All pieces shown in the images above were made by beginners during my silver workshops
This zoom workshop will take place from 6.30pm till 10-10.30pm on Saturday November 29th
In this workshop I'll teach you how to take fresh leaves, seedheads, flowers and shells you may have found on nature walks or in your garden, and make them into truly beautiful pendants.
During the first 30-45 minutes of the workshop I'll explain how time spent in green spaces (such as when you gather nature finds to cast in silver for this workshop) and time spent creatively alter our brain biochemistry to improve mental health and why these pathways were laid down in the brains of our ancestors. I'll give you compelling scientifically-backed reasons why it can really help us in modern life to increase the amount of time we spend among trees and plants and the time we spend making things by hand.
For the remainder of the the workshop I'll demonstrate to you step by step how to use artclay silver to make intricately detailed jewellery pieces.
This process really is like modern-day alchemy, involving the transformation of dull-looking grey clay into gorgeous fine silver pieces that capture an incredible level of detail.
The method involves actual fire (a gas hob or camping stove) and brimstone (sulphurous compounds used to oxidise the pendants) so may induce the urge to wear a special witchy outfit.
Aswell as the 3.5-4 hours' teaching during the workshop via zoom you'll also have access to two extra videos that I'll upload to your curriculum:
1) How to repair broken pieces and recycle offcuts of Artclay silver
2) How to make a figure-of-eight attachment & earwires with sterling or silver-plated wire so you can make truly beautiful jewellery with your finished pieces.
The steps of the process I'll be teaching you:
Making your pendants
How to roll out your clay, cast your nature finds and ensure your piece can be used to make a necklace.
The secret to making several of the same design...
I share the secret to making more than one copy of a design you love, so you can give one to a pal.
Drying, smoothing and firing
How to finesse your pieces to make them pleasing to the eye and comfortable to wear and...how to set them on fire...
Polishing, oxidising and burnishing
Creating beautiful patina on your fired silver piece: an almost magical and very satisfying part of the process.
Constructing your necklace
Basic jewellery construction techniques to turn your beautiful silver pendant into a wearable necklace.
Materials and tools you'll need for this workshop
There's a special Emma Mitchell kit available in both the UK and US that offers 20% off all the materials you'll need to make your pieces (except a firing stove which is affordable and I'll send links for you).
The UK kit is here and
the US kit is here.
If you'd like it I have a budget kit list I can provide for you using the tools and household items I used for the first 10 years of my silver jewellery making.
I taught this exact process to Anita Rani on BBC Countryfile (see Twitter for a clip of that episode)
If you have any questions about this course, please send an email to: [emma at minniedog dot co dot uk]
expires 25th October
Emma Mitchell is an author, mental health advocate, naturalist, illustrator and designer-maker. She studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge, spent time in academia studying molecular cell biology and was an technology consultant in emerging technologies in Silicon Fen until 2008, when her struggles with depression and anxiety led her to begin writing about the positive impact of both nature and time spent creatively on mental health.
Emma has written and presented films for BBC Springwatch and appeared on BBC Countryfile, Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Ramblings. She is a Guardian Country Diarist and has contributed pieces on nature and mental health for the Times, Big Issue, inews & Psychologies magazine.
Workshops
Emma has been teaching creative workshops with a focus on mental health for more than a decade. She taught Anita Rani to cast yarrow in silver on BBC Countryfile and has taught classes at the Victoria & Albert museum, Cambridge University Botanic Gardens and Highgrove.
In Emma's classes students learn the techniques needed to make and draw beautiful things, but crucially she combines this with teaching the science that explains why and how spending time creatively can shift brain biochemistry to improve mental health.
