Bead Threading - Contemporary & Traditional Techniques - an intensive one-day workshop with professional jeweller Penny Davis. 

Spend an enjoyable and informative day learning to design and make beautiful bead jewellery, and widening your jewellery skills.  Ideal if you work with mouldable metal clay to make silver jewellery, or if you make beaded jewellery at home and want to learn a wider range of stringing techniques.

During the session you will get the opportunity to practice a variety of techniques used in making bead bracelets and necklaces.  Through a process of making a range of sample bracelets (useful for reference later on), you’ll learn all about the different threading materials, and findings, and practice the techniques of threading and knotting that will allow you to make and design beautiful, professional-quality bead jewellery.

After completing the samples, there will be an opportunity to focus on one of the techniques you've learnt, in order to make a project necklace to your own design.

Techniques covered during this workshop include:
•    Use of tigertail and crimps
•    Use of calottes
•    Use of leather crimps
•    Use of gimp and thread
•    Knotting and threading.

There will also be an opportunity to discuss existing necklaces with the tutor if you wish to get any advice or suggestions, so bring along bead threading projects you're working on or would like help with.

All the tools and materials will be provided to make the sample bracelets, including basic beads and base metal findings. 

For the necklace project, we recommend that you bring some beads along with you to make your necklace with.  These can either be loose beads or strung, semi-precious, polymer clay, ceramic, Swarovski crystal, pearl, plastic or a combination - the sky's the limit! The tutor does carry beads for sale if any student wishes to purchase them, and there will also be a small range of sterling silver findings available for sale.

This workshop runs from 10am-5pm, with an hour's break for lunch, and is limited to eight students to ensure plenty of individual attention from the tutor.  The workshop is suitable for beginners and those with some experience.