Four Week Silver Course - Week 1
This four week silver course will take you from a complete beginner to a silversmith who can make their own rings and earrings, work with silver clay, fire and solder their pieces and work with hammers and other tools to create their silver jewellery.
At the end of the course you should have at least three different types of silver rings, a pendant and one or more pairs of earrings. All materials, tools and instructions are included. There will be a maximum of 6 participants on this course to give everyone chance to benefit from small group learning.
Week 1 - Silver Clay
Work with silver clay to create pieces that will be finished later in the course. You may use your clay to make a pendant, studs, earrings and/or a pendant. You will learn how to prepare your pieces for firing, then we you will fire them with a blow torch.
Week 2 - Ring Making
We will use silver wire to create 2 or 3 rings. You will learn how to measure and cut the silver, hot so prepare them for firing, how to use solder to close the ring, then how to shape texture and fit the rings. At least one of your rings will be saves to add a silver clay topper at a future session.
Week 3 - Studs and Jump Rings
This week you will learn how to solder stud backs to earrings. You will use your previously made silver clay pieces and/or jump rings or wire to create a pair(s) of studs. This may include soldering jump rings and/or hammering or stamp jump rings or wire. We will also show you how to solder a jump ring on a pendant using a third hand.
Week 4 - Spiral Ring and Ring Topper
You will use silver wire to create an adjustable spiral ring, adding texture to the wire. You will also use a previously made ring and silver clay topper, soldering the topper on to the ring. We will then tumble any outstanding pieces of jewellery so that you can leave with your finished items of jewellery.
