Jewellery

What will the course Cover?

This course is designed to introduce and help students to develop key jewellery making skills used to create silver (and copper or brass) jewellery. Students are welcome to start at any point in the year as all the group projects will be great for beginners – although each term will have a different theme or brief, so students are also welcome to stay for more than one term to continue building their skills. The brief each term will give a different angle on the designs and skills covered, but will always include all the key jewellery making skills such as annealing, soldering, cutting and drilling metal, and forming metal and using these skills to turn metal sheet or wire into exciting finished pieces of jewellery ready to wear.

Who is this course for?

Anyone is welcome on this course, whatever their experience or background. This course is for students with no (recent) experience of making silver jewellery. Great for anyone who has done some making before, but a while ago and needs a refresher, as well as for anyone completely new to jewellery making with metals.

What skills, knowledge or experience do I need to start this course?

Students do not need any jewellery or creative experience – just an interest in gaining new skills and exploring making silver (or other metal) jewellery.

What should I be able to do by the end of the course?

Students will learn key jewellery making skills and by the end of the course should be comfortable with doing simple jewellery soldering jobs to join metal parts together, with using a jewellers saw to cut out shapes, using files and emery papers to refine elements, creating surface patterns on sheet metal, and to shape rings and other 3D forms. Students will be able to make simple jewellery pieces in copper or silver from scratch. Students should expect to complete a series of test pieces and probably 2/3 finished pieces of work each term, depending on the complexity of their designs. Students will be able to (in relation to the new techniques learnt); - • Put into practice health & safety procedures relating to materials and equipment. • Use necessary tools and equipment with a degree of competence. • Select and obtain materials for your own project. • Identify and use a range of materials for jewellery making, including settings and fastenings, and give examples of a range of uses for them. • Select tools, equipment and techniques to execute designs from idea to completion, describing how they will be used and why. Students will also be supported individually to work on personal projects if desired as well as, or instead of, through the group projects and demonstrations, to ensure each person practices and builds on their existing knowledge in a way and at a speed that works for them.

How is the course organised?

This is a hands on, practical course. Students will learn through making, and will be encouraged to experiment, while learning and building on their key skills to create a solid skills base to work from. There will be regular demonstrations and explanations of different techniques from the tutor, towards the start of the term, and students will be encouraged to experiment with these techniques before using the later part of the term to develop a design or series of designs that uses these skills in some way. There will be group discussion, written handouts with visual diagrams for techniques, and regular individual tuition and support from the tutor.

What extra study or practice is expected outside of the class?

Some further design work and research may be helpful to develop and practice skills and refine plans for your projects, as may some practical work such as finishing. Visits to museums, craft fairs or jewellery shows and other research will also support your progress. Some further design work and research may be helpful to develop and practice skills and refine plans for your projects, as may some practical work such as finishing. Visits to museums, craft fairs or jewellery shows and other research will also support your progress.

How will my progress be assessed?

Progress is informally assessed through discussing the work individually with the tutor, as well as with the group and through self reflection which may be recorded in your Individual Learning Plan and/or your sketchbook.

What can I expect to go on to after this course?

Continue in the same or similar classes to increase your skills by tackling different projects. Move on to intermediate level classes, different types of jewellery making classes (such as beading), or to other creative classes, or start to create at home.

Are there any other costs and what do I need to bring?

We have a fully equipped craft workshop with larger machinery as well as hand tools for students to use. Included in your course fee is an allowance to cover use of general consumables such as saw blades, emery papers, solder, and base metals in small amounts. If you plan to use precious metals or gemstones, or particularly large amounts of other consumables, then you are required to supply these yourself. Your tutor will provide details of suppliers and help with ordering as needed during the course. It is good practice to keep a notebook or sketchbook for design work, ideas and to make technical notes for future reference.

What support is available?

Help with literacy or numeracy is available through the basic education programme and the ESOL programme offers help for speakers of other languages. Additional support can be provided for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Details of all available support can be found on our website (hfals.co.uk), in the Guide and the Student handbook, or from teaching or Reception staff.