Jewellery weekend classes in Great Missenden,Buckinghamshire

Jewellery Weekend courses at Missenden Abbey in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire

To book, please click here for the Missenden School of Creative Arts website.

9 and 10 June 2018 (non-residential £197, residential £286)

This course aim to cover the basic techniques of jewellery making while adding a level of complexity by introducing stone setting. We will make a ring and discuss ways to size rings and design options. This will include sawing, shaping, filing, hammering, soldering, cleaning and finishing the piece of jewellery before setting the stone. We will also learn what to do for stones that aren’t totally flat on the bottom. We will then progress to making a pendant, learning how to saw and file shapes out of sheet, how to choose appropriate textures and how to design and make a bail for your pendant. The pendant will also have a bezel set stone, so you can practise your new skill. You can also make a second ring instead of a pendant if you wish. Time permitting, we will discuss embellishment options. If you have your own cabochon stone that you would like to set, please email the tutor to determine ahead of time if the stone is suitable: machidewaard@gmail.com. If you would like to progress in jewellery making, the tutor can advise of suitable classes.

9 and 10 August 2018

This course aims to teach students the basic principles of jewellery making and bezel setting a cabochon stone. You will start by learning how to use the basic tools required to make jewellery, such as the piercing saw, benchpeg, pliers, hammers, mandrels and torch. The first project will guide you through the fundamental techniques of jewellery making, such as piercing, shaping, filing, sanding, hammering, soldering and finishing. We will also make a bezel setting for a cabochon stone and solder it on to your piece of jewellery. We will then learn how to set the stone in the bezel setting. We will practise texturing techniques using hammers and the rolling mill. We will discuss how to design and plan your second project and depending on what you make, we will cover other techniques of jewellery making. You will leave with at least two finished pieces of jewellery in either copper or silver. The tutor can advise you on further courses to take if you would like to continue making jewellery. If you have questions before the class starts, please email the tutor at machidewaard@gmail.com