Hands-on sessions
We have a wide selection of hands-on sessions running over Saturday and Sunday. These sessions will give you a quick making session introducing you to a wide range of techniques. Each session is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes and includes a short break.
To allow as many people as possible to make something at the conference, we ask that you only book 2 hands-on sessions in total (masterclasses don't count towards this). We want everyone to be able to leave the event with something they've done. At the same time as the hands-on sessions we are running demos and talks, so there are plenty of other things to experience and learn from.
So for instance you could take one hands-on session on Saturday morning, and one on Sunday morning, and three different demos/talks on Saturday afternoon. Or, you can take a total of six demos/talks sessions, and one hands-on session. You could even attend nine talk/demo sessions! But, remember you can only take a maximum of two of hands-on sessions listed in this section.
Click here for a printable schedule overview which will make things a little clearer.
Click here for all the sessions offered at the event in a printable overview.
Here is a list of all the hands-on sessions running at the conference, listed in alphabetical order under the tutor's name:
Anna Campbell - Soldering with silverclay
Understanding when, and knowing how-to solder is a vital technique for jewellery makers. You can expand your jewellery making experience substantially by learning how to solder silver clay.
In this session Anna will teach you:
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What the soldering process is and how to do it successfully
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How to make suitable silver clay pieces ready for soldering
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How to sweat solder stud earrings and cufflink backs to your silver clay work
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How to clean up fire scale and polish your pieces ready to wear
Experience needed: Suitable for all levels
Session runs: Sunday afternoon
Anna Campbell - Playing with paper type
Art Clay Paper is like foldable paper - it is silver clay but in a non-sticky, rubber-like format. It is great for making silver origami! In this session Anna will show you two different techniques and you will make a woven silver pendant, and a pair of pinwheel earrings. You will learn:
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How to work with paper clay
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Weaving and basic folding techniques
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How to add lump clay for strength
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How to set fireable cubic zirconia stones
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How to kiln fire and polish paper clay pieces
Experience needed: Suitable for all levels
Session runs: Saturday afternoon
Anna Mazon - 3D Butterfly
This session will introduce you to the techniques Anna uses to produce her magical, delicately detailed jewellery. You'll learn how to make a three dimensional detailed butterfly in fine silver, which you can easily incorporate in various future projects, or, you can fire it and use it as it is.
You will work with tiny, hand created templates, make interesting textures on butterfly wings using really basic tools, construct a butterfly which is not flat, and add exciting textures using paste.
**As this is a short session, we will not be firing the piece. Bring a box to safely transport your piece, or leave it with us to be fired and picked up on Sunday**
Experience needed: Suitable for all levels
Session runs: Saturday afternoon
Carol Douglas - Ceramics and silver clay
This class will introduce the possibilities of combining silver metal clay with ceramics and glass. Carol will discuss the use of lump clay as well as syringe and different paste types. Firing schedules and pitfalls will be mentioned and explored. Carol has spent many years teaching ceramics and will show a wide variety of examples of her pieces and experiments in mixing these mediums.
There will be a hands on component of the class were participants can try out some of Carol’s techniques using paste and clay on a glazed porcelain blank.
Experience needed: Suitable for all levels
Session runs: Saturday afternoon
Grainne Reynolds - Make your own stamp
One of the most popular techniques with metal clay is adding texture or images using stamps. With the help of photo polymer plates and sachets you can make your own personal stamp from drawings, hand writing or doodles, hand/foot prints, or computer designs.
Grainne will be talking you through each step and showing lots of examples. She will run through everything you need to get started with the technique. You’ll get her tips on how to make sure you get great looking clear stamps every time, her favoutire materials, as well as some pointers on trouble shooting.
Session runs: Sunday morning
Joy Funnell - Sterling silver rings
Rings are one of the most popular items of jewellery, but can also be one of the most challenging to make to start with. Getting the sizing right, and making sure the design is good and strong, are two of the main issues.
In this workshop you will make your own decorated flat band ring using Art Clay Silver 950 sterling silver clay. You'll learn a great method for joining the ring securely and how to achieve a lovely smooth comfort fit inside the ring. We'll also cover other methods for making rings so you go away with lots of ideas to get creating. If time allows there might be a possibility to set a stone.
Experience needed: Suitable for all levels
Session runs: Saturday morning and Sunday morning
Julia Rai - Adding colour to your metal
This is an experimental workshop, so come along with a sense of adventure and curiosity! All the colouring techniques can be used on metal clay, silver or polymer clay creations. Julia will cover the relative merits and drawbacks of all the colouring techniques and how best to use them in your creations. She will talk about various methods of adding colour to your work, and there will be a wide range of samples for you to look at. This will include class samples as well as finished pieces of jewellery.
No silver clay pieces will be made during the workshop but you can bring your own creations to add colour to. Polymer clay creations can also be brought in for experimentation. Some of these methods take up to 72 hours to dry completely so be prepared to leave your pieces in the classroom to dry and bring a tray with sides to take them back to your room.
Experience needed: Suitable for all levels
Session runs: Saturday morning