Holiday itinerary
Set in the beautiful countryside of Aveyron, this beautifully restored farmhouse is the setting for your week long jewellery making course in France.
Under the guidance of your English host Karen, you’ll learn to use the different jewellery making tools to create your own unique pieces including earrings, silver charm bracelets, necklaces, Byzantine Bracelets and rings.
You’ll spend 6 days in a jewellery making workshop learning many skills and making lots of different pieces but your hosts make sure you also have time to kick back and relax at this rural retreat.
Combining fun hands-on jewellery making lessons with a relaxing environment and friendly hosts, this residential jewellery making course promises to get your creative juices flowing.
Suitability
- Suitable for beginners and those that have dabbled with jewellery making in the past
- Suitable for beginners and those wishing to expand their existing skills
- These courses make great singles holidays, singles can travel and have their own room with NO supplements
- Your hosts are English speakers
Jewellery Making Course Start Days
- Courses start on set dates year round
- If you can’t find the date you want, we can request additional dates for you so please call us on 08445 020445 or email us at with your preferred date of arrival
- Courses run for 7 nights / 8 days
Jewellery Making Course Itineray
Day 1 – Arrival day
- You’ll be collected from Rodez airport or train station (other airport collections on request for a supplement) and on the drive to La Vidalerie, you’ll take in some sightseeing and a chance to visit the supermarket for supplies (this is dependant on supermarket opening times)
- Evening Meal - You can pre-book dinner with your hosts (15E) or your evening is free to make your own arrangements for dinner
Day 2 – Earrings & Wire Wrapping - How to make perfect wire wrapped loops and earrings
- Following breakfast, you’ll head to the farmhouse table to start your jewellery making lessons focusing today on making earrings and a silver and semi-precious bracelet
- You’ll spend the day and learning how to make perfect wire wrapped loops and dangles (used in all types of jewellery making) and making earrings. You'll also learn how to make findings including designing your own ear wires to fit in with your earring designs, making spiral head pins and using a torch to make balled headpins.
- There will also be a discussion on selling tips if you wish to learn how to sell jewellery once back home
- Each evening is free to make your own arrangements for dinner, or transport is provided to the nearby village if you wish to visit a local restaurant
Day 3 – Successful Stringing
- After breakfast you will learn how to use silver crimps and crimping pliers correctly so your strung bracelets and necklaces don't come apart, we'll make a bracelet and design and make a co-ordinating sterling silver clasp and make a necklace incorporating handmade silver dangles. We'll also discuss the different types of bead stringing wire so you understand which one to use for which projects.
- After lunch you can finish your morning's projects and maybe make some matching earrings
Day 4 – Wire Rings & Bangles
- After breakfast you’ll learn to make many different designs of wire rings including ones using silver plated wire, copper wire and semi precious stones
- After lunch we will make some very pretty bangles using silver plated wire and Swarovski crystals.
Day 5 – Rest Day
- A chance to relax or practice the skills you have learnt - Sightseeing may be arranged for a small supplement
Day 6 - Charm Bracelet & Wire Rings
- After breakfast you’ll start work on making a sterling silver charm bracelet, this will be polished over lunch (tumble polishing will be explained and demonstrated).
- After lunch you can continue designing your charm bracelet, adding, semi-precious beads, Swarovski crystals or freshwater pearls
Day 7 - Chainmail - Byzantine or Shaggy Loops Bracelet
- After breakfast you’ll spend the morning getting an introduction to chain mail as you learn to make a copper Byzantine Bracelet (with an option of making a heavier bracelet or lighter version including semi-precious stones in your design) or Shaggy Loops Bracelet - this is great practice for perfecting your opening/closing jump ring skills essential in making jewellery. You'll also have the option to make a really pretty silver & glass bead shaggy loops pendant on hand finished silver chain.
- After lunch the afternoon is free to either finish off your projects and Tim will give you tips on photographing your jewellery
Day 8
- After breakfast, guests are asked to check out of their room and you can enjoy some free time in Rodez before being taken to the airport or train station for your trip home
What Will I Learn?
- About the different types of jewellery making tools
- How to use the tools to create your own jewellery
- Bead stringing and how to use crimps & clasps
- Working with silver and silver plated
- Designing and making earrings including how to make your own ear wires
- How to make clasps and more
- Beading techniques
- An introduction to chain mail
- Making wire rings
- Making and designing a Byzantine Bracelet
- Making a sterling silver charm bracelet and charms
- Stamping techniques, using copper to make words and symbols
- Making findings and headpins
- You can also try a taster silver soldering session and make a sterling silver ring (included in price)
Jewellery Making Course Accommodation & Meals
- This tastefully converted cottage has just 2 twin/double guest rooms located in the attic with stunning views
- Rooms are decorated with good quality white cotton sheets, TV with DVD and easy chair and the cottage boasts a kitchen and cozy lounge area with log fire for use by the guests
- There is one bathroom that is shared between the two rooms with a good shower and plenty of hot water
- Breakfast is included daily
- Lunch is included on the 6 jewellery workshop days
- Vegetarians can be catered for
- Wi-fi is unavailable in the area
- Your hosts have cats who are not allowed in guest designated areas
Don’t Have Much Time Or Want To Specialise?
- If you are short on time, we also offer weekend jewellery making courses and speciality courses including making your own tiaras or silversmithing courses, click on the links to view these courses
Pursue your passion for jewellery and learn to make your own unique pieces for yourself and your friends and family on this unique jewellery making course in France and bring home a wide range of jewellery making skills that will stay with you long after the learning holiday is over.