Our Instructor Team

We're thrilled to provide you with a great team of experienced jewelry metalsmithing instructors, who are professional, patient, and fun! Read the bios below to learn more about each instructor who teaches on a regular basis at our studio. Guest instructor bios are listed with their class description.

Questions? Contact us anytime, we'd love to hear from you!  

Jen Lesea-Ames, Owner and Instructor

Jen LeseaAmes

A former exercise physiologist (M.S. Applied and Integrative Physiology, CU Boulder) and triathlete, Jen retired from her fitness career after receiving a diagnosis of hip dysplasia which required two hip preservation surgeries. It was at that point when she decided to retire from the fitness industry and go full-time with her jewelry business in 2014. 

Wanting more of a challenge after stringing beads for three years, she studied metalsmithing at the Denver School of Metal Arts (now called Denver Jewelry Studio) from 2012-2016. She decided to go full-time with her jewelry business in 2014 and opened Silver Peak Studio in July 2020, and has never looked back. She is thrilled to be expanding and moving the school to Old Town Lafayette in April 2024!

She is the owner, designer, and metalsmith of Jen Lesea Designs, (2009-present). Her jewelry is sold in over 40 stores, including Fallingwater Museum Store, the Vladem Museum of Contemporary Art in Santa Fe, NM and the national catalogs Uncommon Goods and Artful Home. Her experience and work has landed her local and national press. Jen is an Applied Jewelry Professional from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

Her fun and friendly nature is apparent in everything she does, whether its teaching metalsmithing, talking to art show patrons, or motivating people to try something new, like stand up paddleboarding!  

As the owner of Silver Peak Studio, it is her intention to provide a safe, clean, professional and fun environment where students can expand their skillset in the the jewelry arts.

    Superpower: A supportive visionary
    My "why":  I wanted to create a fun, supportive, drama-free space where people can tap into their inner creative and fall in love with metalsmithing
    Favorite process: Fusing sterling silver 
    Favorite Tool: my torch
    Pet Peeve: Getting interrupted while talking
    Favorite Color: Cobalt blue
    Favorite Food: Fresh fish (same-day caught) with sauteed veggies
    If I could live anywhere, it would be: Hawaii (Big Island)
    In my free time, I... recreate outdoors, travel, and relax with my fur babies, Addie and Stevie.

    Alec Schweiger, Head Instructor

    Alec Schweiger bio pic
    Alec has an MFA with an emphasis in Metals and Jewelry from Colorado State University-Fort Collins, and has been teaching metalsmithing at the collegiate level (CSU) since 2019.  He received a work study scholarship to the Penland School of Craft to study under Kim Cridler, as well as learning from Navajo Silversmithing masters Allison and Trent Lee.  

    His "why" is described as being an extremely curious person who has always been driven to figure out how things work or how they are made.

    Alec has a passion for teaching and is thrilled by the opportunity to share his experiences and skills.

    Superpower: Creative problem solving
    My “why”: I am an extremely curious person and have always been driven to figure out how things work or how they are made. I have a passion for teaching
    Favorite Process: Raising Vessels
    Favorite Tool:
    My riveting hammer
    Pet Peeve:
    When shoppers don’t return their carts to the corral
    Favorite Color:
    Green
    Favorite Food:
    Cookies
    If I could live anywhere, it would be: An imaginary place that is a cross of WI and CO, where all my friends and family are close by.

    In my free time, I…disc golf, golf, jam to vinyl with my wife, Emma, and dog, Micah.

    Jen Barnhart, Youth Class Coordinator/Instructor

    Jen Barnhardt headshot

    Jen is a certified teacher in Colorado and Texas and is the owner, designer, and instructor of Stoic Sage Designs. She has led youth programs for over 20 years and taught High School English for 10 years. In 2021, she took a break from the classroom to pursue creative endeavors and taught herself jewelry design. After moving to Colorado from Texas in 2022, Jen began taking classes at Silver Peak Studio to learn metalsmithing, and she is mentored by Jen Lesea-Ames, the owner of Silver Peak Studio.

