Silver clay classes | metalclaynorth

Amazing class with Anna Mazon

May 13, 2013 2 Comments

I have just had the most wonderful weekend hosting a class run by the very talented and inspiring teacher Anna Mazon. It was my first experience of inviting a guest tutor from overseas and her first experience of teaching in the UK. I was a bit nervous and really wanted it to be a great experience for everyone.

On the Saturday, after brief introductions Anna explained some of her processes. The aim of the workshop was to learn to make a pendant with a raised box setting for a cabochon stone and tiny delicate vines, leaves and floral decorations. She brought with her some wonderful samples of her work to inspire the group. In the first photo the group are on the early stages of their designs.

Here Anna is demonstrating steps in the construction process using a large scale cardboard model she had made, which was very easy to follow.

In the background to this picture are Lesley Messam and Tilly Wilkinson both of whom are talented teachers and regularly run workshops themselves. (They will each be running classes here in my studio later in the year – for more information see my website )

This is the beginning of Chu-mei’s pendant followed by a photo of the early stages of Anna Cambell’s

At the end of the first day they had all completed the basic structure and open work, ready for the addition of tiny details on the Sunday.

This one is Joy Funnell’s . (Joy will also be running a workshop here making her colourful carnival masks in June. There are a couple of places still available see my website for more information or to find the link for booking enquiries).

After a day of concentration we all went into Whitby to the Magpie Cafe so the visitors could sample some of the local fare.

The second day began with Anna demonstrating techniques for creating tiny little leaves, flowers and berries. Then everyone had to work on their little decorations before a late lunch break while the pieces were fired in the kiln.

Anna sell tutorials for projects that that cover some of these processes in her etsy shop

Here are all the pieces ready to go into the kiln.
After lunch Anna demonstrated bezel making techniques and here she is helping Jackie Sisson to solder her bezel into place.

(Sorry this one is slightly out of focus!)
Once the bezels were all soldered on Anna showed us how to refine the bezel and set the stone

clockwise these are by Joy, Jackie, Pam, Pauline and one by Anna that she made to demonstrate each step.

Then finished, these are by Tilly (above),

Joy (above, can you see her little bird hiding there?) and Anna Campbell (below)

Hopefully Lesley will post a photo on her own blog when she finishes her piece (it was fired but she wanted to polish it more before she set her stones).

They were all beautiful! I am thrilled with the outcome and hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. I learned such a lot, great techniques and tips (I only made a tiny bit of mine as I was really concentrating on hosting and looking after the smooth running of the workshop), but I am planning to work on it later this week. I have to say a huge thanks to Anna for coming over to teach here; thanks to everyone who came and made it so enjoyable and thanks to my partner Jonathan (for constant encouragement, collecting and transporting people around & cooking); to Tilly’s husband David Cowling (also ferrying people around, cooking and preparing lunches and to Lesley’s husband Keith Messam (more ferrying, shopping trips for more food, helping prepare lunches, encouraging us all and making endless cups of tea – couldn’t have managed any of this without you all!

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Guest tutors, Inspiration, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Master classes, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North York Moors, setting stones, Silver clay classes, Tools and tips, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with Anna Mazon, guest tutor, herbaria pendant, Jewellery making, metal clay class, North York Moors, workshops

All the fun of the fair

April 11, 2013 1 Comment

This is a piece I designed and made for the Guild of Enamellers annual conference. We always have a theme and this year it was ‘All the fun of the fair’ set by Tilly Wilkinson who will be teaching a couple of enamelling classes here in my studio on the North York Moors later in the summer. For more information on classes see my website

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling, Enamelling classes, Guest tutors, jewellery making class, Learn to enamel, Master classes, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North York Moors, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with art clay silver, enamel, enamelling classes, masterclass in enamelling, North York Moors, silver

Something to do on a rainy day on the North York Moors

March 19, 2013 Leave a comment

Yesterday I went to an interesting meeting run by the North York Moors National Park and looking at web marketing and networking. I came away inspired to write a bit more often about my wonderful location here in Glaisdale. I am based about 12 miles inland from Whitby and surrounded by spectacular countryside, with the dramatic landscape of the North York Moors right on my doorstep.

