Wished you could come also but would be an awful long drive for you!

No Kay I don't usually. I teach classes as a volunteer through my county extension service. I have to try to keep costs really at minimum for the kits. People won't sign up if the projects get expensive. This is a teaching experience with the hopes that they will continue on and improve on their new found skills. I will however use silver plated wire for wrapping and fashioning hand crafted ear wires. I will also buy products that are silver if I find them reasonable enough to use in small projects such as earrings.