Introduction to jewellery making
designs.
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VV417
- Dates: 20/09/24 - 25/10/24
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Fri, Evening
- Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Rebecca Ilett
Course Code: VV417
Choose a start date
Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
On this course you will discover a whole range of basic metal jewellery-making skills such as cutting out shapes in sheet metal, twisting wire, texturing, forging and soldering, as well as some basic stone-setting techniques. You will practise your skills on a range of set projects and by the end of the course will apply your new techniques to one or more jewellery pieces of your own design. This course is ideal for beginners, but also suitable as a refresher for those with some experience who want to brush up on their skills.
What will we cover?
Beginners will learn basic jewellery making skills - piercing, filing, drilling, texturing, polishing, annealing, soldering and basic stone setting. You will apply these skills through the designing and making of jewellery pieces.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Cut and form sheet metal and wire
- Anneal and solder metal
- Experiment a range of surface finishes on metal including roll printing, etching
- Make a simple stone setting and set a semi-precious stone
- Design and make a piece of work using skills you have learnt
- Apply Health & Safety best practice for jewellery making.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for beginners, or those with some previous experience who wish to brush up on their basic skills.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and be prepared to take part in group discussions. You should be happy using numbers and able to do simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Through practical demonstrations, shown examples of jewellery displaying how various skills are implemented, hand-outs, practical activities, group discussions and individual tuition. You will receive a learning support pack with information and recommendations on books, tools and jewellery material and service suppliers.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All the basic tools and equipment you will need for this course are provided. City Lit will also provide some basic materials in reasonable quantities, such as base metals (copper, gilding metal, etc.) and other materials (paper,pens, etc.) chemicals (pickle, borax, etc.) and sundries (polishing compound etc.). You will need to provide your own metal if you wish to work in silver or on a large scale, and a sketchbook for your design work and to write notes. As you gain experience you might want to invest in your own tools.
You are advised that sensible footwear must be worn in the studio. For health and safety reasons no sandals, open shoes or small pumps can be worn, even in hot weather.
Should you already have an apron and safety glasses, please bring them along.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offer a wide range of short and year-long courses in Jewellery design and making, from beginners to advanced, and for professional development.
Suitable follow-on courses may include:
VV397 - Beginners' jewellery I
VV124 - Jewellery: soldering workshop
VV824 - Jewellery making: all levels
Your tutor will be able to advise you on your course.
Rebecca has been teaching Jewellery and Silver-smithing for over 15 years, has her own Jewellery/Scupture practice, and works in her studio in Cambridgeshire. Originally trained as a Sculptor, her work reflects her experimental approach to materials and processes, and her teaching aims to develop student skills in specialist processes for example; press forming, repousse, etching, fold forming, creative forming and raising. She also mentors students, assists in project development, and works with creative practice development. Her work has been exhibited extensively here and internationally in Milan and Beijing and was short listed for the John Ruskin Prize in 2017. She is a member of the Association of Contemporary Jewellers and will be exhibiting in their Meanings and Messages exhibition throughout 2022/23. You can see examples of her work on her website www.rebeccailett.co.uk and her instagram rebeccailett
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.