Jewellery Making Taster Session at Allanbank Arts

In the run up to the Summer courses at Allanbank Arts there was a weekend of taster sessions allowing people to have a go at a wide variety of workshops to see what was for them.

I ran a jewellery making taster session where participants learned the key skill of turning a loop in wire and a few of the many ways this technique can be used.

 Each participant made a pair of earrings and a necklace or bracelet, including their very own handmade clasp. It's very handy being able to turn a loop in a piece of wire, yes?!

A much cited reason for attending my workshops is people wanting to be able to fix their own jewellery and I love this approach!

See more student work over on facebook  and find out about learning on my workshop page.

Allanbank Arts Taster Sessions

Allanbank Arts are running a weekend of taster sessions offering you the opportunity to try out one of the skills in advance of more detailed courses. I'll be teaching an introduction to jewellery making on Saturday 8th March from 1.30 to 4pm when we'll be learning to turn a loop in wire and how to use this technique to create chain, earrings, necklaces or bracelets.

The address for directions is Allanbank Arts, Allanbank Courtyard, Allanton, Duns, TD11 3PY.

 

Learn How to Make Jewellery in the Scottish Borders

Good afternoon!

After a summer of fun jewellery making workshops my last series of 2013 are about to start.

I can hardly believe it's October already!

If you are based in the Scottish Borders or Northumberland and would be interested in learning how to make jewellery I will be teaching a seven week evening course at Allanbank Arts commencing on Wednesday 23rd October and finishing on Wednesday 4th December.

Each session starts at 7pm and finishes at 9.30pm.

You will learn about the main components and techniques in bead and wire jewellery making allowing you to resolve your own designs from initial inspirations to finished pieces. The later sessions will also include working with sheet metal.

You can sign up for the whole course for £125 (£115 if you book and pay before Wednesday 16th October) or you can pay £20 per session if you can't make them all.

I will be posting the schedule next week with an outline of what will be happening each week.

To book your place you can email info@allanbankarts.co.uk
or phone Gill on 07702811374 or Liz on 01890 818459 / 07899903429

Beach Finds Jewellery Workshop

Last week as part of Berwick Arts and Crafts Festival I ran a beach finds jewellery making workshop teaching two main techniques for creating wire wrapped glass, pottery or pebble charms.  These charms can be used to make earrings or pendants or bracelets and there was a full range on Friday.

A special mention to two participants who managed to complete the workshop, one with a migraine and one with a broken thumb! Dedication!

If you would like to arrange a workshop just get in touch; the next one will be part of the Crossing Borders Art Trail on the 6th, 7th and 8th September when I will be at Allanbank Arts near Allanton.

Berwick Arts and Crafts Festival

Hello, well, wasn't that a rather swift and busy month!

So, here I am for the first time in weeks back to my own work, hooray!

There is lots happening which you might be interested in; first up for anybody in the Borders/ North Northumberland area is the Berwick Arts and Crafts Festival on Friday 26th to Monday 29th July.

Mainly based in the Granary, this year's festival has taken recycling and upcycling as its theme and there will be workshops, demonstrations, activities, open studios and stalls throughout the weekend.

For a full list of happenings see the Berwick Arts and Crafts festival website and facebook page.

I will be teaching a beach finds workshop on Friday 26th July between 10am and 12pm where you can learn wire wrapping skills to produce pretty and wearable jewellery from sea glass, pottery or pebbles.

 

There are only two places left on this workshop and you can book directly with Berwick Arts and Crafts Group on 07501 863 065.

If you are interested in arranging your own jewellery making workshop do get in touch to discuss your requirements. 

There is loads going on over the weekend including two great open studio opportunities:

Tower House Pottery (Friday and Saturday, 10am -4pm) 
Foldyard with painting and printmaking demonstrations from Dave Watson and Morag Eaton ( Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm)

Enjoy!

Drilling Sea Glass

Good afternoon!

