I’ve just come back from a fun weekend, taking part in a jewellery course at Plas Tan y Bwlch – the beautiful Snowdonia National Park Environmental Studies Centre with stunning views of the valley of the River Dwyryd. (click on Plas Tan y Bwlch for more information about other interesting course that they have there)
Run by Stephen O’Keeffe it was a great way of recapping many basic jewellery skills that I’d learnt many years ago at Brighton Uni as well as some new techniques that I was very keen to learn about, such as setting stones. Stephen, with his years of experience teaching jewellery making gave us many useful tips to make things easier and was also great at showing us how to make many special jigs and tools to help keep our budgets down. Working on a number of projects, I got to set my first cabachon – a skill that I’m excited about being able to use in my one off pieces in the future.
The nine of us on the course were lucky to be doing it in the wood panelled library – a fine space with beautiful views. The tables were a little bit wobbly to be hammering on but we managed ok!
It was great to get out of the workshop for a bit, meet some lovely new people, learn some new things and eat lots of good food. I now feel ready to get back to my orders…almost…
Louise Hibbert 