Are you a part-time jeweller and want to keep building your skills-set? Can't commit to a full term? Would you like advice or guidance with a tricky soldering join? No sweat! Your skilled tutor will always be there to calmly help you get the most out of your day at The Bench.

Whether you are here for the atmosphere, hooked on making or passionate about jewellery, there is no lesson plan here, but a tutor will always be on site for trouble shooting and/ or bouncing ideas.

Winter Wearables was designed to be a flexible way for you to learn, make and create your way!

When: Saturday 10:30am – 1:30pm
Duration: 4 weeks (12 hours)
Class size: Maximum 8
Cost: $330

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ABOUT THE COURSE

Prerequisite

This opportunity is for competent students who have completed a minimum of Stage 1 Introductory Jewellery Making or equivalent. If unsure, please discuss with The Bench prior to booking.

Course Objectives

These Saturday sessions are there to help you make your jewellery projects with the support of an experienced professional jeweller. It is a great way to hone your skills and grow your jewellery confidence. We will not be teaching specialist techniques in this class - for example if you wish to create a stone set piece and have never attended a class in setting stones, we will not be covering it. In a class where each student brings their own projects, there will not be time to demonstrate specialist techniques which you aren’t familiar with. You may prefer to enrol in one of our specialist courses that cover stone setting, lost wax casting, sand casting etc.

It is expected that you are already familiar and have been inducted on jewellery equipment in our workshop. If you are new to The Bench, please arrange to arrive earlier for OH&S induction. You must be reasonably competent at basic jewellery making. The tutor can be available for questions and assistance.

Course Outcomes

The Bench provides this class for you to work on your own projects which you may need guidance with. Should you wish to discuss ideas or troubleshoot, please don’t hesitate to get in touch prior to arrival and confirm that what you need can be provided.

What’s Included

You have access to a wide inventory of hand tools, bench tools and equipment. All consumables and base metal to make your work. A selection of materials and consumables will be available to buy from your tutor at cost price. (Please bring cash for any purchases). If you are working with gold, you are required to supply your own gold solder. If you require specific tools, equipment or material, please contact jewellery@thebench.sydney to arrange.

You will need to liaise with The Bench prior to attendance. We will make sure your projects are suitable for these sessions and that all materials required are arranged ahead of time.

The Tutor: Erin Keys

Erin Keys has over 20 years experience as a jeweller, designer and educator with a diverse range of achievements in various facets of craft and design. Participating in nearly 100 exhibitions in Australia and overseas since 1999, her practice spans one-off exhibition pieces, bespoke commissions and a limited edition laser cut production range available through several stockists.

Erin has taught beginner to advanced jewellery courses at Sturt Summer School, JamFactory, SquarePeg Studios and is currently a sessional teacher at UNSW Art & Design.

For the past 10 years Erin has had extensive involvement with design and education, working as a Jewellery Design Developer for over 5 years at one of Australia's leading design companies Dinosaur Designs and for Louise Olsen X ALEX AND TRAHANAS. Erin is currently the senior production jeweller at Sydney fine jewellery label Babyanything.

The Workshop

The Bench is a modern, light filled, industry standard workshop focusing on education and training. It is a relaxed and friendly place to learn traditional and contemporary jewellery techniques, a space to develop ideas and projects such as ring making, silver jewellery and stone setting gems. We provide concept based jewellery classes to the absolute beginner, the aspiring maker and to the professional jeweller.

The Bench is a safe working and learning environment, complete with a wide inventory of tools and equipment, such as Vaniman polishing extraction, enamelling kiln, fume cabinets, micromotors, soldering torches, rolling mill, tumbler, ultrasonic and more.

Location

The Bench acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of our land – Australia. The Bench acknowledges the Gadigal of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of this place we now call Sydney.

The Bench is located at the exquisite historic site, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square, and is easily accessed by bus, train (Green Square Station), ride or walk.

The Bench cultivates inclusive, creative and accessible spaces for everyone to have the opportunity to feel safe and welcomed.

The building has full wheelchair accessibility, ramp access from street and park entrances, internal lift for access to upper levels and a unisex accessible toilet on each level.

THE BENCH, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre
3A Joynton Ave, Zetland NSW 2017

Additional notes

All the tools you need are available at the venue; including an apron. Please bring any materials required to undertake or complete your project. You may want to buy further materials from our metal suppliers – your tutor will provide you with supplier.

For health and safety reasons, please bring along with you the following

Hair tie: If you have long hair, please bring along something to tie it back with
Closed in shoes: We will be working with hot, sharp and heavy tools, so please wear shoes, which will protect your feet. Avoid wearing loose flowing garments.
Sketch book/note book/ pen and/or pencil: Please bring along a notebook for your own notes and design ideas. Notes will be provided to complement the techniques you will be learning but you may wish to make your own notes.
Remember: If you use glasses for reading and /or close up work please remember to bring them along.

Book your course

Questions?

Email us at: jewellery@thebench.sydney
or call us on: 0406 794 112