You are NEVER TOO OLD to learn to play with clay. Come discover your creativity, engage your mind and exercise your motor skills. In this Ceramics and Pottery Class, we will be using hand-building techniques to make functional and non-functional ceramics and pottery projects using slabs and coils.  The Pottery Wheel and advanced techniques will be taught to continuing students.  Glazing and firings are included in the materials fee.  Participants can sign up for additional Tuesday classes each month if they wish to continue their ceramics adventure.

Tuesday Morning Ceramics

The Curious Forge MakerSpace is a for profit business, with a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Wing, Forging Nevada County Forward, located at 13024 Bitney Springs Rd in Nevada City, California. The Curious Forge is a 20,000+ sq/ft space, where members have access to training and a wide variety of over $100,000 in equipment from traditional to advanced. Most of all we are a community. 

The Curious Forge is a place where people can come to learn new skills, work on projects, and meet other like-minded people. We offer a variety of classes and workshops,

The Curious Forge

This workshop is for all levels (beginners welcome) who wish to develop and sharpen their pottery-throwing skills on the Potter’s Wheel. We will go over the basics of wedging, centering, pulling, and trimming but also cover how to throw bowls and plates. Everyone is guaranteed a pot.  Make that special pot that shows the sudden uptick in your skills.  Enjoy playing with clay and making ceramic pottery with your own unique flair.  All clay and materials included.

Saturday Morning Get Behind the Wheel Ceramics

Beginning at Square ONE — The most BASIC of Drawing BASICS!

Drawing 101

The 3D Printer qualification process:

Day 1 hands-on – plan on attending 2.5 hours the first day.

Day 2 – Practicum – The next week will be your practicum with the facilitator (the practicum is essential to qualify for becoming a Forge member, you may take the class without the practicum if you choose unless you want it for qualifying for membership).

The practicum can take up to 30-45 minutes to complete.  Practicum is where you will show you are proficient and confident to use the machine by yourself.  It is required that you complete the practicum the next week after your class

3D Printer Qualification

Immerse yourself in the ceramic experience. Bob Davis will be teaching this workshop for people who would like a broad understanding of how to work with the medium of clay.  It is for people with no experience, as well as those who wish to gain a broader understanding of what makes clay such an amazing medium. We will be learning how to work on the potter’s wheel, as well as hand-building, using extruders and the slab roller. We will cover all the basics of embellishing your work, too.

You will come away with a broad basic knowledge of the medium and have a blast making pottery wares to take home.  You will have your choice of making sushi plates, tapas servers, cups, spoon rests, coasters and/or a succulent planter.  Come away with a focus on the direction you want to take next in your adventure of exploring the medium of clay.  This class is for all levels, no experience required.

Ceramics 101

Learn how how to make Fused Glass art and use the tools properly

Glass Fusing Qualification

This class serves to qualify you to use the Industrial sewing machines in the Forge Textiles area and qualifies you to join the Forge if you join within 6 weeks of the class. Or, it can be used to learn how to use a machine on your own.  This is not a class on technique.

Industrial Sewing Machine Qualification

This class serves to qualify you to use the domestic sewing machines in the Forge Textiles area and qualifies you to join the Forge if you join within 6 weeks of the class. Or, it can be used to learn how to use a machine on your own.

Domestic Sewing Machine Qualification

Learn to use Flameworking torches and tools

Class Frameworking Qualification

2-day qualification class

This class qualifies you to use the blacksmithing area in the Forge if you are a member. It is also appropriate if you only wish to learn how to use the equipment in a typical blacksmith shop. It is not an official or professional certification.

To complete the qualification process you must attend both 2 days.  You will then come back for your practicum (to be scheduled with your facilitator).  You must attend the practicum if your intention is to join the Forge and work in the blacksmith studio.  Practicum is where you will show that you are proficient in using the equipment without supervision.

Blacksmithing Qualification

The Laser Cutter qualification process:

Day 1 hands-on – plan on about 4 hours the first day.

Day 2 – Practicum – The next week will be your practicum with the facilitator (the practicum is essential to qualify for becoming a Forge member, you may take the class without the practicum if you choose unless you want it for qualifying for membership).   The practicum can take up to 45 minutes to complete.  Practicum is where you will show you are proficient and confident to use the machine by yourself.  It is required that you complete the practicum the next week after your class.

Laser Cutter Qualification

Students will design and create their own unique Murrini for use in glass art.

Glassblowing - Intro to Making Murinni Glass

This class serves to qualify you to use the Overlock/Serger Sewing Machine in the Forge Textiles Studio or it can be used to learn how to use your own Overlock machine at home.  It is not a class on sewing techniques.

