20 Oct 2017

Jewellery classes in Chesham: basket setting

I've been busy with teaching jewellery making at Chesham. This term we're tackling basket setting. Or prong setting, depending on what you want to call it. I aimed to make this setting accessible for all levels, although I did recommend that people do a bezel setting before starting on basket setting. My idea was to build up accuracy slowly over several projects. I wanted to instill confidence and make the projects achievable. Each element of these projects (size of wire, size of stone, type of stone, type of bail, finish of prongs etc) has been chosen for achievability. The day class is much longer, so the evening classes are necessarily working slower because they are 2 hours long (day class is 5.5 hours). I thought carefully about the building up of these lessons, so that nobody got too frustrated. So far, allowing for predictable mishaps when attempting these new techniques, my students are doing phenomenally well!
So, this is what we're working on:

1. one tier basket setting for round cabochon stone (hard, preferably CZ) with jump ring bail: 
2. two tier basket setting for round cabochon stone with tapered bail on prong
3. one tier oval basket setting for oval cabochon stone with jump ring bail to be combined with triangle bail or second jump ring
 4. two tier oval basket setting for oval cabochon stone
 5. After half term, we head into faceted round stones, so we start with this 12mm round cz:



All of the above are my samples, here are some photos of student work thus far:







30 Aug 2017

New jewellery at New Ashgate Gallery

These two new pendants went to the New Ashgate Gallery last week, along with matching earrings and a pair of matching mini earrings (10mm wide). All sterling silver, some oxidised and some with gold plating.








2 Aug 2017

Jewellery making taster course in Chesham and finished commission

Finished commission for modern square ring in 18ct white gold with 6 diamonds:
Classes in Chesham begin again in September. If you'd like to try the class before you enrol for a full term, you can take the taster session on 14 September! Please click on the poster below for a closer view and full details.



7 Jul 2017

Jewellery making classes in Chesham and Summer School in Great Missenden

Well, this is the nicest and certainly warmest summer I've experienced in the UK. It's lovely and also not so lovely. The negative only because it gets rather too hot to solder. Anyway, the flowers look great and it really feels like summer! So, here's an update on jewellery classes that I'll be teaching.
If you would like to try jewellery making but don't want to dive in to a termly class just yet, Summer School at Great Missenden Abbey would be perfect for you:

Summer School at Missenden Abbey
To book, please click here for the Missenden School of Creative Arts website.
10th to 11th August 2017
£205 (non residential), £292 (residential)
Thursday to Friday
9:30 – 5:00pm on both days

This course aims to teach students the basic principles of jewellery making. You will start by learning how to use the basic tools required to make jewellery, such as the piercing saw, benchpeg, pliers, hammers, mandrels and torch. The first project, a ring, will guide you through the fundamental techniques of jewellery making, such as piercing, shaping, filing, sanding, hammering, soldering and finishing. Once your first project is completed, we will expand into texturing techniques using hammers and the rolling mill. We will discuss how to design and plan your second project and depending on what you make, we will cover other techniques of jewellery making. You will leave with at least two finished pieces of jewellery in either copper or silver. The tutor can advise you on further courses to take if you would like to continue making jewellery. If you have questions before the class starts, please email the tutor at machidewaard@gmail.com

If you would like to try the Chesham termly class but aren't quite sure, there's a taster session so you can see the room and get a flavour of the classes there: 

Classes in Chesham Adult Learning Centre
I teach day and evening classes in Chesham Adult Learning Centre, Chiltern Hills Academy, Chesham, HP5 2RG

Be guided through a series of projects progressing to designing and making your own individual jewellery. No experience or artistic skills are necessary. Classes are for both beginners and those with experience. The course provides a range of hand tools and access to equipment. You will be introduced to the tools and given full instruction in the use of tools & equipment as the course progresses. Students can choose to work either in silver or they can work in copper or brass. Silver and other metals are not included in the cost. You will be given instruction in how to purchase your own materials.

TASTER SESSION: If you just want to try one session before you book, you can come from 12:00-3:00pm Thursday 14 September for £31. Please call 01296 382403 to book.

