Nature embellished stacking rings - silversmithing & silver clay

Learn the art of fine silver jewellery making to create up to three stacking ring.  You will be using a combination of traditional silversmithing to make the rings using recycled silver wire before making embellishments from silver clay that will then be soldered onto your pieces.  

This is a small class held in Rebecca Oxenham's jewellery making studio with a maximum of 5 to allow for lots of individual attention. At the end of the day you will celebrate with a glass of Prosecco or non alcoholic alternative. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND    

This course is suitable for learners with no previous knowledge of working with silversmithing or silver clay or those with experience with other forms of jewellery making. It is also suitable for those with no experience yet of crafts or creative activities. Most important is a desire to learn and experiment with the materials.       

 TO PURCHASE ON THE DAY

- Recycled sterling 925 silver wire (round or bobble shaped available). (Allow approx. £10 per ring)

- Silver clay - A 5g pack is £16 for 2 small embellishments or  7g for £17 which should be enough for three small embellishments for your rings

WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY  

You’ll spend the morning learning how to make your basic ring bands including how to measure for your rings,  preparing the wire before soldering, filing and sanding your rings. In the afternoon, you will make the embelishments for you rings using silver clay, fire your embelishment pieces using a jewellers torch before soldering them to your ring.  You will then finish and  polish your rings.

ITINARY 

10.00 Arrival with tea or coffee we will introduce ourselves, discuss the itinerary and have a look and talk through the examples of rings that can be made.

 

10.30 Students are talked through the tools in the studio will measure their fingers and Rebecca will explain how to work out how much wire your rings will use.

 

11.00 students then cut the wire using a jewellers saw and using a nylon hammer will forge the pieces  of wire around a ring triblet to form it into a ring shape. This will be repeated for all three rings.  

12.00 Students will learn how to solder each ring to close the joins. File to remove excess solcer and tidy up the joins.

 

13.00 We will take a break to have a picnic either in the garden (weather permitting) or within the studio space. (There are nearby shops if students need to pop out).

 

14.00 Students will make the embelishments for their rings using silver clay.  There will be variety of moulds and cutters as well as a choice of CZ stone.

15.00 Students learn to fire their pieces using a gas torch. This is the magical bit where the clay like substance transforms to 99.9% fine silver. After firing, a wire brush is used to brush off the white clay binder residue revealing the solid fine silver beneath.

 

16.00  Students then solder their embellishments to the ring, finish their pieces to get the look they desire– if required applying a patina effect or polishing to a high shine. 

17.00 Students finish off with a glass of prosecco or non-alcoholic alternative while they admire everyone's rings made in the class. Rebecca then explains how to care for the jewellery. Students leave for the day.       

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING  

 

 - A packed lunch and any extra drinks           

- An apron if you have one          

 - Ideally closed toe shoes          

 - Hairband (to tie hair back while firing)           

- Glasses - there is some fine detailed work.  

PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES 

 

- Minimum age: 12 (under 18s must be accompanied by a participating adult)           

- There is no wheelchair access to the workroom which is at the end of the garden          

 - There is parking on the road (if it gets busy there is also a car park close by on Manor Farm Road 

 - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 2 weeks before the course starts.   

- Maximum numbers: 5  

ABOUT YOUR TUTOR - REBECCA OXENHAM     

Rebecca works out of her studio at the end of her garden in Hampshire, England. The jewellery created is inspired by her passion for nature and she is committed to supporting biodiversity and protecting the environment. She uses recycled silver such as silver clay which is an 100% recycled product made from recycled silver which is ground up to a fine powder and mixed with a binder. When fired it becomes solid fine silver. Using recycled silver helps to limit the use of child labour in mines as well as the amount of metals that must be produced. This leads to less waste in landfills and helps to slow the consumption and deterioration of natural resources. 

 

Rebecca studied at the Cornwall School for Art Craft and Jewellery for her Level One, Art Clay Diploma Certification in Silver Clay. This is a world-wide, recognised qualification, administered by the official distributors of Art Clay in Europe. She is also a member of AMCAW (Association of Metal Clay Artists Worldwide) and GOJD (Guild of Jewellery Designers).     

LOCATION  

The course is held at Rebecca's Garden Studio in Bitterne Park, Southampton. The workshop is held in the studio at the end of my garden on Oaktree Road, Southampton. Please knock on the front door on arrival and I will take you through to the studio. If you are late I will leave the side gate open so you can walk down and join us then.

DRIVING

Use SO18 1PH in your satnav or if using google maps just type in Rebecca Oxenham Jewellery. There is parking on Oaktree Road (if it gets busy there is also a car park close by on Manor Farm Road, near the junction of Dimond Road and next to Riverside Park).

TRAIN

Nearest train stations are Swathling, Bitterne, Southampton Parkway and Southampton Central. (If you are coming by train I can sometimes arrange pick up and drop off depending on availability - contact me in advance).

BUS

Blue Star No20 stops on the road a few yards from the venue and runs approx every 10 minutes from the centre of Southampton.

Full joining instructions will be sent in advance of the course.

Cancellations of workshop places and private tuition bookings within 14 days of the event will forfeit the workshop/private tuition fee unless I am able to find someone to take your place. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend.