Step into the magical realm of bending and shaping raw copper into whimsical pieces of art that you can wear, use, or make as epic gifts. In this hands-on workshop with metalsmith and beloved earthskills instructor Grant Adkisson, you’ll learn how to turn simple copper materials into beautiful and functional one of a kind creations. Using a few basic tools and cold-forging techniques (which are easy to replicate at home!), you’ll design and craft your adornments—bracelets, pendants, earrings, hair sticks, blanket / shawl pins, and more.
This class is designed to show how accessible and adaptable copper can be—no heavy forge required. With just a few tools (all of which can fit in a single toolbox), you’ll explore the endless creative possibilities of this versatile metal and leave with both finished pieces and the knowledge to continue crafting at home.
In this workshop, you will:
Whether you’re brand new to metalwork or eager to expand your craft, this workshop offers the opportunity to build confidence, try something new, and walk away with beautiful handmade pieces that are functional and uniquely yours.
This class will be held outdoors on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm near Mars Hill, NC.
This class is suitable for all experience levels! The minimum age is 12, with those under 16 accompanied by an adult. Please be prepared for long periods of standing.
Grant Adkisson is a lifelong learner, craftsman, and educator with a passion for helping people connect more deeply with their hands, the land, and themselves. An Earthskills Instructor, Nature Educator, Farmer, and Metalsmith, Grant brings over a decade of experience teaching at gatherings and schools across the Southeast, including Firefly Gathering, Florida Earthskills, Ancestral Knowledge, and Earthskills Rendezvous, where he also served as Youth Programs Coordinator for eight years.
Grant is the co-founder of Corylace Cove, an Earthskills school in Mars Hill, NC, offering homeschool and summer camp programs for children ages 3–17. His teaching spans a wide range of traditional and practical skills—from coppersmithing, blacksmithing, and hunting to organic gardening, livestock farming, wildcrafting, and mead making.
Whether guiding children in outdoor play or leading adults in hands-on craft, Grant is inspired by creating opportunities for others to grow in skill, resilience, and confidence. He believes that true mastery comes when you can answer the toughest questions from curious students, and he strives to keep deepening his own craft through teaching.
In order to make our workshops more accessible, we offer two price options for each class, with an additional Equity Discount for qualifying individuals. Please consider these options and select your price at checkout.
Thank you for helping transform the world into a culture of abundance, resilience, and opportunity for all.
*Please check your pricing options before you register for your first Perennial Workshop. The pricing options are the same for all events, so you only need to do it once!
Registration closes at 8am on November 15th
Subscribe to our Newsletter for updates on all things Firefly, such as Perennial Workshops, Book Nook, and Annual Gathering News.
Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on all things Firefly, including Perennial Workshops, Firefly's Book Nook, and Annual Gathering News.
Lily is an artist, creator, and dreamer. Since a very young age, she has been immersed in the natural world and draws heavy inspiration from the wild. Though her medium changes frequently, Lily’s art and expression always incorporate an element of the organic and unpredictable. She got her associate in fine arts in 2023, and now volunteers at her school as a ceramic studio monitor. She hopes to open a studio of her own one day to have a place to teach and inspire others. In addition to doing commission work, Lily has been creating many graphics for The Firefly Gathering since 2019. Lily grew up in the Earthskills community from the time she was eight years old, so having the opportunity to grow and give back in so many ways has been incredibly fulfilling. No matter where she ends up, this group of people and ideas will always hold a special place in her heart.