Introduction to jewellery making
Time: 10:30 - 16:30
Location: Keeley Street
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VV139
- Dates: 17/09/24 - 22/10/24
- Time: 10:30 - 16:30
- Taught: Tue, Daytime
- Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Noon Mitchelhill
Course Code: VV139
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 learn and develop a range of fundamental jewellery making techniques and apply them in set projects. You will also have the opportunity to get creative and apply these to your own design. You will gain basic knowledge of materials, jewellery tools and equipment.
This course is ideal for beginners and those with some experience who would like to brush up on their skills.
What will we cover?
• Using a jeweller’s saw to cut different shapes into metal sheets
• Making a ring, measuring ring sizes
• Creating surface textures onto sheet metal
• Forming sheet metal and wire
• Soldering and annealing
• Filing, sanding, finishing metal
• Jewellery workshop health and safety guidelines.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Create a couple of pieces of jewellery, including a ring and individual project of choice
• Cut, shape and form sheet metal and wire
• Anneal and solder metal with guidance of your tutor
• Apply a range of surface finishes onto metal, including roll printing
• Apply best health & safety considerations within a jewellery workshop.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for beginners or those who would like to refresh the basics of jewellery metal work. You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, handouts and for health and safety information and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and do simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through practical demonstrations to both the group and individuals. Examples of jewellery will show you how these skills can be implemented and you will be given handouts with technical notes and supporting information. The tutor will support and advise you on further developing your work and give you recommendations on books, tools, material suppliers, galleries and exhibitions you can visit outside of the class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All 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 and brass) 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.
You are advised that sensible footwear must be worn in studio 308. For health and safety reasons, no sandals,open shoes & 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
VV915 - Jewellery: wax carving
Your tutor will be able to advise you on your course.
Noon Mitchelhill has been designing, making and teaching jewellery for over 20 years. Since graduating from the Royal College of Art London she has exhibited widely in the UK, Europe, Japan and the USA. Her work has been featured in a wide range of publications and major exhibitions. Noon’s range includes silver and gold jewellery for both women and men, from the highly dramatic to fine delicate pieces. She has developed her own distinctive techniques forming pieces from hand textured, fine silver sheet or coiling single lengths of fine silver wire to create unique jewellery. She introduces colour with the use of gold and oxidised silver detail.
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.