beads and sterling silver wire class
1 day jewellery making class

This intermediate level class is a follow-on wire skills class, ideal for students that have attended one or more of the wire jewellery making classes (including a beginners loop making class; charm or multiloop theme) and students and students that have some basic wire skills.

You will have the opportunity to learn about and work with sterling silver wire / components and create jewellery using gemstones, crystal and pearls. It is more difficult creating loops using sterling silver wire and also more expensive, but you are rewarded with quality lasting jewellery items.

The morning of the class is a taught session, with various demos and projects, each piece of jewellery will be developing your skill at making loops with the sterling silver wire and headpins.

The afternoon, will begin with a taught session, students can then choose to work on these designs or use the remainder of the afternoon (approx 1hr) as an optional workshop session and practise using skills /techniques you have learnt on bebeady wire courses using sterling silver wire to make a piece of jewellery or bring along a wire project from a book or magazine to work on.

Morning

• Intro to sterling and other types of silver
• Intro to different types of sterling silver wire and components
• Taught session, practise basic loops and making basic bead earrings
• Intro to different types of beads, gemstones, shells, glass and crystal
• Taught session, making multiloop bead earrings and pendant / bracelet

Afternoon

• Intro to care and cleaning of sterling silver
• Taught session, making multiloop bead necklace / earrings with chain
• Optional taught session, making wrapped looped jewellery with sterling silver wire
• Optional workshop session: practise wire skills using sterling silver wire or bring in a wire design from a magazine or book to work on
• Completing unfinished jewellery items
• Intro to other types of jewellery courses on offer and course feedback

The day course includes:
examples, tasks with handouts, opportunity for questions and answers, practical work and 1-1 tutor assistance

note
Materials are available and can be purchased on the course (approx £10 - £20, depending on the beads chosen) or you are welcome to bring any of your own materials with you.

Materials list
If you wish to bring some of your own materials for the course, you will need:
beads, 0.6mm and 0.8mm sterling silver wire and some sterling silver components (earring hooks, headpins, clasps and jump rings)
optional: chain (medium curb is quite versatile) and pendant bails