Creative Craft Skills - Weeks 4-6

I've not had a chance to write an update about the course for a couple of weeks but that doesn't mean we haven't all been busy!
The learners have all been experimenting with materials and tools to produce ideas they need to incorporate in their main design. They've all been recording their ideas in the sketch books and making notes.

For me, the beauty of this course is the chance to explore more than just making a particular item to a set objective and learning only how to create that one piece. By experimenting with design and recognizing how to identify possible sources for ideas, the learners have demonstrated an array of styles and hopefully will take this skill away with them and use for future projects.
One of the learners, Annette has already managed to implement this in some of her other craft work and I was delighted to hear it was thanks to this course that she felt inspired to use colours and patterns she had found in everyday objects. Her lovely glass work results were thanks to the pattern on a pair of curtains and more jewellery ideas came from a  decorative box pattern. Well done Annette and I look forward to seeing more.

Another learner, Steph has also been busy exploring ideas and is becoming quite adept at making beautiful jewellery. She was inspired to make a wirework project by James Ferris in Making Jewellery magazine and I think you'll agree the result is fantastic! Steph was already very creative when I first met her and she has put all the skills she has learnt at workshops and on the course to very productive use. 

I hope she won't mind if I share this too as I think he's a cute little guy! Steph has chosen to use the coiling and spiral techniques I've taught during the course and combined the wire with beads to make a giraffe.

So the learners have been busy and all the work in their workbooks goes towards achieving their certificates. Unfortunately I've had to cancel week 7 and move it to next week. We will then be looking to complete the main task.

The aim of the main task is to meet all the criteria while producing a finished design. The final pieces will need to incorporate all the techniques covered and include  an example of mixed media. Learners are asked to record their own responses to the development of ideas and any constraints encountered, along with how these are resolved. By the end of this course all should have learned the tools and materials names and uses and be competent in applying them to various techniques. 

Going away from the course I hope everyone will be confident enough in their skills to create their own designs and be able to apply their knowledge to produce them and explore further techniques.

Workshop Y Galeri February 2013

The first of three planned workshops at Y Galeri took place last Saturday and it was another great day sharing skills with lovely ladies, almost all of whom have joined me at previous workshops.
Instead of wire work, this time we made a glass bead and metal pendant necklace using tigertail thread. The results were a hit and everyone learnt different techniques than we've done before.

The next workshop is on 6 April and we will be making bracelets and earrings to match the necklace's beads and the third workshop will take place in May. Contact Jan at Y Galeri on 029 20 861433 for info on booking any events held there or visit their website to check out the latest news.

Making Jewellery Magazine Issue 51: Picture Perfect

It is always a joy to have my work included in Making Jewellery Magazine and the March issue sees a project that would make a perfect gift for Mother's Day. 

Brooch design, floral Image

Black & white images of  kids/grandchildren will make the jewellery even more personal

Ring Design

Bracelet Design

The brooch design started out as a workshop idea and it is indeed 

the focus of the course I am currently teaching at Bedwas Adult Education Centre.

The learners have a basic kit to create a similar design, using the same processes 

but each one will have their own individual style.

 I can't wait to see their ideas as they progress and I will share them in just a few weeks time!

Creative Craft Skills- Jewellery Week 3

Despite the appalling weather most of the ladies managed to get to class last night and let's hope next week is better!

We made a start on using the tools and materials last night and everyone demonstrated safe use of the pliers, cutters etc. This is one of the criteria to be met for this accredited course and gives me the chance to identify the various skill levels between students too, as some learners are used to using jewellery making tools but for others this is an introduction. Anyone wanting to make their own designs really needs to have a good idea of the basic tools they will need and how to use them effectively. There are some techniques that are a staple in this type of jewellery making and learning how to create perfect loops, opening and shutting jump rings/links correctly, cutting and filing and how to crimp beads will enable the maker to make informed choices for their work. There is a dizzying array of tools and resources available for the modern accessory maker and for a  beginner it must be quite overwhelming deciding what to buy and what exactly is needed to carry out the task in hand.

At the end of last night's session the ladies had all used each tool to produce examples of work. These can form part of their evidence to meet another criteria, experimenting with techniques. They were provided with a  basic earring kit and asked to come up with designs and ideas that would incorporate all of the techniques mentioned above. This is a practise exercise before embarking on the main design and allows for mistakes to be made as well as exploration of ideas.