This is one of my photos taken just along the road from my studio, with the low winter sun shining over the snow

This photo is taken looking across the dale and one of the things I love is that, as the light changes throughout the day, then the view changes quite dramatically. I have always used the landscape patterns as inspiration for my work.
Glaisdale is surrounded by beautiful countryside and the route of the Coast to Coast walk follows the northern edge of the dale. There are a wide range of places to stay from B&Bs such as Beggars Bridge B&B and Red House Farm which has a choice of B&B and holiday cottages and, just along the dale from me Nab End Farm Cottages. Along the dale in the opposite direction and for those looking for something a bit different, to accomodate and certainly very special is Bank House Farm Hostel

My studio is well equipped with all kinds of specialised equipment for jewellery making and enamelling. I am happy to organise a workshop at short notice if you are staying in the area and looking for something to do on a rainy day. I can accommodate up to eight people and you can make a pretty piece of silver jewellery either using traditional methods and techniques, such as the fidget ring you could make something in silver clay (sometimes called precious metal clay) or you could have a go at enamelling and create a small enamelled panel inspired by this beautiful landscape.

Email me if you would like more information or just give me a call on 01947 897788. You will find more information about the classes I run on my website but if you have something else in mind then please just get in touch – I look forward to helping you create your own special and unique memento of the area.

Moorland landscape

Enamel on copper by Lynne Glazzard

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling, Enamelling classes, jewellery making class, Making rings in silver, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North York Moors, PMC, Silver clay classes, silver clay rings, Uncategorized, workshops, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with make your own silver ring, North York Moors, PMC, Silver clay, what to do on a rainy day, workshops on the North York Moors

Colourful Carnival Masks

March 10, 2013 Leave a comment

I still have a couple of places available on this wonderful masterclass with the very talented metal clay artist Joy Funnell

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. Joy 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.

Email me for more information and for booking. I can let you have details of local B&B accommodation and it is a great place for a short break as my studio is on the glorious North York Moors and close to Whitby, so loads to see and do!

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling classes, Guest tutors, jewellery making class, Learn to enamel, Master classes, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North York Moors, North Yorkshire, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, Uncategorized, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with art clay silver classes, enamel, Enamel on silver, Masks, most classes, North York Moors, Venice

More Mokume Gane

March 8, 2013 Leave a comment

Here is today’s piece of mokume gane technique in copper and silver clay. It is a little whistle and I have created patina to chemically darken the copper to make a greater contrast with the silver. I am very pleased with the outcome of this and think it will make a great new class project.

Thanks again to Lesley Messam & Katie Baum for sharing so much information on techniques and inspiring me!

Filed under Art clay certification courses, art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Guest tutors, jewellery making class, Keum boo, Master classes, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, Mokume Gane, New Mokume Gane in metal clay, North York Moors, North Yorkshire, PMC, Silver clay classes, Uncategorized, workshops, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with copper clay, Metal clay, mixed metals, New Mokume gane, patina techniques, Silver clay, whistle

A little more experimentation and a new Mokume Gane masterclass

March 7, 2013 1 Comment

I have been doing a little more experimentation after a short break staying with my good friend Lesley Messam and with the encouragement and inspiration of Katie Baum.

With Katie we made either perfume pendants or pens and I chose to make the perfume pendant. It is made in art clay silver. Since I returned home I have made an attempt at making a pen using the combination to silver and copper to make new mokume gane. I think I need to do more work on this idea to perfect it but am having fun experimenting.

I am planning to teach the Art Clay New Mokume Gane class later in the year so please email if you would like to learn this technique.

Filed under Art clay certification courses, art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Master classes, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North York Moors, North Yorkshire, Silver clay classes, Tools and tips, Uncategorized, workshops, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with art clay silver, Metal clay, mixed metals, mokume gane, Pen, perfume pendant, Silver clay

One bright moth

February 15, 2013 Leave a comment

On a brighter note I have finished this Moth Pendant.

It is the first of a series of pieces of enamel jewellery with moth and butterfly designs. I made the pendant using art clay silver a few weeks ago but then had to wait to send it off with a batch of other pieces for hallmarking. I prefer to have work hallmarked before enamelling and finishing (although don’t always) but it lessens the risk of it being chipped or damaged in transit.

I have also stoned back and refired this enamel ring that was hallmarked in the same batch. These do show off the beauty of the vibrant colours possible in vitreous enamel jewellery.

