Jewellery for complete beginners with Laila Smith

Jewellery

Ref: SWE11886

Beginners £277
Print
Book now

Places available

About this course

Learn how to create beautiful and unique pieces of silver jewellery. Explore a variety of jewellery making techniques through demonstrations and exercises that show you how to make your own designs in silver.

Course Description

You will start by making a silver textured ring. This step-by-step project will introduce you to mark-making, forming, soldering, filing and finishing a ring. Once you have completed your ring you will move on to a second project of your choosing in consultation with your tutor.

There will be ample time for the tutor to help everyone and discuss their ideas.

Day 1. Demonstrations of various techniques to make a textured silver ring. Making of a simple ring. Cutting out techniques and starting of individual student project.

Day 2. Continuation of second project. Display of student work and informal feedback from the group.

This course will not cover stone setting, please sign up to a dedicated stone setting course for working with gems and stones.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Course Materials

Included

  • Silver sheet 40 x 25 x 0.6mm, copper sheet 110 x 50mm, round silver wire 2.5mm, hard solder, wet and dry sandpaper.

What students need to bring

  • Any jewellery or beading tools if you have them.
  • An apron
  • Shoes that cover your feet
  • Something to tie your hair back with, if it is long

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • Additional materials can be purchased from the shop should you wish.
  • 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.
  • Copper sheet and wire
  • Silver solder
  • Saw blades
  • Abrasive paper
  • Drill bits
  • Available from tutor:
  • Silver earring findings
  • Jump rings
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear i.e. no open-toed shoes or sandals.

Tutors

Laila Smith

Laila Smith is a studio jeweller and tutor. Her mathematically inspired geometric jewellery is sold across the UK. She trained at Manchester Metropolitan University and then undertook a 15 month Fellowship in The Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. She has 17 years teaching experience, both in further, higher education and leisure classes.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

Courses of interest

Interested in a career in metalwork?

Our Foundation Degree in Metalwork will enhance your employment prospects, give you the skills to set up as a self-employed craftsperson or allow you to continue to higher education. Encompassing both silversmithing and blacksmithing, you will learn practical skills, material properties, placing your work in a broader context and historic metalworking techniques. Find out more

Sign-up to be the first to know

Sign up to our Short Course enews to hear about new courses, late availability and get creative inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.