I have been doing a bit if experimenting with drilling sea glass as a way of using some beautiful finds that are do not have smooth edges.

With the larger drill bits and extra vibrations I was having trouble holding the shards still. So, my ingenious father in law made me a clamping device complete with reservoir to keep the shard submerged in water while drilling.

Yesterday was the first go with it and it was successful! Next up is further tidying up of the little glass rounds and making new jewellery with them. It will be two pendants and a ring first I think.

Crossing Borders Art Trail 2012

We have just finished our first ever open studio event as part of the Crossing Borders Art Trail.  The lovely people at the Chain Bridge Honey Farm kindly invited Rich, Tony and myself to set up there.  We had our art trail sheep pointing the way.

It was great to be able to set up at the Honey Farm as it is such a popular venue and over the weekend we had well over 150 people visit.  Rich and Tony had prints and paintings and I had a display of my recycled jewellery and a workshop table where visitors could make their own wire wrapped sea glass, pottery or pebble necklace.

Thank you to everyone who came over to see our work, buy pieces, chat and participate in workshops and to Felicity who brought in her rock tumbler for us to have a play with!

More photos over on the book of face.

Sea Glass Jewellery Workshop

A few Saturdays ago I ran a workshop teaching a great group how to make jewellery with wire and sea glass; no drilling required.  It was fun and each participant made a pair of earrings and a pendant using wire wrapping techniques.

Thanks to Berwick Arts and Crafts Group for organising the festival and for some of these photos, I'm looking forward to seeing what's next from this new and exciting group!

Berwick Arts and Crafts Festival

From Friday 3rd until Monday 6th August the Berwick Arts and Crafts Festival will be running at Dewar's Lane Granary.  There will be lots happening throughout the long weekend and the full timetable of workshops, demonstrations and craft stalls can be found here.  I'll be running a 3 hour workshop teaching basic wire wrapping and how to use the technique with found sea glass and pebbles.  

The picture shows my workshop at last year's event where I look utterly shattered and ready for a holiday! I fear I may look similar this weekend! The Festival has grown and will be in a great new venue of The Granary which recently opened after a major restoration project which brings Berwick new gallery space, youth hostel, bistro and meeting rooms.

You can book workshops directly through the website or at Berwick Library tomorrow, July 30th between 10am and 4pm.

Looking forward to it!

Palace Green Pavilion Arts and Crafts Week

Thanks to Annie for letting me know this was in the Berwick Advertiser today! Hopefully you will be able to read it if you click on the picture to enlarge . . .

Jewellery Workshop, Berwick upon Tweed

Yesterday I ran a workshop on making wire wrapped loop charms to make earrings, necklaces or bracelets. It was part of the Arts and Crafts Taster Week being held by, and raising money for, Palace Green Pavilion in Berwick upon Tweed.

There are workshops and demonstrations being held there every day this week by local artists, so if you are in the area check it out!

There were a super group of ladies in attendance who created some beautiful earrings and charm bracelets during the morning. To those of you who were going to finish of pieces at home I'd love to see the finished results! Please send photos to laurajcameron@btinternet.com

Thanks!

I'll be back at the Pavilion on Friday demonstrating something jewellery related and there will be a small selection of my work available there all week.

A Taster of the Arts and Crafts at Palace Green Pavillion

Starting on Monday the 16th August Palace Green Pavilion, Berwick upon Tweed will be hosting an Arts and Crafts Taster week. During the week there will be workshops and demonstrations in jewellery making, embroidery techniques, drawing, silk paper making, stained glass, pottery, felt making, painting and more! There are workshops for both adults and children and if you are in the area I highly recommend a visit! For further information click on the flier pictures to go to the Pavilion's facebook group page.

I'll be there on Monday taking the bead and wire jewellery making workshop where we will be learning how to create wrapped loop charms to create something like this:
Then on Friday I'll be there demonstrating some jewellery making, that is if I can tear myself away from looking at what everybody else is making!

Hope to see you there!