If you would like to learn to enamel then please get in contact as I am always happy to teach enamelling and pass on some of the techniques of this wonderful tradition.

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling, Enamelling classes, jewellery making class, Learn to enamel, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with enamel, Enamel on silver, moth pendant, silver clay classes

A certain lack of concentration

February 15, 2013 Leave a comment

One thing I know about enamel is that you really need to pay attention to what you are doing at every step of the process.

Here is the bead I have been working on in stages over the past couple of weeks. It is constructed in art clay silver, then fine silver wires were added as outlines for flower petals. The next step was to enamel what was going to be the back in a variety of shades of green followed by the front in pinks and reds. It was going so well, too well perhaps – until having stoned it smooth I put it back into the kiln to flash fire the gloss back and then answered the phone. The result is the whole thing got much too hot and the reds and pinks turned a variety of shades of brown and toffee. I made an even worse mess by then adding fine lines of painting enamel to the petals and firing it again….. The lesson is to let nothing, and I mean nothing, distract you from the kiln when you are enamelling!
I really should stone it back to tidy up the lines again but it doesn’t seem worth the extra work now.

You can see quite clearly though that the greens survived beautifully……

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling classes, Hollow beads in metal clay, Jewellery, Learn to enamel, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, Paper textures, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver beads, Silver clay classes, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with beads, cloisonné, enamel silver beads, Enamel. Art clay silver

Buttons and other things

January 20, 2013 Leave a comment

I have done a little more work on my button for The Button Project today. Here they are in the electric muffle kiln at the beginning of the firing process for the silver clay.

You can see them, mostly face down and supported by small amounts of kiln fibre. In this batch of pieces of work are two buttons, a ring and a pendant.

Here are the pendant, ring and one of the buttons fresh out of the kiln. The next stage will be to burnish and polish them and to prepared the surfaces for enamelling.

Filed under Art clay certification courses, art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling classes, Guest tutors, Inspiration, jewellery making class, Making rings in silver, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, Paper textures, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, silver clay rings, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with art clay silver, Buttons, enamelled buttons, enamelled ring, enamelling workshops in Yorkshire, Moth, ring, silk, silver buttons

The Button Project

January 19, 2013 2 Comments

Inspiration can come from all kinds of places. A few days ago I received an email from Macclesfield telling me about the Barnaby Festival Art Trail. It included a call for entries into The Button Project. Artists and makers are invited to put their creative imaginations to work and make a button for a vibrant exhibition, taking place in Macclesfield from 14 June – 8 August 2013. The deadline for submissions is 4 March 2013 and you can download an application form here.

Any buttons entered will be part of a display of highly collectible contemporary buttons presented alongside Macclesfield Museum’s internationally important silk costume collection – that also happens to include a classic display of Macclesfield Silk Buttons. Macclesfield was the heart of UK’s historic silk industry, and handmade silk buttons was where it all began. From a cottage-based enterprise, it grew into a flourishing silk industry and helped to make the town what it is today. The buttons exhibited will be tiny works of art and the festival organisers suggest taking the opportunity to explore the theme for the Barnaby Festival this year, ‘metamorphosis’. This does seem like a fantastic chance to showcase miniature artwork in the UK’s premier silk attraction and celebrate our skills and heritage.

I have decided to attempt to make my button on the suggested theme, partly as it fits in with my love of moths, I have many of them doodled among the pages of sketchbooks over the years.

In order to be a wearable and durable button I have decided to make it slightly thicker than I would usually work and have begun by making a large number of tiny sketches to work out the layout of my design within this small circle. I did contemplate making an irregular shape – but decided to work within the formality of the circle. Here is my little paper circle into which I have impressed the background lines of my design so that they are raised up when I roll out the silver clay. The two impressions are made using Art Clay Silver; one will become the button and I am thinking of making the other into a pendant (the slightly thinner domed version). Obviously I still have a lot of work to do on these but am happy with the progress so far.

If you are a maker then why not join in this interesting project? If you would like to learn to enamel or to make your own jewellery then I have lots of classes organised for 2013, see details on my website or email me for further information and to book your place.

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling classes, Inspiration, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Learn to enamel, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, Paper textures, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, workshops, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with art clay silver, Buttons, enamel, learn to make your own jewellery, Metal clay, workshops, Yorkshire

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