Work in progress

I have had an interesting day in the studio working on a couple of projects I began some time ago but hadn’t had time to finish until now. They are two sets of rings. One of them is part of a collection of pieces with moths and butterflies and the other is part of my secret places range – a series of tiny buildings.

These will very definitely be statement rings and I enjoy working on things that have this kind of intricacy and complexity.

Here they are at an early stage, drying on my small hotplate with lots of work still to do.

This view is one of the architecturally inspired rings at a slightly later stage, still with a bit of pre-finishing needed.

This final view shows the rings during the firing process in one of my electric muffle kilns. They will be in here for some time so I can’t add a photo of the finished rings today.

If you would like to learn to make your own metal clay jewellery I still have places available on the Introduction to Art Clay Silver class on Saturday 27th October 2012.

I have also been planning all kinds of exciting workshops for 2013, including a series of classes with guest tutors including Anna Mazoń, Joy Funnell, Lesley Messamand Tilly Wilkinson will be running some of her popular enamelling classes here too.

Saturday 27th October 2012 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £145

Thursday 8th and Friday 9th November 2012 – two day workshop. Glass and art clay silver combination beads with Lynne Glazzard £360. On the first day you will learn to apply a variety of art clay silver products to the surface of glass beads before firing and annealing them in the kiln. On day two you will make some art clay silver beads to complement the glass beads before finishing them all to a high standard. Some glass beads are included in the course fee but not the art clay silver. A detailed materials list will be supplied in advance but you will need approximately 20g Art Clay 650; 10g Syringe type, Art Clay Silver Overlay paste. There are still places on this exciting class and the following photos are examples of the types of beads you can make combining art clay silver with glass beads to make your own very unique charm beads for your bracelet.

11th and 12th May 2013 – Herbarium openwork pendant workshop with Anna Mazoń
£325 per person including materials.
In this class you will learn to make an openwork, romantic pendant, adorned with a bezel set stone and precise, tiny ornaments. You will use silver clay to create lacy, yet strong and secure constructions, which you’ll decorate with extremely detailed tiny leaves, flowers, forest fruits or other ornaments of your choice. You will also learn to make a box like, elevated base for a stone and set it in a bezel setting. All these skills can be easily adapted to your own style, merged with your favourite techniques and used with different metal clays.
 Openwork designs are wonderful response to increasing silver prices, allowing you to save on material, but not on the quality of your works. Some previous silver clay experience is necessary.

29th and 30th June 2013 – Colourful Carnival Masks with Joy Funnell
£385 per person including materials
On this 2 day workshop you will learn how to create your own unique silver mask using Art Clay Silver. Then we will cover how to add wires to the mask for decoration before enamelling them to create your very own colourful carnival mask pendant. You will learn tips and tricks including creating the best surface on the silver for the enamel, making a three dimensional mask shape, making bails and decorating the reverse of your piece including setting small stones.
Once the masks are fired and polished you will learn Joy’s unique Enamelled Accents technique for adding wires to make free standing cells for enamel. After covering how to prepare the enamels to get the brightest clearest colours you will learn how to wet lay them onto your piece and how different colour enamels can be used and blended together.
Finally we will use patination to accentuate the bright enamel colours and the textures.
During this workshop you will have a rainbow of enamel colours to use that you will be able to take home with you afterwards.
Some previous experience with silver clay is necessary.

Terms and conditions
For my regular classes in metal clay or enamelling as require 50% of the course fee to confirm the booking.

For guest tutors and master classes – £100 deposit required to confirm a place, £100 payable two months before the commencement of the class and the balance payable by cheque or cash 14 working days prior to the first day of the class.
14 days notice of cancellation is required so that I can resell the workshop place.
In the event of cancellation more than 14 days before the class the deposit can be carried over to another mutually convenient class. Cancellation by the student less than 7 days prior to a workshop will result in forfeit of your deposit and course fee.
Each class has a maximum number of places available and a minimum number before it can run. If I have to cancel a workshop I will give as much notice as possible and a place will be offered for an alternative workshop at a future date. Refunds will be given in the event of tutor illness or insufficient numbers booked for a workshop.
I reserve the rights to vary these terms and conditions at any time.
My studio is based in the beautiful village of Glaisdale on the North Yorkshire Moors, approximately 12 miles inland from Whitby. I can recommend B&B accommodation locally – email me for details.