WORKSHOP VS ACCREDITATION

As we approach week 4 of this course the question of the benefits of attending an accredited course as apposed to a workshop is, I think, worth addressing. What are the differences and benefits? Is it right for me? What extras are involved? Well the simple answer to whether someone should opt for joining an accredited course is...it's up to you! Identifying what level you want to achieve is probably the main question to ask yourself and if you decide that you are willing to commit to 8 possibly even 20 weeks working towards a qualification then YES!, it's for you. Signing up to this type of course though, will mean a little extra will be required from both the learners and tutor and as with any exam, there is a requirement to provide evidence of learning having taken place and means there is inevitably a necessity for some written work, even for a  practical subject like jewellery making. This is of course not most peoples favourite aspect and I sympathize....you should see what the tutor has to do! But there is purpose to it all and everything we cover in these first few weeks form a permanent record for the learner to refer back to at any time and as someone who has attended many accredited courses as an adult, something to take pride in... 

YOU did that, YOU achieved that, all on your own. Well done YOU!  

My role in this process is to guide the learners by introducing the tools, demonstrate the skills, check they understand the techniques, gain the skills and have learnt enough to complete the task independently. 

So, back to my question, workshop or accreditation? In my opinion...both. A longer course will give you the chance to learn from the bottom, up including design and allowing time to master techniques. Workshops will then extend your skill set and help identify your own strong points and favoured area of jewellery design. If you've invested in a tool kit (you are required to provide all your own resources for accredited courses but not necessarily for workshops) then make the most of them, buy some materials and make, make, make. Practise will indeed make perfect so go and have some fun trying :). 

There are so many places to buy equipment and materials from today and (yes, as a sometimes contributor, I am biased!) I highly recommend checking out Making Jewellery Magazine for inspiration and help with all aspects of jewellery making and information on suppliers. If you are on Facebook,  Click here and 'like' their page for regular updates of the latest news.

So far this class has shown excellent application of their new skills by demonstrating an understanding for the need to gather resource info, plan a design, tool recognition, and carrying out basic techniques. It's only week 3 so the ladies should give themselves a pat on the back! Next week will involve getting everyone to the same stage in their workbooks. Hopefully those able to attend last night, will have examples of their earrings ready to be photographed and they will be asked to complete another criteria that asks for their own responses to the design/processes etc. This is where the workbooks will start to show individuality as each person approaches their own designs and interpret the results independently. 

This really is the aim, you have to prove you can carry out the work yourself from start to finish and everything the learners are doing now will help them to do this.

Creative Craft Skills - Jewellery Week 2

Luckily week 2 of the jewellery course at Bedwas was able to go ahead before the snow arrived and all the ladies turned up so I must have done something right in week 1!
We are settled at 10 learners now and I was very pleased to see everyone had worked hard on the home  task and the fun project turned out better than I could have hoped.
Everyone was asked to start recording ideas in their sketch books and collect examples for the 'mixed media' task. The 'mood boards' they created were spot on and from these everyone produced unique ideas for their tags/brooches. This task also covered some of the required criteria and can be drawn on later for the main project if needed.

These are the lovely ladies joining me for the duration of the course and I must say, a nicer group I couldn't ask for!

 Steph

 Julie

 Annette

 Tracy

 Corinne

 Pat

 Nic

 Sandra

 Lyn

Sue

Learners were introduced to the basic tools we will be using during the course and a list provided to ensure everyone has their own pliers and equipment. Flat nosed, narrow/snipe nosed, round nosed pliers, top or side cutters and if possible a flat needle file are main tools needed and we will also be using crimping pliers.

A beading mat or non slip mat and an ice cube tray to hold beads are useful too.

For the home task this week everyone was provided with an earring kit I put together that incorporates the findings and beads they will use for the main design. Learners are asked to sketch some ideas for designs only at this stage, demonstrating alternative styles, noting accurate length measurements and state possible limitations of the design. The raw materials include tigertail which is a fine, coated wire that can be crimped to secure beads in place, eye pins to create a beaded link, head pins to hold beads (these can be left long, cut shorter or make a wrapped loop), chain,  bead caps to add detail and a  selection of metal beads to incorporate as required.

 A range of basic techniques will be used for making the earrings including crimping, looping, opening & shutting links and wire wrapping. These ideas should be included at the design stage then we will work towards showing examples of each. The knowledge gained during these tasks will all help learners grow in confidence with their work and be ready to put all their new skills to good use to complete the main task.

Learners are encouraged to do some research of jewellery making websites to get ideas of how to use the materials in various ways and if they find any good examples, make a note of the links and we can access them during the course to demonstrate ICT applications.

Week 3 will see more criteria met as learners will be asked to recognize the different tools & their uses and while making their earrings, demonstrate safe use of these while carrying out basic techniques. 

Looking forward to it.