fun environment where students can expand their skillset in the jewelry arts and help support independent artists.

Adriane Laws

"I started out as a science educator, but I’ve always been an artist at heart. I have been running my own jewelry business for over 12 years, and during that time, I’ve come to appreciate the blend of curiosity, artistry and craftsmanship that jewelry design requires. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach both children and adults across a range of settings, guiding them through the exciting worlds of science and jewelry-making.

Gemstones are a fascinating intersection of science and art. So it’s no surprise that my journey into jewelry design started with wire wrapping beautiful gemstones. It didn’t take long for me to discover a love for metalsmithing.

Some of my favorite moments are when science and art intersect. My 'science mind' and natural curiosity have driven my enthusiasm for experimenting with various materials and techniques. Whether it's through etching with acid or saltwater, fold-forming, stamping, texturing, riveting, or fusing, I love transforming raw metal into something beautiful and unique. I also enjoy experimenting with other materials like polymer clay, epoxy, and paper. Each material and method offers its own unique challenge and satisfaction, providing endless opportunities to push my boundaries and learn something new.

I believe there is magic in the creative process! Some of my most innovative designs have come after an unexpected 'error' prompted me to revise my original idea. As Bob Ross says, 'There are no mistakes, only happy accidents.'

Whether I’m experimenting with materials or guiding someone through a new technique, I’m always excited by the endless possibilities for creation and exploration. For me, teaching is about more than just imparting knowledge and skills— it’s about fostering that spark of excitement that happens when someone learns a new skill and creates something of their own."

Alec Schweiger

Alec has an MFA with an emphasis in Metals and Jewelry from Colorado State University-Fort Collins, and has been teaching metalsmithing at the collegiate level (CSU) since 2019, and recently accepted a position as the Visiting Assistant Professor in Metalsmithing at the University of Wyoming-Laramie. He is also the Vice President of the Colorado Metalsmithing Association.

While in graduate school, he received a work-study scholarship to the Penland School of Craft to study under Kim Cridler, as well as learning from Navajo Silversmithing masters Allison and Trent Lee.

His "why" is described as being an extremely curious person who has always been driven to figure out how things work or how they are made. Alec has a passion for teaching and is thrilled by the opportunity to share his experiences and skills.

Alita McMannis

With fifteen years of experience working with PMC, and thirty years of making jewelry, Alita will teach you all you need to be successful using Precious Metal Clay.

"I started my career in jewelry over 30 years ago, making pieces for friends and family. 2008 brought a move across the country to Virginia, where I joined Floyd Artists Association, a Co-Op gallery in Floyd, VA. I was still doing beading with semi-precious stones at that time, and suddenly there were a million beaders—many horrible, using poor quality items or trying to pass off items from catalogs as their own—and I felt the yearning for something new to feed my creativity.

One day I saw an ad for a class in Precious Metal Clay. I took said class and was an immediate addict. It changed my creativity for the better!

Since late 2008, I have been working with PMC, and when I found out I was to be a grandma, I returned to Arvada in 2013. I owned The Light Rail Gallery in Arvada, which I sold to Ethan Hoekstra, and am now a member of Ethan’s Gallery and Studio, where I am currently showing. I also show at a number of art fairs around the Denver area.

My inspiration comes from the Earth, Moon, and Stars. We live in such a magical world! The Universe sends me ideas, and my creations are the result. I do my creating in a small studio in Arvada."

Cheyenne Hughes

Cheyenne is a Denver native who's been making jewelry since 2009. During that time he's been fortunate enough to have apprenticed under the accomplished jeweler/blacksmith, Ira Sherman.

That six year apprenticeship (2009-2015) landed him a job as a bench jeweler working for platinum and gold expert, John Sholl of J.F. Sholl Fine Jewelry, in Littleton, CO.

Cheyenne is currently running his own jewelry studio, Beast of Burden Jewelry, in Denver where he offers casting and other jewelry production services to the general public as well as other jewelers.

