I truly enjoy teaching children and adults. It’s been my experience that most grownups have had their creative energy stifled or even stomped out of them. With a little encouragement, coaxing and patience the creative spirit can be revived and eventually flourish. Release your inner child! Sounds silly but it’s fun! Learn something new, try something different.
I offer one to three hour sessions for one to five people in a variety of jewellery skills from beginner to advanced. Subjects include Getting Started, Wire Wrapping, Introduction to Findings, Advanced Jewellery Design, Cones, Multi-Strand, and Connecting. I find the added benefits of learning to make your own jewellery, besides having fabulous accessories, is enhanced confidence, self esteem, and the fun and joy of creativity!
Getting Started – This class takes the guess work out of attaching a clasp.You will learn how to design a one strand necklace or bracelet. The techniques involved are bead stringing and crimping. Proper tools and materials make all the difference, plus a few invaluable tips and tricks to ensure solid crimps all of the time.
Wire Wrapping – A skill not a talent, wire wrapping can only improve with practice! Get started with the proper technique and learn to perfect this essential jewellery making skill. Earrings, pendants and charms are all created using wire wrapping. Once you get the hang of it your design world will get much larger. In this class you will be able to complete several pairs of earrings, a pendant or several charms.
Introduction to Findings – Bails, cones, spacers, headpins, eyepins, it sounds like a whole other language! This class will introduce you to the world of findings, what they are, what they’re made of and how to use them. Tools will also be discussed.
Advanced Jewellery Design – Have you completed several projects on your own and want to expand your design horizons? This would be perfect for those with a big idea, a project that’s half done and needs some help or a big bag of beads looking for a place to happen!
Cones – Cones are very interesting and come in all shapes and sizes. I feel they are underused as people just don’t know exactly what to do with them. Learn a variety of ways to incorporate cones into your work. Make either a multi-strand bracelet or necklace or some amazing dangly earrings.
Multi-Strand Design – As with cones there are lots of ways to design multi-strand pieces. If you like bigger more dimensional jewellery, multistrand techniques lend size and stature to your designs.
Connecting – a lot of jewellery design is just figuring out how to connect one thing to another. Jump rings, chain, connectors and wire are all components that will be addressed in this class. The techniques learned can be used to create either a necklace, bracelet or earrings or maybe all three!