Overlock Sewing Machine Qualification

Learn how to work in the Curious Forge Ceramics Studio

Ceramics Studio Qualification

Bring your machine or use the studio machines and learn the very basics of machine sewing. You will learn how to thread the machine and bobbin, easy tricks to sewing straight, learn about seam allowances, machine tension, problem solving and all basic mechanisms of the domestic machine. Then we will be ready to tackle our first project–a tote bag.

Project pattern will be supplied.

Please bring: Please bring your own canvas weight fabrics 1/2 yard and ½ yd medium/light weight fabric for the lining. Fabric is also available at the studio for $10 cash.

Sewing 101 - Sewing Machine Introduction

Ceramics - Wheel Throwing

Immerse yourself in the ceramic experience. We will be teaching this workshop for people who would like a broad understanding of how to work with the medium of clay.  It is for people with no experience, as well as those who wish to gain a broader understanding of what makes clay such an amazing medium. We will be learning how to work on the potter’s wheel, as well as hand-building, using extruders and the slab roller. We will cover all the basics of embellishing your work, too.

You will come away with a broad basic knowledge of the medium and have a blast making wares to take home.  Come away with a focus on the direction you want to take next in your adventure of exploring the medium of clay.  This class is for all levels, no experience required.

Ceramics for Beginners

Take the next step in your sewing adventure.   Learn to lay out a simple pattern properly on the fabric.  Assemble the pattern pieces and sew them together.

Sewing for Advanced Beginners

In this advanced beginner blacksmithing class, you will continue to learn the advanced basics of shaping hot metal from master blacksmith Jefferson Mack.  This class is the second in the series and will expand on the basic forging techniques learned in Basic Blacksmith, adding more techniques: Hot Chiseling, Using the Hossfeld Bender, Upsetting, and Collaring. Participants will make an item to take home.

Blacksmithing for Intermediate Beginners

This class qualifies you to use the equipment in the metal area in the Forge if you are a member.  Members must complete the practicum (to be scheduled with the facilitator) 

Metalshop Qualification

Machine Shop Qualification

Mixed Media Workshop

Learn how to use the Electronics Lab for your projects


Electronics Studio Qualification

This class qualifies you to use the Mixed Media Studio at The Curious Forge if you are a Member.


Mixed Media Qualification

CNC Plasma Table

This is your opportunity to spend 20 minutes trying your hand at glassblowing your very own Glass Object!  With the supervision and guidance of our professional glassblowers, you will discover the art of molding hot molten glass into a unique beautiful colorful object to bring home.

Glassblowing Experience Taster

What you will learn:

sewing machine straight stitch and zigzag
to sew accurate straight seams
learn to read instructions and patterns
proper seam allowances
pressing with an iron
use of rotary cutters and a mat
learn how to read the end of a bolt of fabric when you’re shopping, its measurements and how to care for it.
You’ll complete a tote bag to take home and have the option of making a drawstring gift bag.

Beginners welcome! Bring your own machine if you’d like, otherwise, one will be provided.

Sewing for Beginners

Wood shop Qualification class – Safety and Operation

Woodshop Qualification

No experience necessary!  We will be hand building and throwing on the wheel.  Learn how to make Bird Houses, Hummingbird Feeders, Garden Totems, and Bat Houses!

You will learn the techniques of slab and coil building.  If you are skilled on the wheel, you will see demonstrations of working off the wheel as well.

Join us for this fun inventive Garden Art Ceramic Class!  Let your imagination take flight.

3 session class:

 Demonstrations and Fun Working with Clay Making Garden Art
 Decorate and Underglaze your projects.   Pieces will then be Bisque Fired
 Glazing & Under-glazing your projects

Ceramics - Garden Art

A full-day class to learn and get re-acquainted with basic soldering skills for jewelry making. In this 6-hour class for beginners and anyone needing to brush up on their silver soldering skills, you will learn the basics of torch soldering using propane/oxygen torches. Working in silver, copper, and brass, (sheet and wire), we will cover essential techniques for sweat soldering, butt soldering, pick soldering, and more. Join Karen Olsen Ramsey and her warm, light-hearted instruction as she guides you through the detailed properties of jewelry-making metals, soldering safety, and multiple soldering techniques. We will complete several simple projects, and you will walk away with the skills and confidence to complete more complex projects in the future. All tools and materials will be provided, and no prior experience is necessary.

Jewelry Soldering for Beginners

If you are an artist wanting to explore 3D metal art, need ranch or auto repairs, or are a tinkerer wishing to add the strength and rigidity that metal offers, this is the workshop for you.

