A Splash of Colour

Review. Beginners Enamelling Workshop (February 2013). London Jewellery School, London.

I don't know about you, but in winter and especially during the early months of the year when I'm desperate for spring, sunshine and warmth I absolutely crave colour. It has long puzzled me that in a country deprived of the naturally vibrant hues of warmer climates our palettes for winter clothing are so dismal and dingy. I think we really need an injection of brightness to cheer us all up.

With that in mind I jumped at the chance to introduce some colour to my jewellery and learn the basics of enamelling at the London Jewellery School. It was a fantastic sunday! In comparison to other jewellery techniques (like stonesetting !!!) there were elements to it that are satisfyingly immediate. Instant gratification isn't something typically offered by the practice of metal working.

As the second class I've attended at LJS I knew to expect a good level of equipment and organisation - everything was well set up so that we could all get cracking with colour. We had a brief introduction and some handy help sheets on the different techniques, our work spaces were set up and in no time we were away under the friendly supervision of Michelle Leaver.

First up was dry enamelling. Using copper blanks we counter enamelled the back of our pieces to ensure that the right side colour didn't warp and crack, then we got to play with the assorted opaque and transparent colours! I was very pleased with how my first go turned out. I put a couple of layers of colour on the piece trying to get a nice balance and blend of the white and red opaque background then made a little stencil and applied a layer of transparent turquoise.

Next I got to try my hand at a technique I had been hankering to explore - scraffito. Another dry enamelling technique where you can scratch out a design in the piece. My effort here was inspired by the positive vibes of the Holstee Manifesto. 

Fortified by a spot of food we resumed work in the afternoon, progressing to the more complex and far glossier practice of wet enamelling! This involved a lot more prepping than the dry (where essentially you are shaking glass compound onto a prepared surface and firing). Time consuming though it was, it was still good fun to play with the colour and to achieve a very different effect...

Another great joy of taking craft classes/workshops is the people you get to meet. This class was no exception. In keeping with colour seeking I had the great fortune to meet a lovely Cambridge based jeweller and hairdresser - Hannah Collins, wearing a great bright red coat. Do check out her beautiful website and work - http://www.hannah-collins.com/! 

Hammer & Pickle Ratings:

Value - 5/5

Although not a cheap option (what jewellery making is?!) LJS is wonderfully equipped, everything needed is provided in the cost of the class and I came away from the day with 2 pendants and a pair of earrings. Quite an excellent haul I think :)

Vibes - 5/5

Michelle Leaver's calm presence and the nature of enamelling meant this was a perfect relaxed Sunday activity. Hot kilns, but chilled jewellers.

Pickle Rating - 2/5

Although the dry enamelling technique is straightforward it does require a steady hand! There was a fair bit of huffing and puffing from yours truly during a space of about 15 minutes where I repeatedly failed to get my prepared pendant onto its stand. 

Keeping it simple - sewing with *four* needles

Review. Overlocking Made Easy Workshop (September 2012), The Make Lounge, London.

This all started with one massive box. A box full of excitement and promise. A very large Christmas present from my parents, which left me completely flummoxed. What on earth could it be? Large square and heavy. Not lively enough to be either a puppy or a pony ;)

Come the hour of unveiling when the shiny paper is torn away it was revealed to be... an overlocker!

That's right folks, one of those super sewing machines with not one, but 4 needles! Something very handy for making wonderfully strong seams or even rolling hems, but which requires rather a lot of threading, and a tad more understanding of its' ways than I was privy...

 

And so, I am sorry to say, my beautiful new toy sat in its box. For month on month, staring reproachfully at me from the corner of my kitchen. Its plight, and my guilt unaided by my priority of the metal arts. But, I knew a time would come when all this would change!

Not only would it change, but I'd get another fun workshop opportunity and mother-daughter bonding day into the bargain. Hurray!

So, this Saturday gone, Mama Silversmith and myself hopped on a train in the glorious sunshine, enjoyed watching the countryside roll by and headed down to London town for the 'Overlocking Made Easy' course at The Make Lounge. The tutor, Fiona Clarke, was absolutely fabulous - really friendly and very relaxed, which is a must when dealing with 8 overlocker beginners wrangling with needle and thread left, right and centre. The workshop was, as its name suggests, kept very simple. Whilst it imparted some invaluable practical knowledge about using the machine, the goal of getting to grips was very manageable and incredibly focused. The point was to learn how to thread the needles (tick!), what the settings were for and how to employ them / test them (tick!) and how to undertake a couple of the basic stitches and uses (tick!). Although we weren't making a finished item it was compulsive and enjoyable just sitting and playing.

Everything we needed was ready to hand! We worked with three fabric samples - a cotton, a stretch fabric and a lightweight organza. Using these we put together worksheets with our finished stitches and notes on which settings were used.

