Your cart

Workshops

FM Silversmithing and Jewellery Studio
330 Main Street East, Merrickville, Ontario

All workshops are held at FM Silversmithing and Jewellery Studio in the historical village of Merrickville located on the Rideau Canal system, a UNESCO world heritage site.

All workshops are taught by Fiona Macintyre in small groups in a comfortable studio setting. Come for a half day of learning new skills, leaving with your own new silver jewellery and then spend the rest of the day exploring Merrickville’s quaint shops, restaurants and artists’ studios.

Upcoming Metalsmithing Workshops for 2019

Cuttlefish Casting:

Sat. Mar. 9, 2019: 1-4 pm
Wed. Aug. 7, 2019: 1-4 pm

Cuttlefish bones have been used for centuries in jewellery casting. The soft interior of the bone can be carved easily with a variety of tools to form a mold. Using a melting torch, silver grains are melted and poured into the mold resulting in a desirable shape with an interesting texture. Ideal for making pendants, rings or lucky charms! For larger designs you can recycle your own old silver pieces and give them new life!
$110 + HST

Pierce and Planish:

Wed. Sept. 4, 2019: 1-4 pm
Wed. Oct. 9, 2019: 1-4 pm
Sat. Dec. 14, 2019: 10-1 pm

Make a personalized pendant and matching earrings in this 3 hour workshop. You will design your own shapes to cut out or "pierce" using a jeweller's saw, continuing with filing and sanding. Adding a texture using hammers (called "planishing") will create an eye-catching surface on your silver pieces. A final polish will make them sparkle!
$135 + HST

Stacking or Band Ring Making:

Sat. Jan. 26, 2019: 10-1 pm
Wed. July 3, 2019: 1-4 pm
Sat. Sept. 14, 2019: 10-1 pm
Sat. Oct. 26, 2019: 10-1 pm

In this three hour workshop you will learn the basics of jewellery fabrication including sawing, forming, soldering, filing, sanding and finishing to create either 2 stacking rings or 1 band ring in sterling silver. Rings may be stamped with letters or hammered for a textured finish. You will leave with a silver ring or two that you can wear proudly! No experience necessary, beginners welcome.
$95 + HST

Wax Carving to Metal Creation:

Part One:
Sat. May 4, 2019: 1-4 pm
Part Two:
Sun. May 19, 2019: 1-4 pm

or...

Part One:
Sat. Aug. 10, 2019: 10-1 pm
Part Two:
Sat. Aug. 24, 2019: 10-1 pm

or...

Part One:
Sat. Nov. 2, 2019: 10-1 pm
Part Two:
Sat. Nov. 23, 2019: 1-4 pm

This is a two-part workshop. Part One is three hours of carving wax models for a pendant, ring or earrings using a variety of different tools. All materials provided. Bring an image or sketch along for reference if you like. The wax models will be cast in silver off-site.
Part Two involves returning to the studio for two hours for 'casting clean-up'. At this time you will learn proper filing, sanding and polishing techniques to finish your pieces. You will also learn how to attach them to chain, earring hooks etc., leaving with a wearable piece of your own creation! Pricing is based on up to 10 grams of sterling silver.
$150 + HST

Solder and Spin:

Sat. Feb. 16, 2019: 1-4 pm
Sat. July 13, 2019: 10-1 pm

Spinner Bands! This class suits those who have already completed a stacking and band ring workshop. Furthering your new knowledge and skills in soldering, sizing and finishing rings, you will create a band ring overlaid with 1-2 inner "spinner" bands. Planished textures or other surface treatments are an option. Great for fidgety people!
$110 + HST

Bezel Setting Rings or Pendant:

Sat. Apr. 20, 2019: 10-3 pm
Sat. July 13, 2019: 10-3 pm
Wed. Nov. 6, 2019: 10-3 pm

Create a silver ring or pendant with a round or oval stone. A local Lapidary expert will be on hand to provide information and sales of her hand cut cabochon stones.
$150 + HST

Forged Bangles:

Sat. June 22, 2019: 1-4 pm
Sat. Oct. 12, 2019: 10-1 pm

Make one thick or two thin bangle bracelets customized to fit your wrist. Added textures and stamping optional.
$140 + HST

 

Please feel free to contact me to book your attendance in any of the workshops listed here or with any questions for FM Design.