Botanical-themed silver clay jewellery workshop with Anna Campbell

Description

Create your own nature-inspired silver jewellery in this one day workshop with silver clay jewellery expert Anna Campbell, Founder of Jewellery School Scotland. Spend a full day exploring the beautiful possibilities of working with silver clay using botanicals to capture textures and shapes, mould-making, and crafting wearable pieces you’ll be proud to take home. Whether you’re a complete beginner to working with silver clay or have some experience, this workshop gives you hands-on experience working with recycled fine silver clay, botanical textures and jewellery construction. What is silver metal clay? Silver clay is a material manufactured from 100% recycled silver, a plant-based organic binder and water. The silver is recycled from X-rays, the photographic industry, electronics, and so on. It can be moulded and shaped like clay. Once dry, it can be fired and that is when the alchemy happens - the clay turns to solid hallmark quality silver! Over the course of this one-day workshop, you’ll complete three projects, each designed to introduce you to a key skill in botanical silver clay jewellery making. Along the way, you’ll learn the complete process - from preparing and working the silver clay, drying, firing and polishing - to finishing and wearing your jewellery. Project 1 - Create unique pieces rolling botanicals into the clay. Use grasses and leaves (we’ll supply a wide selection) or bring your own small botanical objects - to impress into the silver clay. You’ll roll out the clay, capture the texture, cut and shape, and begin to design your first piece (for example, earrings or a pendant charm). Project 2 - Make your own custom silicone mould and botanical silver clay charm. Learn how to create small silicone moulds to capture botanical items such as acorns, seed pods, and shells. You will then learn how to use your moulds with the silver clay to create a unique botanical charm. This technique lets you replicate textures and items, create your own repeatable shapes and expand your jewellery-making beyond the day. Project 3 - Hand-make botanical embellishments and assemble your pieces We’ll explore making botanical elements (think leaves, small flowers) by hand from silver clay or using small moulds, and then constructing your pieces (earrings, charms or pendants) by combining these elements. We’ll cover how to add attachments such as jump rings and chains, so that your pieces are ready to wear. Throughout the workshop, you’ll be guided step-by-step by Anna Campbell, one of the leading metal clay teachers in the UK, making this a fun and accessible class for complete beginners. You’ll leave with three pieces of handmade jewellery, new skills, and a strong foundation in working with silver clay. Whether you’re looking to try a new hobby, make gifts, or you have an eye on starting a jewellery business, this class is the perfect introduction to the exciting world of hallmark quality silver clay jewellery. What to expect: - A full-day workshop, 10am - 5pm (one hour lunch break). - A relaxed, friendly creative atmosphere and expert guidance to support you throughout. You’ll leave with at least three finished pieces (earrings, charms, pendants) ready to wear, plus the skills to continue making your own botanical silver clay jewellery at home Suitable for beginners: no prior experience required (we’ll guide you step-by-step). Why this workshop? Eco-friendly: the silver clay is 100% recycled silver, offering a more sustainable way to make beautiful jewellery. Nature-inspired: using botanicals (twigs, leaves, seed pods, grasses, shells) gives your jewellery organic texture and character - perfect for botanical jewellery lovers. Creative freedom: whether you want to make jewellery gifts, start a small jewellery business, or simply explore a new hobby, this workshop gives you the foundation and freedom to design your own pieces. Complete process: you’ll see the jewellery-making journey through from start to finish - mould-making, shaping, firing, polishing, finishing - and leave with wear-ready pieces. Continue making from home: silver clay jewellery making requires very few tools and can easily be done from your kitchen table (as you'll discover!) Personalised keepsakes: bring your own small botanical objects if you wish (such as leaves, grasses, shells - see tips below) to make pieces that are uniquely yours. Who is it for? Anyone curious about silver clay jewellery making Nature lovers and botanical jewellery enthusiasts People looking for a unique, creative day out or a gift-making experience Beginners with no previous experience (and those with some craft experience who’d like to expand into silver clay and botanical textures) Crafters who want to learn how to make their own moulds, embellishments and finished recycled silver jewellery. If I want to bring my own botanicals, what do I bring? Firstly, there will be plenty to choose from at the workshop, so you do not need to bring anything except yourself! But, if you would like to bring your own botanicals for use in the workshop here are Anna's tips: Pick leaves/grasses etc the night before the workshop. Place them in a tupperware-style box with damp kitchen roll in the bottom. Anything we use needs to be fresh, dried items such as leaves will just crumble when pressed into the clay. The clay will pick up texture really well, so choose leaves with very deep vein structure, such as sage leaves. Waxy leaves like ivy, for example, do not work well. Jewellery is small, so you want to focus on smaller leaves - no more than 3cm long but ideally smaller. You can also mould sections of leaves or grasses if you bring larger items You can bring leaves, grasses, seed pods, small twigs, shells, sea urchins, acorns etc Earth conscious credentials We are mindful of the effect we have on the environment, and do our best to minimise our impact. On this workshop you will be making hallmark quality silver jewellery using metal clay, which is made from 100% recycled materials. You will take all the lovely products you have created home with you on the day, and workshop correspondence and notes will be sent to you electronically.

What's included in the price?

All materials included: recycled silver clay, botanical objects, silicone mould-making materials, and findings (jump rings, earring wires, etc). Chains are not included as many people already have their own, however we usually have a selection for sale at low prices on the day. Complimentary refreshments featuring independent, locally-supplied Shibui teas and Mr Eion coffee.

Cancellation policy

Non-refundable - Refunds are not available

Maker

The Arienas Collective

with Craft Courses since 2017

Message the tutor

The Arienas Collective supports local artists and makers to earn a living by sharing their creative skills and passions with others through delivering workshops. The workshops are run from our mews home in the beautiful Georgian New Town of central Edinburgh. We believe in the wellbeing benefits of engaging in creative activity, and our class sizes are kept small so that you get the support you need to make the most of your time with us. We teach you creative skills you can continue at home.