Make Your Own Jewellery

Cornwall has a rich history of arts and crafts. With a history of tin and mineral mining, there are a lot of workshops where artisans are designing and making beautiful jewellery.

If you're looking for a new income, or want to indulge in a hobby, then why not combine a trip to Cornwall with a weekend or short course to make your own jewellery.

There are quite a few make your own jewellery courses in Cornwall, so I've spent some time bringing them together for you, so you can see what jewellery courses are available in Cornwall.

With courses for everybody, from beginners to professionals, maybe you'll find jewellery courses that fit in with your schedule.

Make Your Own Jewellery Courses include:

• Beginners Silverworking
• Introduction to Chainmaille
• Metal Clay
• Stone Setting
• Tiara Making
• Soldering
• Make Your Own Wedding Ring
• Hen Weekend (one day, min 8 people)

There's even a 10 day Diploma in Silver Metal Clay Proficiency, a course that's recognised by the PMC Guild.

Prices seem to be £100-£120/day, but courses do include some quite expensive materials, which are always provided.

There's even a course on photographing your jewellery, which is quite essential if you're learning jewellery making in order to sell it.

The Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery seem to have the most comprehensive set of make your own jewelry courses available, which can lead to a teaching qualification if you wish, or various Diplomas. So it's not just a course you go on and then are stuck on how to proceed. You could plot your entire route with their courses, from beginner through to producing high quality work and selling it as an income.

Address: Treesmill Farm, Tywardreath, Par, Cornwall, PL24 2TX

Website: http://www.mcsj.co.uk/

This company used to be in Falmouth, but are now based in Penarth near Cardiff, Wales.

They used to offer fused glass jewellery courses in Falmouth - a 2-day jewellery making course costing £240 + VAT, delivered at Jubilee Wharf, Unit 2, Commercial Road, Penryn, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR10 8FG

Website: http://www.glassbydesign.co.uk

Courses in metal casting are run by Paul Spencer, who established his pewter workshop in 1995. With no equipment, he first had to make all the machinery he needed, before he started.

Paul Spencer runs open studios, where you can create your own jewellery item. You can either replicate something in Paul's range, or design your own piece. These open studio sessions run for three hours and are by appointment only.

Make Your Own Jewellery Courses include:

• One Day Metal Casting Course - create your own trinket box
• One Day Metal Casting Course - create your own bangle and earrings.
  

Courses run from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays.

Website: http://www.jubileewharf.co.uk/workshops/glass-design

Week long beading courses in St Ives, Cornwall. All courses have a maximum of 10 students.

Make Your Own Jewellery Courses include:

• Beaded Jewellery for Beginners
• Mastering Beading Stitches
• Beaded Bracelets
  

You can choose to book a course as residential or non-residential. Non-residential courses cost £225/week, or £50/day for 1-day courses. With the residential courses, the additional cost is about £250/week for the accommodation, based on sharing a room. Alternatively, you can simply book the course and make your own accommodation booking near by.

Address: Bay Beading & Textile Breaks, Chartwell, Belyars Lane, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2BZ

Website:http://www.beadingandtextiles.co.uk/

Sara Drew runs courses in vintage jewellery making and make your own tiara courses. These courses are booked at a variety of venues across Cornwall. On most of the courses, all materials, coffee/biscuits and lunch are provided.

Some of Sara Drew's courses are run at the Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery. She also holds occasional courses in Mayfair, London and at Bedruthan Hotel and The Scarlet, Newquay.

Sara Drew appeared in the 'Coast' programme on the television, foraging for beach rubbish to turn into jewellery.

Make Your Own Jewellery Courses include:

• Make Your Own Tiara
• Vintage Jewellery Xmas Presents
• Make Your Own Recycled Jewellery

One day courses run from 10am-4pm and cost roughly £45-50, depending on the materials used and the location. The recycled jewellery workshop starts with foraging on the beach for items to turn into jewellery. Lunch is often included in the price. Venues tend to be top quality hotels in good locations.

Website: http://www.sarahdrew.com

If you're starting your own business making jewellery, then you'll be wanting to sell it.  Ways you can sell your handmade jewellery are any combination of the following:

• At local markets
• Supplying local shops, paying them a commission on sales, or having them order stock from you
• Online through ebay
  
• Set up your own website, you'll need to be able to take online payments
  
• Through sites like Etsy, which is an online shop where you upload your products for sale and they handle all the online payments for you.
  

I'm sure you've got in mind what method you think will work best for you - but it's worth considering giving the others a go too - your own jewellery range could really take off!

I managed to find a weekend course run by Cornwall Adult Education Service. Locations vary across Cornwall. Cost appears to be £21. These make your own jewellery courses are one-day apiece and run on weekdays and at the weekend.

Make Your Own Jewellery Courses include:

• Silver Clay Jewellery Beginners Course
• Dichroic and Fused Glass Jewellery Beginners

Cornwall Adult Education Service course dates change all the time, so you'd need to get in touch with them to find out when/where any make your own jewellery courses were running.