    Her “why” is to inspire youth and provide them opportunities to express their creativity. 

    While she loves making jewelry, she missed teaching, which is why she has now merged her passions and experience to teach jewelry making to kids and adults. 

    Superpower: Making jewelry while chasing after my two year old
    My “why”: I want youth (and adults) to feel inspired, gain confidence, and express their creativity because there is pure magic when those things are combined.
    Favorite Process: Flame painting copper
    Favorite Tool: Ball-peen hammer

    Pet Peeve: Belly buttons (particularly when my kids touch mine or their own)

    Favorite Color: Olive green

    Favorite Food: Tex-Mex Queso
    If I could live anywhere, it would be: We moved here from Texas last December and this is exactly where I want to be.

    In my free time, I…hike, bike, and read and camp with my husband and my two kids, River and Bodie.

    Cheyenne Hughes

    Cheyenne Hughes bio pic

    Cheyenne is a Denver native who's been making jewelry since 2009. Over that time he's been fortunate enough to have apprenticed under the accomplished jeweler/blacksmith Ira Sherman. That 6 year
    apprenticeship (2009-2015) landed him a job as a bench jeweler working for platinum and gold expert John Sholl of J.F. Sholl Fine Jewelry in Littleton, CO.

    Cheyenne is currently running his own jewelry studio (Beast of Burden Jewelry) in Denver where he offers casting and other jewelry production services to the general public as well as other jewelers.

    Superpower: Can finish an entire Chipotle burrito
    My "why": I love making things that someone would actually like to put on their body and walk around!
    Favorite process: CAD
    Favorite Tool:  sprue cutters
    Pet Peeve: when people say "casted"
    Favorite Color: orange
    Favorite Food: BBQ
    If I could live anywhere, it would be: A cave cliff home
    In my free time, I... play video games

    Shawn Rybacki

    Shawn headshot

    Shawn has been studying the art of wire wrapping for nearly two decades. Originally from Philadelphia, she came to Colorado six years ago and became a mindfulness-based psychotherapist (M.A. Counseling Psychotherapy - Naropa University). Shawn loves teaching others how to wire wrap, especially beginners who may feel intimidated by the process. She is passionate about helping students learn how to embrace mistakes, work through frustration and creative block, and develop their own unique style!

      Superpower: Kindness
      My "why": Because I have to! I can't imagine not making art. Creating is like breathing, I can't stop!
      Favorite process: Design conceptualization, hunting for materials, and weaving advanced patterns
      Favorite Tool:   my hands
      Pet Peeve:  Last minute changes to my schedule
      Favorite Color: I like all colors!
      Favorite Food: mushrooms
      If I could live anywhere, it would be: Somewhere warm with a beach
      In my free time, I... Dance, watch documentaries, and enjoy cooking!

      Michele Throne

      Michele Throne

      Michele’s first dip into metalsmithing started with a high school class. She then picked it back up after getting her BFA at Florida State University. She’s been a full-time jeweler and owner of Sidhe Designs since 2010. Additionally, she has been teaching art since 1998 and metalsmithing since 2012.

      Her deep love and appreciation for everything outdoors and love for people inspire her to create jewelry focused on nature and the human experience. 

      Superpower: Sawing and, finding the best in people and see what they have to offer
      My "why": I like creating meaningful jewelry with a story. I’ve found sawing imagery to be the best way to express this so far! 
      Favorite process: sawing and sweat soldering
      Favorite Tool: my jeweler's saw
      Pet Peeve: Disingenuous behavior and my own space cadet state of mind.
      Favorite Color: maroon and aqua blue
      Favorite Food: a tie between Thai and Indian
      If I could live anywhere, it would be: Where I’m at-minus the fire danger and in a house with a bigger studio! Ireland would be magical too, but I think the rain would lead me to drink.
      In my free time, I... play as much as I can outdoors! Rock climb, hike with my neighbors and our dogs, mountain bike a little.