Foraged Jewellery Making
Workshop with Sarah Drew
Friday 17 January 2025, 10.30am - 4.30pm
£90
Venue: MAKE Southwest
Suitable for: Adults
Level: Beginners
Join MAKE Southwest Maker Member, Sarah Drew, to forage for seeds, twigs, feathers, moss and lichen in the local woods to bring back to the gallery to make into contemporary jewellery you’ll love wearing every day…
We’ll have a go at simple soldering techniques so we can make a silver bangle and riveted ring each, showcasing your found treasures. We’ll also cover useful stringing and textile techniques to combine the found materials to make statement necklaces, bangles and earrings.
Workshop participants will come away with a silver bangle and riveted ring each, and potentially a textiles jewellery piece depending on time.
All material costs are covered in the ticket price.
Please wear clothes and footwear suitable for cold and wet weather as the first part of the workshop will take place outside in foraging for woodland items to incorporate into your jewellery!
Use early bird discount code EB-DEC-10 for 10% off if you book before 19 December!
About Sarah
Every coat I have has pockets full of things: I hear shells rattling about with bits of plastic when I pull one on to face the school run, I fiddle with acorn cups while I'm waiting for a flat white in my local cafe; I scrunch up bits of lichen and tangled sea-string while I'm trying to find my gloves.
I am and always have been a bit of a collector: not of high value, status-ridden things that you have to be careful with. Just little, curious, quirky things that are everywhere in everybody's everyday life. I just like to pick them up, look at them and put them in my pocket. Then I like to make them into jewellery later…
So I make contemporary, definitely eclectic jewellery from found objects (driftwood, sea plastic, sea glass and slate pebbles) combined with semi-precious stones and pearls linked together with chunky hammered eco-silver chains, delicate crocheted fine silver and fused silver focal pieces. I’m lucky enough to live in Cornwall and I love spending time outdoors in the fresh air on local beaches and in the woods, collecting curious things…
Using recycled materials, remaking old broken jewellery or basically ‘rubbish’ in this way is a sustainable way of creating unique pieces that aren’t a strain on new resources and whose material components are traceable. I’ve started setting traceable boulder opals from Australia in eco-gold and eco-silver for magically coloured statement rings and pendants; and I’ve been collecting amethysts, aquamarine and other crystals from local sites Cornish crystal claw-set rings and pendants.
Part of the Green Maker Initiative Season
Throughout November, December and January we’ll be celebrating our Green Maker Initiative (GMI) Season; hosting events, workshops and exhibitions themed around the natural world and championing sustainable craft.
Find out more HERE.
On the Day
All tools and materials will be provided. Please wear clothes and footwear suitable for cold and wet weather as the first part of the workshop will take place outside in foraging for woodland items to incorporate into your jewellery!
Tea, coffee and biscuits are included and will be available on the day. Our Café is also open should you wish to purchase other refreshments during the workshop - all participants receive a 10% discount voucher for food and drink purchased on the day and to use in our shop.
On arrival, please make your way to the side gate of the Riverside Mill, through the courtyard and up the stone stairs on the side of the building. Please let us know if you require the lift.
Please be aware that you cannot use the Co-op car park for all day parking. The Methodist Church car park and Station Road car park usually have plenty of spaces. Click here for more information on our location and car parking for the day.
View MAKE Southwest's Cancellation Policy, HERE.