When we finished I was very happy with my foray into overlocking and felt rather excited about possibilities of making with it in the future. We were both so inspired by it that we headed straight off to Islington's rather lovely teeny sewing shop Ray Stitch to drool over fabrics, haberdashery and patterns!

Hammer & Pickle ratings:

Value - 5/5: Very well worth it if you have access to or own an overlocker but are bamboozled by the mammoth technical guide and like to be shown how to by a real life, very friendly, person.

Vibes - 5/5: Good vibes on a sunny saturday afternoon in Islington where people have come together to craft and there's tea and biccies on hand (it's the small things).

Pickle rating - 2/5: I was very lucky and obviously paying more attention than usual - managed to get through the majority of samples smoothly. Almost threaded one part incorrectly, but this was spotted almost instantly by the beady eye of Fiona :). Mama Silversmith had one or two more serious tanglings, which is a risk, but worth encountering since there's an expert on hand to set things right! 

Oh, the fun we shall have! Anyone know of any good starter overlocker projects?!

Workshop Wishlist

What is up with the academic year and evening classes? The one time of the year when evenings are lighter folk have more energy, and time (depending on career/ family status) and... nothing doing. I get it - we all need a break. Lots of (normal) people go on holiday. Courses run at educational venues (schools and colleges) need access. But, as I am yet to make my fortune and own a well stocked studio/forge/shed brimming with tools, I find myself dreaming of hammering, pickling, sawing and blowtorching happily away once more.

So, I thought I'd use a little bit of this down time to work up a crafty appetite. Here are my top 10 most lusted after workshops. Hopefully, down the line (fortune somewhat dependent), I'll be reporting back on just how awesome they actually are!

1. Ferric Fusion, Blacksmithing Course. Aka the Welsh, non-jewellery, non-silver one
http://www.ferricfusion.co.uk/blacksmithing-courses-carmarthenshire-wales-uk.html
Yes, so a meandering away from silver and jewellery, but still metal working, and much desired by both myself and Mr Silversmith since I read this here Guardian article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/jan/27/emma-kennedy-blacksmithing-carmarthenshire-wales

2. Colourful Aluminium Jewellery with Lindsey Mann, Sussex Jewellery School. Aka the colourful one of course!
http://sussexjewelleryschool.com/products/25955--colourful-aluminium-jewellery-with-lindsey-mann-13-14-oct-2012.aspx
I really fancy having a play with all the wonderful colours that can be manipulated when anodizing aluminium. Sadly, this particular date won't be happening, because I'll be overseas!

3. Narrative Jewellery, a Personal Story, West Dean College. Aka the one that ties up my love of jewellery making, books and stories.
https://www.westdean.org.uk/WestDeanBooking/CourseDescription.aspx?rid=5D_3189.htm

4. Architectural Jewellery, West Dean College. Aka the one that appeals to my figurative approach to jewellery making.
https://www.westdean.org.uk/WestDeanBooking/CourseDescription.aspx?rid=5D_3077.htm

5. Stone Setting, London Jewellery School. Aka the one that I should do!
http://www.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/silver-jewellery/stone-setting-in-silver-2-days/
Because people like shiny stones in jewellery, and making them stay there is... a challenge!

6. Intermediate Stone Setting. London Jewellery School. Aka, the one I should do next.
http://www.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/silver-jewellery/intermediate-stone-setting/
So that I can set stones with confidence, and ease (!)

7. Celtic Chasing, Brian Clarke. Aka the themed location workshop
http://www.silversmithingworkshop.com/Celtic%20Chasing-2012.html
One week in Ireland to play with metals - yes please!

8. Julie Arkell Creature Workshop, Loop. Aka the random one!
http://www.loopknitting.com/classes/juliearkell_class.html#
Just because this looks like SO much fun. Didn't promise they would all be smithing workshops. Also in order to do it I would need to take something like...

9. Moving on with Knitting, The Sheep Shop. Aka the one where I finally get to grips with knitting something other than a scarf.
http://www.sheepshopcambridge.co.uk/learn-with-us.php

10. A jewellery degree! Aka the life changing, dream of committing to learning a skill and obtaining a practical art qualification one. Ok, so this probably stretches most folks definition of 'workshop' somewhat, but it would most definitely be awesome.

Anyone been on any of the above and want to share the love? Or, any fabulous workshops/courses to add?

Ps. Perhaps this post would not have come to light, were it not for UK weather conditions, summer 2012, read...

Oh we all want to be... Hold on! Where is everyone.

happy summer - wherever, whatever the weather :) x

One White House and Two Silver Rings!

