Walking into a jewelry store and buying a pair of earrings or buying a bracelet is effortless. Making the jewelry, however, is where the effort shines through.

Monica Maxwell, a graduate from Central Michigan University, now taking art at Cerritos College, has been learning what it takes to create jewelry and what it takes to create jewelry that someone will wear.

Maxwell said that’s what it’s all about, not only to know what it takes to create jewelry but, “being able to actually make a bracelet or earrings,” that someone will buy.

She admits that when she first enrolled in the class she didn’t know anything about making jewelry, but now having been in the class twice she has learned a great deal of things that she didn’t know before.

“One of the things that I was able to do is smash metal,” Maxwell said, “and heat the metal.”

John Ahr, art instructor, said there are other aspects that he hopes students would understand about jewelry that, “either it’s a hobby or perhaps a part-time business for students,” who are in the class.

Ahr, who has been teaching at Cerritos for six years said that a class such as this would be fun.

He has been involved in jewelry-making for more than 20 years.

Jose De La Cruz, psychology and art major, commented, “It’s great because it is better than staying at home and doing homework, and besides I get to burn metal.”

However, Gloria Pierce, merchandising major, and Violet Pelayo, nursing major, agreed that students who take the class would have an appreciation for jewelry that is bought at jewelry stores.

In creating jewelry, Pelayo said that one of the things that she takes pride in is knowing that she created something.

“Just knowing that I did that,” she explained.

“To me it seemed like a fun class,” Pierce said, “but also ever unusual and unique,” and said,”why not give a try?”

For Lori Soohoo, graphic design major, it’s more than just a fun class, “but a great stress reliever.”

Soohoo said that within the class there is chemistry and physics involved because any jewelry created uses precision in measurement and temperature.

Stress relief isn’t how Adrianna Torres, anthropology major, and Sean Timoney, business management major, describe the class.

It’s more of a competition between the two of them because, as Timoney said of Torres, “I would hope that she would not be better than me.”

As for the class itself, Timoney said, “It is as simple as you want to make it because making jewelry isn’t that hard.”

Torres added that it was having to learn how to create jewelry that will be liked by people is the hardest part.

What Soohoo likes the most about Ahr is that he continually provides new tips as to how to make the jewelry a person wants to make and that’s what makes the class fresh.

“Not only does Ahr have a fresh approach to the class but that students are encouraged by him,” Soohoo said.

Maxwell agreed, saying that’s one thing that she liked about the class and she plans to return to the class again.

She said she will be taking a drawing class before she returns because she wants to improve on her drawing ability to better prepare her creations.