Upcycled Jewellery

Like many schools these days, our pupils do a lesson per week called options.  For nearly ten years now, I have been running a beaded jewellery option which has always been quite popular, but to be honest, I am getting a bit bored of it.

Anyway, last Thursday at my craft club meeting, we were going through a couple of bags of jewellery that we had been given to see if any of it was worth selling.  A lot of the pieces were either broken or not very attractive and there was a bag of unwanted jewellery at the end.  Rather than see it go to waste, I have decided to run an option on Upcycled Jewellery.  Upcycling is the art of reusing unwanted items by converting them into something better.

I am hoping that we will have hours of fun rummaging through the pile and creating beautiful things from what we have found.  I will take before and after photos and post them on the blog.  I can’t wait to see what they will make!

Sam x

Art Clay certification course

I am so excited.  I have just booked my Art Clay certification level 1 course at London Jewellery School for July.  The course is taught by Julia Rai who is an amazing teacher, so I can’t wait.

Metal clay is a really interesting material.  It consists of very small particles of metal such as silver, gold or copper mixed with an organic binder and water.  When the piece is fired, the binder burns away and the water evaporates leaving metal behind.   Two of the most common brands of metal clay are Precious Metal Clay (PMC) and Art Clay.

The course lasts for 3 days, and in that time, I will learn how to make rings, create hollow forms using cork clay, add silver findings, set stones and how to use the syringe.

I will have to make the seven projects below and if they meet the criteria, I will receive my certificate.

1. Daily casual ring 

2. Twig leaf broach  

3. Painted silver leaf 

4. Syringe leaf pendant 

5. Lacy ball earrings  

6. Syringe decorated ring  

7. Antique pearl ring

I literally can’t wait for July now.  Of course, I will update you on how I am getting on and put up so photos of what I have made.

Sam x