Learn the basics of metalwork jewellery making from an industry professional in this one-day hands-on workshop. Traditional jewellery making skills such as saw-piercing, drilling, filing, soldering and polishing will be covered while making a pendant and a textured sterling silver ring.

Course Outline:

Students will start by learning how to use a jeweller’s saw frame and practice saw-piercing and make a saw-pierced pendant from copper or brass which they will hand polish. They will then texture a sheet of sterling silver using hammers and punches and make this into a finger ring by soldering the ends together.

Course Outcome:

By the end of this 1 day workshop students will have:

• made a pendant from sheet metal using the methods of saw-piercing, drilling, filing, sanding and polishing
• made a finger ring from sheet sterling silver using the methods above plus annealing and soldering using a gas torch and explored a variety of texturing methods

What’s included:

• Silver Jewellery kit valued at $50

About the tutor:

'Sarah Whitlock is a Sydney-based jewellery and object designer and maker.

Sarah’s eye for detail and passion for materials is apparent in all she makes – from sterling silver teapots and trinket boxes to bold but intricate earrings. She favours techniques of saw-piercing and gem setting using unique stones and precious metals.

Sarah began making jewellery at age thirteen. She sold her beaded earrings and necklaces to classmates and her father sold a selection in his workplace. In year eleven, she and her mother’s successful stall at Newtown Art Market, sold jewellery and her mother’s artworks.

Sarah holds an Associate Diploma of Arts – Jewellery & Object Design at the Sydney Institute of Technology. In 2011 Sarah was appointed as a TAFE NSW Sydney Institute Ambassador as part of the college’s 120th-anniversary celebrations.

Within a year of graduation, she launched her jewellery design business Flying Lobster Jewellery in 1995 and has continued making one-of-a-kind pieces of jewellery, including custom wedding and engagement rings and remodeling heirlooms. Collaborating with her artist mother, their wearable works of art have been featured in solo and group exhibitions.

Sarah makes custom accessories for Australian film and television, including Puberty Blues and Janet King. A high-profile project was the gold immunity pins for Masterchef Australia.

She sells her work from her studio as well as through art galleries in NSW and Victoria.

Sarah began teaching silver jewellery at Bankstown Community College in 1997, followed by Sydney Community College. She has an SCC Tutor Long Service award and in 2003 received the Outstanding Tutor Award from NSW Adult Learners' Week. Sarah has delivered jewellery courses in Athens, Greece, at Kuringai Art Centre and Wilandra Art Centre, within the Juvenile Justice system at Yasmar and Camp Creative Bellingen.

Sarah is an industry trainer and continues to privately teach hands-on jewellery courses from her studio in Granville and also with Macquarie Community College and St George and Sutherland Community College.'

Other Information:

• To ensure resources are ready for you at the start of your course, we ask you ideally enrol at least one week before the course commences.
• All courses need a minimum number of students to run ("we try our hardest to get those") . If your course does not have enough students it will be cancelled prior to the commencement and you will be informed.