Beginners – June Long Weekend Intensive

Beginner

In this Beginners Jewellery Making Intensive, learn the fundamentals of jewellery design and fabrication over 3 days of classes held in our light-filled Marrickville warehouse. Held on the June Long weekend from 10am to 4pm this course is the perfect way to fast track your jewellery making learning experience.

Our  3 day Long Weekend School is a perfect introduction to jewellery making and jewellery design. The aim of this course is to provide students with the confidence to work on individual projects while gaining an understanding of jewellery making techniques and jewellery design starting from the ground up.

Students that complete the Long Weekend Beginners course will be qualified to move onto our Intermediate level jewellery making courses.

Course Skill Level:

For those starting out on their jewellery making journey!

Find Dates and Book a Spot!

course details

  • $395 inc GST
  • 3 Days - 18 hours tuition
  • Saturday to Monday 10am to 4.00 pm
Find Dates and Book a Spot!

This course was easily the best money I've ever spent, and has introduced me to what I hope will be a lifelong hobby for me! My tutor, Liz, was incredibly helpful in answering my (many, many) questions. The class had a laidback, fun atmosphere and was altogether and excellent experience.

— Nicola Fox, Happy Student

ABOUT THE COURSE

The 3 day Long Weekend School is a perfect introduction to jewellery making and jewellery design. All tools and base metals, (copper and brass) are provided, as well as a strip of sterling silver for your first piece. This course is designed to allow students to progress through the foundation stages of metalsmithing. Your tutor will assist you with design development, technical issues and problem-solving. There is no prerequisite for this course.

Students will learn a range of fundamental techniques over the 3 full days of the course and students will make copper or brass saw piercing and texturing samples and a sterling silver ring band as their first soldered project. This may be followed by another sterling silver jewellery piece of the student’s own design if time permits. Processes focusing on forming and texturing such as doming, embossing and stamping will be learnt to aid inspiration.

What Students Learn

Metal cutting – students are taught how to saw-pierce metal using professional jewellery saw frames
How to size your ring
Texturing and stamping – whether it’s a hammered texture, or stamping with letter stamps on metal, we have a range of tools for students to experiment with
Roller printing – learn how to impress directly on to metal using a specialist rolling mill. Print with feathers, leaves, fabric, art papers, hand cut stencils and much more
Soldering - using special jewellery torches students learn how to anneal and solder metal to join the silver together to make a ring band
Drilling
Forming metal – how to shape and dome metal
Finishing – learn how to file and use emery paper to give your ring a final finish
Patinate – use our special blackening compound to highlight parts of your design
Polish – refine and perfect the surface finish of your design

Many of our students produce outstanding work and continue to specialised workshops such as Gem Setting One - Bezel Setting or Carve a Silver Ring - Wax Carving and Casting.

What You'll Learn

What do Students Make

  • Copper and Brass texturing and saw piercing samples
  • A sterling silver ring band
  • Students are encouraged to make a sterling silver ring design in order to repeat the skills learned in fabricating their first ring band project. However, if your wearable of interest is other than a ring, this can be facilitated where possible after consultation with your tutor.
  • A piece of sterling silver jewellery of your own design
  • A second sterling silver project – reliant on time demanded in creating your first design

CLASS SIZE

To ensure that students have the best learning experience, our class size is capped at 10 students.

Practicalities

What is included

Base metal sheet and wire

Sterling silver for your first ring band project

Materials for your second project need to be purchased from our class store or from a local metal supplier after consultation with your tutor

All the consumables you need to make your projects (ie saw blades, emery paper and drill bits) as well as all the hand tools and equipment you need.

Tea or coffee and yummy biscuits

Safety

We take safety very seriously at SquarePeg. All students must wear proper enclosed shoes (no sandals or thongs), long pants or skirts and have long hair tied back. We provide safety equipment and training on how to use all relevant equipment.

Our Tutors

Why choose a jewellery making course at SquarePeg Studios?

Our courses are taught by highly experienced and passionate teachers who are practising contemporary jewellers. This is the closest to an accredited course – without the assignments, stress and cost – that Sydney has to offer. Students not only gain the satisfaction of designing and hand-making their own piece of jewellery they also have the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at a contemporary professional jewellery studio while learning great new skills in jewellery techniques and design.

Elizabeth Mitchell

Meet your tutor

Elizabeth Mitchell - Elizabeth Mitchell began her jewellery career in 2007 as part of the team for local Australian powerhouse Dinosaur Designs. In 2011 she tried her hand at the inaugural SquarePeg beginners metalsmithing class and was wooed by the oracle like teachings of a tutor so much that she began the TAFE trade certificate in 2012. With the completion of her studies in 2015 she moved on to start working for another Australian powerhouse Sarah and Sebastian and remains there today as a Senior Jeweller.

Elizabath Mitchell ring

Absolutely brilliant course - would highly recommend. This course provides a thorough introduction to working with metal and jewellery design, with wonderful and thoughtful instructing. I had a lot of fun throughout the sessions and left feeing inspired to do more.

— Maggie Gaston - Beginner Student 2019

Beginners – June Long Weekend Intensive

  • $395 inc GST
  • 3 Consecutive Days - Long Weekend
  • Saturday to Monday 10am to 4.00 pm
Click here to gift this class

course dates

QUESTIONS?

Need more info?  We're happy to hear from you.


Directors: Emily Copp on 0402 697 557 or Kim Elliott on 0407 803 003