Date/Time
Date(s) - Wed 12 May 2021 - Wed 26 May 2021
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Categories
Wed 12th May 7pm – 8:30pm workshop demo
Wed 26th May 7pm – 8pm follow up session
(UK timings)
This LivePlus™ online workshop is ideal for beginners and improvers.
Workshop details £50
Casting silver from a mould is a traditional jewellery making technique. By using ‘clay’ silver it becomes an easy and accessible method of re-creating the beauty and detail of a natural object, at home.
Silver clay is a fine powder of pure silver mixed with water and an organic binder to form a soft, pliable ‘clay’ perfect for moulding. When finished, pieces made from silver clay can be hallmarked 999 the quality mark for fine silver.
With Melanie, you’ll discover how to use a two-part moulding compound to create your shell mould. From here, you’ll learn how to re-create the original shell in fine silver including firing and polishing the finished pieces.
The real beauty of this technique is that once the mould is made, it can be used many times over to create a range of different jewellery designs.
Specific skills you will learn at the workshop
- The unique properties of silver clay and how to plan and create a simple design
- Creating a mould using a two part moulding compound
- Adding a fine silver eyelet
- Firing silver clay at home
- Burnishing & polishing the finished design
- An understanding of hallmarking and silver quality
Equipment & materials list
Materials are not included in the course fee. All the materials and equipment you will need are listed below.
Materials
- Small original object – sea shell – approx 1.5 – 2cm across
- Two part Moulding compound such as Siligum
- 7g Art Clay Silver – should make 2 – 3 finished shells
- Fine Silver eyelet – 4mm – one per shell
- Silver Jump ring – to attach to chain
- Essential tools
- Small work surface – a playing card is ideal
- Emery board
- Wire brush (eg a suede brush)
- Burnishing tool – I recommend an agate burnisher but a stainless steel crochet hook also works
Method of firing (Melanie will demonstrate both methods in the class)
If you have access to a gas ring (either a kitchen hob or camping gas ring), you will need:
- Metal mesh for firing
If you do not have access to a gas ring, you will need:
- Kitchen Blow Torch
- Firing block
- All of the above items (apart from the kitchen blow torch) are available from your tutor, either individually or as a kit. Please ask for details when booking.
You needn’t have the materials ready whilst watching the live demonstration – the demo session is a time to watch, ask and learn. After the demo you will be sent a link to the recording, which you can watch as many times as you wish for thirty days.
Links to suppliers
All of the specialist materials above can be purchased directly from Melanie, or can be sourced from:
https://www.cooksongold.com/
Try www.amazon.co.uk for the kitchen blow torch
To book your ticket click here