Talon Prong Earrings with Baleigh Acebo: July 12 from 9:30-5:30

Dive into the intricate world of fine metalsmithing as you learn to fabricate one of the most essential and challenging components in jewelry: the prong setting. This intensive, hands-on workshop is specifically designed to demystify the process of building tiny settings from scratch. You will gain a deep understanding of precision soldering and forming as we focus on constructing a striking pair of earrings featuring unique, high-security talon prong baskets.

You will learn:

• Precision Fabrication: Learn how to accurately measure, cut, and form the small metal components required for basket settings (girdle wire, base plate, prongs).
• The Tiny Solder Dance: Master essential tips and tricks for setting up and soldering tiny components. This includes understanding heat control, flux application, and jig placement to successfully join the small, delicate pieces that form the prong basket.
• Shaping the Fierce Talon: Discover the techniques for shaping the straight prongs into uniform, sharp, and aesthetically pleasing talon prongs. You will learn the specific filing and finishing methods that give these prongs their signature fierce, claw-like look.
• Earring Assembly: Confidently integrate your finished prong settings into a wearable pair of earrings, ready for stone setting (though setting the stone itself may be demonstrated or saved for an advanced class, depending on the allotted time).

Details:

• Sunday, July 12 from 9:30-5:30
• 8 contact hours, ages 14+ located at 100 E. Cleveland St. Lafayette CO
• # students: 3 minimum, 6 maximum
• Tools are provided
• Materials kit fee is $100-130 depending on the stones chosen, and the fee includes stones and metal to complete your pendant. Chain is not included. Chains are for sale at the store for an additional charge.  Fee is due at the beginning of class and is paid directly to the instructor via cash, check, or Venmo.
• Prerequisite: Metals 1 and Metals 2 (or Beginning Metalsmithing class, which is Metals 1 and 2 combined). Prong Setting Faceted Stones preferred, but not required.

The last day to cancel for a refund or credit ($25 transfer fee applies) is May 1, 2026. Because this is a Master Series workshop, there are no exceptions to this rule.

By registering for this workshop, you agree to our cancellation policy, dress code, and studio rules.

About the instructor, Baleigh Acebo

Tinkering with craft and jewelry began for Baleigh Acebo as a wee adolescent, growing up in the lush green mountains of Vermont. After pursuing a BFA in Creative Writing she realized she had made a terrible mistake on a very expensive education, because what she wanted to do was work with her hands.  She then enrolled in the North Bennet Street School’s Jewelry Making & Repair program in Bahston, MA and everything was good again. Baleigh was technically trained to craft her own tools, fabricate intricate pieces from scratch, handset diamonds & precious gems and repair fine jewelry.

As a process jeweler, Baleigh is turned on from the problem solving involved in designing intricate pieces and setting weird stones.  Her work employs bold colors, clean lines and lots of geometry.

Baleigh can be found teaching super fun and awesome metalsmithing and stone setting workshops in Colorado and across the US.  She works out of her home studio in Denver, Colorado that she shares with her talented hubs Alex Boyd, along with their 3 adorable floofs.