Denaille (Dee) Moore

Denaille graduated with their BFA in Metals & Jewelry from the University of Wyoming in 2020 and now works as a goldsmith and bench jeweler at a fine jewelry store in Fort Collins. They hope to spread some of the knowledge they have acquired with the rest of their community to make metalsmithing techniques more accessible to artists of all backgrounds.

They also serve on the board of directors for the Colorado Metalsmithing Association.

John Sullivan

With a BFA in Metals and Jewelry from CSU-Fort Collins and a MFA in Metalsmithing from SUNY-New Paltz, John was most recently an Affiliate Instructor of Metalsmithing and Jewelry and a Studio Technician at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado. John serves on the board of directors of the Colorado Metalsmithing Association.

While studying at CSU, he was an apprentice to artist Ira Sherman and an assistant to artist Nilda Getty. John has been a guest speaker and given demonstrations at events hosted by the Colorado Metalsmithing Association. As an educator, John has taught as a substitute art teacher at the private institute Kent, Denver, and as a Teaching Assistant at SUNY New Paltz, teaching Basic Metal in both a traditional setting, online, and hybrid classroom. After receiving his Masters, John taught Metalsmithing and Jewelry for the Highschool Summer Sessions at Snowfarm, The New England Craft Program.

John has exhibited work at several national and international venues, as well as having been published in numerous domestic and foreign publications.

Michael Neff

Michael started his journey with metalsmithing in middle school when he was gifted a jeweler’s saw. This was after being inspired by the precision of a jeweler he met that was doing saw piercing work and removing the background in coins. In 2010 he took a jewelry class at New Vista High School and learned basic soldering, stone setting and wire wrapping. While doing a glass blowing apprenticeship in 2012 he became enamored with wire wrapping and started studying wire wrapping techniques and the work of other wire wrappers and jewelers. The endless possibilities with different techniques, settings, flows and styles created a passion for the art form and pulled Michael in the world of jewelry, crystals and gems.

His pursuit of metal smithing led him to take classes at the Denver School of Metal Arts, BOMA, online pavé classes through JIA, and online engraving classes through Sam Alfano. Michael started working as a bench jeweler at Anspach’s Jewelry in 2023 and has had the opportunity to learn more about jewelry repair, stone setting, fabrication and custom work.

Since 2012 Michael has been making jewelry regularly and working with clients to create custom pieces as well as his own designs. Nature, geometry, balance and harmony have always been a large source of inspiration in his work. He is the owner of Michael J Neff Designs LLC and his work can seen on Facebook and Instagram through @michaelneffart

Michele Throne

Michele’s first dip into metalsmithing started with a high school class. She then picked it back up after getting her BFA at Florida State University. She’s been a full-time jeweler and owner of Sidhe Designs since 2010. Her teaching experience spans over 25 years, ranging from teaching art at a Montessori school to teaching adult metalsmithing classes since 2012.

Michele is a master in sawing, sweat soldering, texturing metal, and Keum-boo, and this is apparent in her jewelry line that she sells in our store and at art shows across the country.

Her deep love and appreciation for everything outdoors and love for people inspire her to create jewelry focused on nature and the human experience.

Samantha Chang

Samantha is from Buffalo, NY and recently moved to Louisville, CO after spending ten years in Brooklyn. She holds a BA in Art History and Management from SUNY Purchase and is a multidisciplinary artist and jeweler who has studied various jewelry processes including beading, wire wrapping, pearl knotting, fabrication, wax carving, and most recently, welding! She taught her first jewelry making class when she was 16 and fell in love with sharing knowledge and techniques in the jewelry arts.

Samantha learned jewelry-making through classes at local bead stores, lots of trial and error, and has taken metal fabrication classes at the Jewelry Arts Institute in Manhattan. She then was an apprentice for an independent jeweler in Brooklyn. Most recently, she was a bench jeweler at Catbird NYC before moving out to Colorado with her husband.