Southampton - A touch of 24K Gold workshop (£135 incl materials)

This silver clay workshop is all about using silver clay and an ancient technique called Keum Boo which uses extra thick superior quality 24 carat Eco conflict free gold foil to create beautiful, unique pieces of silver  jewellery with small gold highlights. This gold comes from 100% recycled gold, which has been extracted from scraps of industrial use (ie. electric parts, plating), jewellery and dentistry. It is not sourced from conflict mines. Keum Boo is an ancient Korean gilding technique used to apply thin sheets of gold to silver, to make gold-gilt. Keum Boo literally translates as "attached gold" and permanently bonds 24k gold to silver. The foil is much thicker than standard gold plating and most foils on the market -  is approximately 0.014 mm/14 microns thick. The 24 carat gold foil is applied to fine silver as a decorative element. This is to highlight texture, create an image, or enrich a pattern. The foil is applied under heat and burnished to form a diffusion bond between the two metals.

Silver clay comes in a clay like form and is made up of recycled fine silver powder, an organic binder and water. It can be moulded and shaped like clay before being fired.  The binder then burns away and your piece is transformed into a piece of fine silver jewellery. (Fine silver is composed of 99.9% pure silver, and it is a bit more expensive and better quality than sterling silver).

As with all of my courses, this will be an intimate and personable workshop with a maximum of 4 people. Although slightly more advanced and faster paced than my Beginners silver clay workshop, the small numbers will allow for lots of individual attention and is great for beginners.  

For pictures and testimonials from past workshops go to https://www.rebeccaoxenham.com/workshop-testimonials

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This course is suitable for learners with no previous knowledge of working with silver clay or those with experience with other forms of jewellery making. It is also suitable for those with no experience yet of crafts or creative activities. Most important is a desire to learn and experiment with the materials.

This is a small and relaxed class with no more than 4 students. At the end of the day we will celebrate with a glass of bubbly while. You’ll leave with a unique piece that you will have hand made and could make the perfect present or you can keep it for yourself.

Both Art Clay Silver - the silver clay and the 24 carat foil used in this workshop is produed by Aida Chemical Industries Co. Ltd and is recognised as Conflict-free Smelters which conforms to international guidelines set by CFSI (Conflict Free Sourcing Initiative).

For pictures and testimonials from past workshops go to https://www.rebeccaoxenham.com/workshop-testimonials

What your will learn;

- The design processs

- Rolling and shaping and cutting the clay

- Texturing techniques

- Filing

- Sanding

- Firing

-cutting the gold foil

- heating the clay to bond the gold foil to your piece

- Attaching jump rings for a pendant or findings for earrings

- Polishing and finishing

- celebrate at the end with a glass of bubbly

What is included;

- 7g of silver clay (enough to make one or two pieces of jewellery)

- enough 24K keum boo gold foil to add small gold highlights to your piece.

- Findings for your pieces that you make (ie jump rings, earring posts, wire for drop earrings)

- Sterling silver chain or earrings wires

- All equipment needed in my studio to make your jewellery pieces

- An instruction sheet (which you can take home)

- As much tea and coffee as you can drink

- Tissue paper and pillow box for wrapping up each of the pieces you make

- A glass of bubbly or non alcoholic fizz to celebrate the day

What you need to bring;

- Glasses if you wear them because there is some fine detailed work

- A packed lunch and any extra drinks

- An apron if you have one

- Closed toe shoes

- Hairband (to tie hair back while firing)

There will be a break for lunch where you are welcome to eat your picnic in my studio, garden, decking or nearby Riverside park.  There are also several cafe's and shops just a 5-10 minute walk away.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL

The course is held at Rebecca's Garden Studio in Bitterne Park, Southampton. The workshop is held in the studio at the end of my garden on Oaktree Road, Southampton. Please knock on the front door on arrival and I will take you through to the studio. If you are late I will leave the side gate open so you can walk down and join us then.

DRIVING

Use SO18 1PH in your satnav or if using google maps just type in Rebecca Oxenham Jewellery. There is parking on Oaktree Road (if it gets busy there is also a car park close by on Manor Farm Road, near the junction of Dimond Road and next to Riverside Park).

TRAIN

Nearest train stations are Swathling, Bitterne, Southampton Parkway and Southampton Central. (If you are coming by train I can sometimes arrange pick up and drop off depending on availability - contact me in advance).

BUS

City Bus no 7 stops on the road a few yards from the venue and runs from the centre of Southampton approximately every 10 minutes during peak times.

Full joining instructions will be sent in advance of the course.

Cancellations of workshop places and private tuition bookings within 14 days of the event will forfeit the workshop/private tuition fee unless I am able to find someone to take your place. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend.