by Silver Works | Oct 18, 2022 | Jewellery Classes
We are very excited to be announcing our BRAND NEW class, Forge a GOLD Ring at Silver Works Dublin.
You may be thinking that this class sounds a little familiar, and you’re right. Due to very popular demand, this new class is a twist on our classic, best selling, Forge a Silver Ring class.
Time and time again, we receive questions and requests about whether you can do the Forge a Ring Class, making a gold ring instead of silver and until now, this was something you had to leave to our expert tutors and goldsmiths to do for you after the class. Part of the joy of the Forge a Ring class is that you get to walk away with your brand new, handmade ring at the end of the class so going forward, we’ll be running a special edition, gold version of the Forge a Ring class every 6-8 weeks.
What this means for you is that if you prefer to wear gold jewellery, you can come in specially to this class and make a gold ring of your own. It’s the same class and the same process as the original Forge a Silver Ring class but it’s slightly more bespoke with more time spent with each student to enable you to make the ring using gold and to suit your style.
The first Forge a Gold Ring class will be held on Saturday 5th November with just 5 spaces available. To find out more, visit our booking page here.
Got questions? Check out our FAQs below.
Do we need prior experience to do this class?
Absolutely not! This is a fun, interactive class designed for anyone to take part in! We teach you from scratch.
Do we get to keep the ring at the end?
Yes you do! It’s your ring to love and cherish after the class
I don’t like the thickness of the band, can I make my ring thinner or thicker?
We offer a standard 4mm size band or a 2mm square wire band- which you can texture and finish any many different ways! Unfortunately as we have to order in the gold especially these are all the options of width that we can offer for this class
Can one of our group do the forge a ring class and one of us do the charm class?
Unfortunately not, as they are two very different procedures, they are really two separate classes that need 2 separate teachers.
Find our full FAQs here
by Silver Works | Oct 11, 2022 | Jewellery Classes
Did you know that engaging in creative activities, even just colouring in, improves brain function, mental health and your physical health? At this time of year, many of us are ready to hunker down and hibernate with the dark nights and cold temperatures calling us to cosy up and embrace the creative, wholesome afternoons spent indoors.
Well actually, we improvised on the latter part but we’re firm believers in there being no time like the present to embrace creativity. And now there are studies to back us up. The theory of cognition tells us about the principle of being creative as a basis of human life. So how does doodling or learning new creative skills like jewellery making, make you healthy? Let’s break it down…
Boosts your immune system
Time to work on your penmanship and whip out that journal. Although experts aren’t totally clear on how, writing increases your CD4+ lymphocyte count, the key to your immune system. Sceptical? It sounds a bit mad but the studies are there to back it up. The studies show that people who write about their experiences daily, actually have stronger immune systems.
Improves mental health
Perhaps the most relatable health benefit of creativity is its ability to calm our minds. The average person has 60,000 thoughts per day. Taking time to do something creative like knitting, sewing, making jewellery helps to focus the mind with its calming effects even being compared to meditation when doing activities like those, we experience a release of dopamine, a natural antidepressant.
To take the mental health benefits step further, creativity has also been shown to help process trauma. While writing can be used to manage negative emotions, painting and drawing can help people to process experiences or trauma that they struggle to articulate with words.
Reduces dementia
The results of the theory of cognition study, specifically explores how creativity and art stimulates dementia patients. The study shows that
“creative activity can reduce depression and isolation, offering the power of choice and decisions. Towards the end of life, art and creativity offer a path of opening up the windows to people’s emotional interiors.”
It’s amazing that getting into the creative flow is actually proven to be good for us in more ways than providing entertainment for an afternoon.
If you’re feeling inspired to start getting more creative, grab a pal or plan a solo date for yourself at one of our jewellery making classes or courses. Find out more about available classes here.
by Silver Works | Oct 4, 2022 | Jewellery Classes
On Saturday 22nd October, back by popular demand, we’re kicking off round two of our newest workshop at Silver Works Dublin, the Metal Clay Charm Class. We spoke to our resident Metal Clay expert, Jane to fill you in on everything you need to know about the Metal Charm Class.
Get ready to have some fun and let your playful side shine in this workshop. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Saturday 22nd October. We guarantee you won’t want to miss this and we know how many of you had FOMO last time.
First up, what is metal clay?
- Metal clay is a really magical medium to work with. Through heat, it turns from clay that can be shaped and stamped into solid silver.
- You will start the class playing with a practice clay so you’ll have plenty of time to play and practice for your final design.
- Then we move on to the metal clay itself and you will begin working on your two charms.
- At each step along the way, we will explain the process of turning your design into a final product you get to take home with you.
- You get to pick what textures and stamps to add to your charms. Then, when the clay is dry, you will sand the pieces ready for the teacher to fire. You can watch the firing process and learn how to do this crucial part of the process. Once the piece has cooled down you will be handed back your final design that has now transformed into metal.
- After that, we work on filing and polishing your charms, so they are ready to wear.
What do you love most about working with metal clay?
Metal clay is truly magical. It starts life as a soft clay and then you can turn it into fine silver metal before your very eyes. I never get tired of that process. The possibilities of working with metal clay are endless – you can shape by hand, cut out shapes using templates and cutters, add textures from so many things including natural things such as leaves, you can set stones directly in the clay, you can carve out a design in the dried clay – honestly, this is only the tip of the iceberg. There is always something new to learn.
I love the fact that there is no waste and every piece of dry clay even the clay dust can be recycled and made into fresh clay. It is relatively easy to do at home too and doesn’t require any large expensive equipment.
Even though the medium is playful and exciting the final product is a fine silver (999) piece that is hallmark quality.
Who is the class best suited to?
The class is suitable for beginners who have an interest in learning the basic steps of working with metal clay. It just takes an open mind to be playful and a bit of patience to finesse your piece. It’s a great class to do with friends too or as a group as you can personalise your piece and it is something you will all remember doing together.
What are you most excited about teaching the class?
I am most excited about spreading the word for metal clay and introducing new people to this craft. Whether you are a complete beginner who wants to make the charms for yourself or are already a jeweller who is intrigued to learn a new skill I can’t wait to meet everyone.
There aren’t many places in Ireland that teach metal clay so it’s exciting to add this class to Silverworks already packed programme of classes.
What advice would you give to someone on the fence about booking a class?
Give it a go you won’t be disappointed. The class is a 3-hour experience so not a massive investment time wise or financial.
Plus, at the end of the class, you will have two charms that will be ready to wear that you make yourself from scratch and who wouldn’t want that?
If you’d like to find out more or secure your place at the Metal Clay Workshop (happening Saturday 22nd October), you can find out more here.
