School
Alchemy – Jewellery Design Through Sand Casting
Discover the art of transforming simple shapes into beautiful silver jewellery through the ancient and tactile technique of sand casting.
In this immersive, hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to create your own silver pieces from start to finish. Guided by experienced local jeweller and tutor Melanie Ihnen, you’ll learn how to prepare moulds, melt and pour molten silver, and refine your cast pieces into polished designs.
Sand casting is an ancient process that captures delicate textures and organic forms with surprising precision. It’s a wonderfully direct and rewarding way to make jewellery — perfect for beginners and those curious to explore new creative techniques.
At A Glance
ABOUT THE COURSE
Discover the magic of transforming simple shapes and textures into beautiful sterling silver jewellery using the ancient art of sand casting.
In this beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of sand casting — a process that captures fine details and organic forms in metal. Under the expert guidance of Melanie Ihnen, you’ll experiment with moulding techniques, melting and pouring metal, and refining your cast pieces into finished designs.
Throughout the day, you’ll explore mould-making methods, experiment with different shapes and found objects, and gain insight into how contemporary jewellers adapt traditional casting methods for modern design.
The workshop focuses on creating beautiful metal-only pieces (no stones), making it the perfect introduction to one of the most versatile casting techniques used by contemporary jewellers.
By the end of the day, you’ll leave with your own finished sterling silver creations and the skills and confidence to continue exploring this rewarding and captivating jewellery-making process.
What To Expect
What You’ll Learn
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The fundamentals of sand casting and how the process works
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How to prepare and pack a mould for casting
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Techniques for melting and safely pouring molten metal
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How to clean, refine, and finish your cast pieces into jewellery you are stoked to wear
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Tips for achieving interesting textures and forms using everyday objects
What You’ll Make
- Several small cast pieces in sterling silver, such as a pendant, ring, or charm
- Finished metal-only jewellery pieces that highlight the unique textures and organic detail of sand casting
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Each student will receive a $45 silver credit to use towards the sterling silver required for their project during the workshop.
Class Size
To ensure our students have the best learning experience, this workshop is capped at 6.
What is Included
- A $45 silver credit towards the sterling silver used for your project.
- An extensive array of objects to mould and cast.
- Students can bring along their own small hard objects to cast.
- Note: The included silver credit is typically sufficient to create a standard ring or pendant. If you’d like to create a larger piece, additional sterling silver casting grain will be available to purchase on the day. You’re also welcome to bring clean sterling silver scrap from home, subject to tutor assessment.
- 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.
- A selection of teas, coffee and yummy biscuits.
What to Bring
- Sand casting can be used to replicate almost any hard object and turn it into precious jewellery.
- Note that the larger the object the more silver will be required adding to the expense of the silver.
- You have the option of bringing your own silver and objects to mould to add a more personal touch to the experience.
- A notebook and pen/pencil
- Please note that we are working with clay, which can get a little messy.
- Your ideas and creativity
- Lunch
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.
Payment Options
- Enrol below – you can secure your place on the spot!
- Enrol early and take advantage of our payment by instalments option to spread the payments out over three payments.
- 40% deposit followed by a 30% payment six weeks out from your course, and the final 30% payment three weeks ahead of the course start date.
Practicalities
Our Tutors
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.
Melanie studied design at Newcastle TAFE and Jewellery and Object at Enmore Design Centre Sydney. She has since been a maker, teacher, curator and gallery director. Melanie has been teaching, exhibiting and practicing jewellery in Sydney for over 15 years and works in her studio in the CBD producing her hand made collections.
Her signature works are influenced by geometric shapes, architecture and the subtle colour and tonal variations of metals. She employs the technique of Married metals working with various gold alloys and silver.