Tuesday 9:30am-3:00pm (next 11 week session starts 19 September) £300
Tuesday 7:30pm-9:30pm (next 11 week session starts 19 September) £134
*NEW CLASS* Thursday 12:00pm-3:00pm (next 11 week session starts 21 September) £202
Thursday 7:30pm-9:30pm (next 11 week session starts 21 September) £134

To book, please click on this link to Buckinghamshire Adult Learning.
******Please note the Buckinghamshire website is having technical issues, so it’s better to phone to book: 01296 382403********

Information about classes is kept updated on my website: www.machidewaard.co.uk/classes

14 Jun 2017

Tiny Gallery in Henley

A selection of my jewellery is now available at the brand new Tiny Gallery in Henley-on-Thames. Located in the heart of Henley, this (indeed tiny) gallery is packed with fantastic local art. The gallery looks fantastic and is light and airy - quite a feat for such a small space! Well worth a visit! Or, if you're nowhere near Henley, the website is now up and running: tinygallery.co.uk

The Gallery's address is:
19a Hart Street
Henley-on-Thames
Oxon RG9 2AR

Here are some of my items available at the gallery: (or follow this link for a full listing on the gallery's website: https://tinygallery.co.uk/collections/machi-de-waard)



26 May 2017

Norden Farm in Maidenhead

I have a selection of jewellery exhibited at Norden Farm in Maidenhead until the middle of July. Included in the selection are these new stud earrings, which are 18mm wide. They are from left to right: oxidised silver, gold plated silver and plain silver. I also made a mini version of the gold plated one which is 10mm wide, but that pair was brand new and I didn't have time to take a photo! But you can see them at Norden Farm :-)


20 Apr 2017

Henley Arts Trail 2017

See you there!

Henley Arts Trail 29,30 April and 1 May
Venue 14 - Artists at Shiplake
Saturday 29 April 10:00 - 17:00   
Sunday 30 April 10:00 - 17:00
Monday 1 May 10:00 - 17:00

Shiplake Church Room,
Reading Road,
Shiplake Cross,
RG9 4BW   



20 Mar 2017

Summer School "Introduction to Silver Jewellery Making" at Missenden Abbey

Summer School at Missenden Abbey
To book, please click here for the Missenden School of Creative Arts website.

10th to 11th August 2017
Thursday to Friday
9:30 - 5:00pm on both days
This course aims to teach students the basic principles of jewellery making. You will start by learning how to use the basic tools required to make jewellery, such as the piercing saw, benchpeg, pliers, hammers, mandrels and torch. The first project, a ring, will guide you through the fundamental techniques of jewellery making, such as piercing, shaping, filing, sanding, hammering, soldering and finishing. Once your first project is completed, we will expand into texturing techniques using hammers and the rolling mill. We will discuss how to design and plan your second project and depending on what you make, we will cover other techniques of jewellery making. You will leave with at least two finished pieces of jewellery in either copper or silver. The tutor can advise you on further courses to take if you would like to continue making jewellery. If you have questions before the class starts, please email the tutor at machidewaard@gmail.com

8 Mar 2017

Events coming up!

I'm participating in the following:

Henley Arts Trail 29,30 April and 1 May
Venue 14 - Artists at Shiplake
Saturday 29 April 10:00 - 17:00   
Sunday 30 April 10:00 - 17:00
Monday 1 May 10:00 - 17:00

Shiplake Church Room,
Reading Road,
Shiplake Cross,
RG9 4BW             





Oxfordshire Artweeks 6 – 13th May
with JASSO 
10am-5pm
Peach Croft Farm
Twelve Acre Drive
Abingdon OX14 2HP
07905 362260






2 Mar 2017

Swivel Locket

In my classes, I showed how to make a simple swivel locket with a tube rivet. My students took up the challenge with a relish and inspired me to make one as well - in silver - as I only made it in copper before. Also, my sister had a baby girl, my first niece! So it was a perfect opportunity to make a locket - with a photo of my niece on one side and of my nephew on the other side (my sister's son). So....here's the result: sterling silver round locket with stamped "B" (for my sister's name) and a tube-set blue CZ (my sister's favourite colour). The locket is a about 18mm in diameter.