Wow! I just found this, yet another reason I so wish I could make it out to Las Vegas for all the great shows starting in early June. As part of my numerous part-time jobs over the years, I spent some time working as a sales clerk at a fine jewelry shop, and I love taking a breaking and watching the bench jewelers at work. At JCK Las Vegas 2007 you can do the same thing thanks to Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America:

MJSA Jewelry Academy Presents "At the Bench Live" at JCK Las Vegas 2007

Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA) will once again provide "At the Bench Live" demonstrations at JCK Las Vegas on June 2-4, 2007, in the ET&S Pavilion. This year's session will feature a diverse range of topics, from working with palladium to wax carving with a flex-shaft. Below is a full schedule:

SATURDAY, JUNE 2

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

- "Palladium Today: Its Place in the Market," a panel discussion by Daniel Ballard of PM West, Teresa Frye of TechForm Advanced Casting Technology, and Lisa Krikawa of Krikawa Designs.

3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

- "950 Palladium: The Fundamentals for Success in Design and Casting" by Teresa Frye of TechForm Advanced Casting Technology.

SUNDAY, JUNE 3

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

- "How to Set up a Casting Operation in a Small Shop" by Chris Ploof of Chris Ploof Designs.

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

- "Tips and Tales from the Platinum Bench" by Jurgen J. Maerz of Platinum Guild International.

2:30 p.m.

- Book Signing by Jurgen J. Maerz. Maerz will sign copies of his latest MJSA Press book, Adventures at the Bench: Tricks to Overcome a Jeweler's Daily Challenges, sponsored by Johnson Matthey New York.

3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

"Optimizing Your Gravers and Other Tools for Pave and Bead Setting Gemstones" by Arthur Anton Skuratowicz of the Jewelry Training Center.

MONDAY, JUNE 4

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

- "Quick Start Wax Carving with Kate Wolf" by Kate Wolf of Kate Wolf Designs.

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

- "Promotion, Pricing, and Production - a Primer" by Chris Ploof of Chris Ploof Designs.

3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

- "Safe Jeweler, Safe Shop" by Arthur Anton Skuratowicz of the Jewelry Training Center. This presentation is part of the MJSA Safe & Secure Outreach Program and is sponsored by G-TEC Natural Gas Systems.

The bench and tools are sponsored by Stuller Inc.

For more information, please contact Teresa Shannon, MJSA Jewelry Academy director, at 1-800-444-6572, ext. 3103, e-mail teresa.shannon@mjsa.org, or stop by MJSA Booth #L9 in the Sands Convention Center at JCK Las Vegas.