This is a two-session class. 6 hours total instruction (must attend both days)

Hands-on learning:

Safety equipment, safe practices, equipment selection
Equipment setup and joint prep
Material identification and preparation
Troubleshooting common problems
All equipment provided

MIG Welding for Beginners and Artists

In this beginner’s Blacksmithing Class, you will learn the basics of shaping hot metal from master blacksmith Jefferson Mack.  Participants will make a fire poker, learning and putting into practice several basic forging techniques using traditional blacksmithing tools: Tapering; Twisting; Fullering; Curling; Texturing; Straightening.  Instruction covers safety, history, theory, and practical applications, forming an excellent basis for a blacksmith certification.

Participants will learn how to make a fire poker using 4-5 basic blacksmithing techniques.
Everyone will make a fire poker to take home!

Blacksmithing for Beginners

Increase your ceramics skills by learning new skills to Alter, Decorate, Texturize, and Carve Clay to create unique shapes and designs.
This workshop is for the advanced beginner ceramicist. To benefit from this workshop, you should be able to center and pull approximately 2 pounds of clay on the wheel.

Ceramics for Advanced Beginners

 In this hands-on class, you will learn both of the main skills in woodturning, faceplate turning, and how to create the basic spindle shapes and cuts.  Students will turn a small bowl.

This is the perfect class for the beginning turner or a great way to hone your wood lathe turning skills.

Safety and operational use of the lathe will be taught in the at the beginning of this class.  This qualifies you to use the Forge wood lathe shop area if you are wanting to become a Forge member within 6 weeks of class or are already a member.

Woodturning Qualification

The blacksmithing shop includes a power hammer, an industrial press, a number of forges, and assorted tools and anvils.

Blacksmithing

In the Ceramics Studio, you’ll find 8 throwing wheels, a wedging table, electric and raku kilns, a slab roller, and a pug mill. We carry clay in our Forge Store for members have the option of purchasing on-site

Ceramics Studio

We have 8 computers in our lab for member use, 4 have the Adobe Creative Cloud suite on them (Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro, Premiere Pro, InDesign, and Adobe Express).

Computer Lab

The Digital Fab Lab is home to 2 state-of-the-art laser cutters, 7 FDM 3D printers, and 2 SLA resin printers.


Digital Fab Lab

In the Electronics Studio, you’ll find power supplies, a logic analyzer, Arduino development systems, soldering stations, oscilloscopes, digital volt meters, and loads of servos/sensors/electronic components.

Electronics Lab

We have 3 small fusing kilns, 2 large kilns, 6 torches, and numerous tools for handling and cutting glass

Glass Working

We fire this up about every month from September to May (too hot for the summer). Furnaces, glory holes, assorted tools, and benches are available for classes and open labs each time we fire it up.

Glassblowing

Jewelry Casting

The Jewelry Studio is equipped with metal clay/PMC tools, 12 hand-tolling stations, a rolling mill, drill press, buffers, casting equipment, stone polishing equipment, and oxy-propane torches.

Jewelry Studio

In the lapidary studio, there are numerous wheels for polishing and equipment for cutting stones.

Lapidary Studio

Machine Shop

Metalworking tools included in our Metal Shop: MIG/TIG/Flux welders, plasma torches, angle grinders, Milling and Metal lathes, Planisher, tube roller, chubby checker twister, horizontal/portable bandsaws, drill presses, slip roller, brake, and shear.

Metal Shop

There’s a lot that can be done in our mixed media area! We’ve done mosaic classes, mobile building, assemblage/upcycling, drawing, painting, gel plate monoprinting, and more! Large tables and work areas accommodate big classes. In the studio you can find: a Cricut Explore Air, a Sizzix Sidekick die cutter/embossing machine w/dies and embossing slides, glue guns, easels, heat guns, drafting tables, a light box, adjustable vise, a guillotine cutter, and an eyelet and brad tool kit.

Mixed Media Studio

Our textiles studio is really stocked! We have 8 straight stitch domestic machines, 2 overlock/serger machines, 3 industrial machines (Singer, Brother, Walking foot), a leather punching table and leather tools, heavy-duty, and table looms. Various materials and threads are available for purchase.

Textiles

The Woodshop is fully equipped with industrial table saws, bandsaws, drill presses, belt sanders, miter saws, wood lathes, panel saws, a joiner, planer, and numerous hand tools.

Woodshop

The Woodturning Studio includes 5 lathes and all assorted accessories needed to turn something beautiful!

Capabilities

Amenities

How to get there