This course will focus on learning techniques. Your tutor will demonstrate each technique, which you then practise on copper test pieces before applying your knowledge to making a piece in silver.

At the end of this course, you will have gained a good first (or refreshed) understanding of basic jewellery making processes. You will have made a number of test pieces and various finished silver pieces to take home and enjoy (see details below). You are encouraged to take notes to elaborate on your learning, but you will also be given various detailed technical handouts to serve as reference in the future and a tool list, should you wish to continue or take a further course.

First evening

• Skills learned: Design skills

Essential to jewellery making is thinking about what to make. The first evening will be spent focusing on the design process. We will discuss how to ‘get’ ideas and develop them, how to translate ideas into materials, model making, ‘playing’ with materials and, finally, how to evaluate your finished piece.

Day 1: 9.15am - 5pm

• Sawing, Texturing and Forming using Sheet Metal
• You will learn: saw piercing, filing, sanding, drilling, texturing, doming, annealing (softening) metal, disc cutting and hand-finishing techniques
• Pieces made: one pair of long silver earrings, various copper test pieces

The first day of making will be spent learning a variety of techniques: how to saw, file and sand metal; how to create textures and marks on metal surfaces with hammers, punches and the rolling mill and how to hand-drill metal. You will also learn how to use the torch to soften (anneal) metal, as well as various hand-finishing techniques.

There will be plenty of time to make test pieces in copper with each of these techniques before then embarking on making your first piece in silver - a pair of long earrings - in a design of your choosing. Your tutor will discuss your ideas with you beforehand or will help you find a design.

Day 2: 9.15am - 5pm

• Soldering Techniques and using Wire
• You will learn: different soldering methods, making and linking jump rings
• Pieces made: using wire to make a silver ring pendant, (various options); different copper test pieces

The second day will focus on soldering - that is how to join two metal pieces together using heat. Making jewellery can require different ways of soldering and you will learn how to tackle three common soldering situations. Furthermore, we will be focusing on using wires to make and join jump rings. After having made various soldering test pieces in copper, you will make a silver ring pendant. Your tutor will be on hand to help and discuss your ideas to personalise your piece.

Day 3: 9.15am - 3pm

• Wires and Findings
• You will learn: further wire forming techniques to make simple jewellery findings; how to use and solder shop-bought findings with your jewellery
• Piece to make and take home: a pair of silver ear studs (prepared during the second day), test pieces for making simple findings (clasps, ear hooks) and solder test pieces with findings

The last day of the course will focus on working with wires and on findings - such as earring fittings and clasps, which are important elements in jewellery making.You will learn a number of wire-working techniques to make decorative wire shapes to use in your jewellery. These skills will be used to learn how to make simple findings, such as clasps or ear wires yourself.

You will then learn how to use and solder shop-bought findings in your pieces and apply this knowledge in completing a pair of silver ear studs.

Included

On this course the College will supply some of the materials, including:

• Copper sheet 0.7mm x 100mm x100mm (per student)
• Copper wire ? 0.8mm x 1000mm (per student)
• Copper wire ?1.0mm x 1000mm (per student)
• Silver Sheet: 0.7mm x 50mm x30mm (per student)
• Silver wire (round): ?1.5 mm x 140mm
• Silver wire: ?0.8mm x 200mm (per student)
• Silver wire: ?1.0mm x 300mm (per student)
• 2 Silver ear stud posts: 11.1mm x 0.8mm (per student)
• 2 Silver ear hook wires (wire ?0.8mm)
• 1 Silver bolt ring ?6.0mm (per student)
• 1 Silver loose trace chain ?1.1mm x 50mm

What students need to bring

• Notebook / sketchbook
• Pen and pencils
• Hairband to tie back long hair

Available to buy

Available from shop: Silver can be purchased from the College Shop which stocks a range of sheet, wire, rod, tube and findings. These will be available in set sizes and lengths suitable for a wide range of projects. The College Shop also stocks a selection of copper and brass sheet and wire, and a good variety of art materials, including paper and pencils.

Available from tutor: List items to buy from the tutor

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration  
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm  
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break  
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)  
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break  
Teaching finishes: 5pm    
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)  
Teaching finishes: 3pm  

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.

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