Tuition

Christine made this pendant and earrings set over two studio days
"I'm really pleased with what I made"

Learn to Make Silver Jewellery 

Come and spend an hour, half a day or a full day with me learning to make silver jewellery in my studio in the artistic Allendale Forge Studios near Hexham in Northumberland.  

My tuition pricing is straightforward @ £30 per hour per student. All studio workshops have to be booked and paid for in full in advance. Gift Certificates are also available. 

Suitable for adults and children 12 years of age and older because of the strength and height required to work with some of the equipment. Sorry, no young children at the studio workshops due to health and safety requirements. 

Refreshments and lunch are available from the on site cafe, or there are other options in the village.  

Tuition Options 

1. 1 hour: Make a simple, beginner ring or pendant in sterling silver, or for a quick brush up on a jewellery making technique you may be struggling with. 

Remote 1 hour sessions are also available, at the same price, if you would like some online supervision at your own workbench to show me the problem and work through solutions in situ. 

2. Half day: 10am - 1pm or 1pm - 4pm. Learn basic techniques in how to make a slightly more complex sterling silver pendant, ring or pair of earrings. Silver is included. Suitable for complete beginners and/or if you're looking for a rainy day activity. 

3. Full day: 10am - 4.30pm with a 30 min break for lunch (if you can tear yourself away from what you are making!). Learn how to make a ring, pendant, pair of earrings or brooch incorporating your own design ideas. Sterling silver is included. You're guaranteed to go home with a lovely piece of jewellery to wear or give as a gift. Suitable for beginners or more experienced makers. 

4. Groups: Half day or full day workshops can be arranged for your group of up to 8 people to make a piece of silver jewellery to commemorate a special occasion eg hen/stag activity, adult birthdays etc, or just as a family and friends get together to learn a new skill and make something nice.

5. Just the Two of Us: A full day of tuition 10am - 4.30pm for couples who want to take some time out of hectic wedding planning to make their own wedding rings in silver or gold. Suitable for beginners or more experienced makers, you can incorporate your own design ideas to make two really special rings that will last. This package includes tuition, toasting the rings, and hallmarking. The cost of your metal ie silver, yellow/rose/white gold will be in addition to the cost of the tuition, and will depend on your choice of metal and design. Please see the separate page for more details. 

Workshops, except for Just the Two of Us, include enough sterling silver to make a medium-sized piece of jewellery. There will be a higher cost for the metal if you would like to make your jewellery in another type of silver eg Fine, Argentium or Britannia or a much heavier grade or in gold. Please let me know well in advance if you would like this option. 

A Note: Making jewellery isn't delicate - it involves sawing, hammering, piercing, forming, filing, heating, soldering, milling, pickling in acid, and using various polishing tools. So it's the ideal time to wear those comfy old clothes and trainers and tie up long hair or long beards. 

In case you are wondering... I am a qualified and experienced teacher (BA Community Education, PGCE Academic Practice, NVQ 1 + 2 Craft and Design - silversmithing practice). I am also DBS checked, and insured.

Friends, Sue and Carol, came for a day workshop to celebrate Carol's birthday,
and each made a silver ring to suit their own style.
"We really enjoyed the day, and can't believe what we made!"

Friends Nicola and Maria came to my studio for the day to celebrate Maria's birthday.
Both are fans of silver jewellery, but it was their first time in a silversmithing studio. 
They each made a ring that would link with their other rings:
"I am over the moon to have something that I can keep forever and that has such special meaning" - Maria 

Mum and daughter, Janet and Freya, regularly came to day workshops to learn new techniques and progress with their jewellery projects. Both went on to study further courses at Goldsmiths College, and Freya became a teaching assistant there. 

 

Ashleigh, a more advanced student, made this textured pendant
set with emeralds, sapphires and fused glass over 3 studio sessions.

Arthur made a silver tiara for his granddaughter over a few workshops.
"I wanted to make something for my grand daughter that we could talk about and share an interest in. I hope she might wear it on her wedding day.". His grand daughter also attended some workshops with her grandad when she was old enough.