Review. Silver Ring Making Day (led by Francesca Biggar), January 2010, WhiteHouse Arts, Cambridge

Thinking back to this particular Saturday over two years ago is this very moment giving me a fluttery happy feeling inside! I vividly recall calling J at the end of my day, arranging to meet at the Green Dragon and enthusing, possibly somewhat dementedly, about what an exciting time I’d had, what I’d learned and what I’d made. Warning: this is not going to be an objective review!

Following my aforementioned printmaking misadventure I stumbled across a local venue running a range of art courses. A large white building, passed many a time with no notion of all of the fun that could be had inside. Located opposite a towpath on the river Cam. I had been running past it, literally, for years. All of that was about to change. Something shiny had caught my eye – silver jewellery making.

With no room on the regular evening courses, I leapt at the chance to try my hand at a one-day workshop in ring making. This one day completely changed me. I was confronted with all sorts of very industrial tools – saws, hammers, blowtorches! My father might happily inform anyone who cared to listen how reluctant I had been to any of his approaches towards teaching me some practical skills with similar implements. But… when the end result meant getting to own and wear shiny silver hand made jewellery, it was a different story altogether.

The studio was big, light, airy and well stocked with a multitude of those mysterious tools. The group were friendly, tea and biscuits were at arms reach in the studio and the owner of the house, Caroline had kindly cooked soup which we enjoyed together at lunch time. The lovely tutor, Francesca, organized the day really well. She gave great instructions that even complete newcomers such as myself could take on board and managed to get round to help out with queries or wobbles. 

There was a great sense of completion for everyone as we all managed to make at least one, if not two (!) rings. Mine were simple bands, one using square wire with a leaf texture and one hammered d shaped wire. Sizing was unpredictable to say the least. (I insisted on wearing the hammered one thereafter despite its gapingly large size and managed to lose it for several weeks in the interior of my parents car. Eventually my insistence about the price of silver and its sentimental value encouraged my brother to fish it out (thanks John!)). But  - the main thing - they were discernibly rings, they were wearable, they were shiny and polished. They were the best thing since sliced bread as far as I was concerned.

There would be more silversmithing!

Hammer and Pickle ratings:

Value – 5/5 Hammers: The workshop was amazing value for the level of tuition and amount of equipment provided. Rings are a good starting point budget wise due to their size. The price of silver has rocketed up significantly in the last couple of years though and overall it is an expensive hobby (oops!).

Vibes - 5/5 Hammers: Lovely! Friendly, informal, focussed enough to ignore the tea and biscuits. Most of the time.

Pickle rating – 2/5 Pickles: Despite my enthusiasm, this wasn’t the easiest craft I’ve tried to master. That’s probably what I like about it – the challenge. I don’t clearly remember my pickles, but do remember needing Francesca’s help a good few times. And, on this day I did inflict my worst jeweller’s injury to date – I cut my hand with the piercing saw. Something to avoid. This really stung. 

Small, sweet and shiny!

Review. Pearl Knotting Workshop (July 2012), The Beaderie, Cambridge  

I was very excited to count myself amongst only 4 craftsters for an intimate and highly in demand workshop led by local pearl stringing aficionado Sally of ‘The Beaderie’. Due to the cosy nature of the venue – it really is teeny tiny - they can only squeeze four enthusiastic jewellers in. And, in order to be ‘in’ one has to literally leap on an email the second the class is announced. This was second time lucky for me.

The start was a little brusque for my liking, with not much in the way of introduction or general banter. Instructions said arrive early in order to prepare. Apparently there’s no messing with keen knotters and it was straight down to business. Sally made it look a breeze and I sat there confidently thinking, oh yes, I’ll master that. A slight case of overconfidence on my part as I swiftly did all sorts of strange things with my tweezers. As a small workshop one on one time with the tutor was ace and I was soon happily knotting away. It’s a very methodical thing to do and I just switched off and enjoyed. The class was on one of the hotter days (there have been a few, really!) and I didn’t enjoy the heat in the shop so much. It would have been great if we’d been advised to take a bottle of water. On the flip side being in the heart of the shop meant being surrounded by the glittering gleaming shiny seductive temptation of all the fantastic beads and gems. Warning to the wallet! The longer you sit knotting the more attractive all the beads look. I left the class with a solid understanding of the knotting technique, a sweet pearl necklace, more confidence in finishing a strung piece and a bag full of goodies for my next go (as yet unaccomplished). A good night out!

Hammer and Pickle ratings:

Value – 5/5 Hammers: Affordable (if you don’t get carried away in the shop at the end), all materials included

Vibes - 3/5 Hammers: A reserved friendliness and a focussed atmosphere

Pickle rating – 1/5 Pickles: Other than the aforementioned tweezer tweak this really was a walk in the park, but one in which I learned a useful jewellery stringing tecnhnique. Don’t get that in many parks round here.