Pod Jewellery Making Workshops

Gorgeous stacker rings made by Fiona in the Intensive Beginners Jewellery Short Course. You can see a progress shot of these in the previous post.

Stacker rings just after they’ve been soldered and have come out of the pickle pot, and right before popping them on a mandrel to make them round. In the next post, you’ll see how incredible these look finished.

I love mixing metals and we’ve been doing a lot of it lately. This yellow gold, rose gold and sterling silver spinner ring was made by Jane in the two-day Intensive Beginners Jewellery Short Course. I’m a little obsessed with these at the moment. But you don’t have to make a spinner ring, you can also make a set of stacker rings or a nice big chunky ring band. The choice is yours and everyone makes something different.

Fiona travelled from Geelong for the Intensive Beginners Jewellery Short Course. These earrings are just one of the incredible pieces she made during the two days.

These silver stacker rings are some of the many pieces of jewellery made in the Intensive Beginners Jewellery Short Course by talented up-and-coming maker @sloane_jewellery .

Penny made this sterling silver pendant with concealed bail in the Intensive Beginners Jewellery Short Course. She used one of the pattern stamps to create this lovely texture.

Another stunning spinner ring made by Penny in the Intensive Beginners Jewellery Short Course. These courses have been booked our for some time, so I’ve added some additional dates in July. Classes are limited to three people, everything is supplied including lunch both days. You’ll leave with lots of new skills and three-four pieces of your own handmade original pieces of silver jewellery.

Day two of the Intensive Beginners Jewellery Short Course and this is one of four pieces made by Justyne from Geelong. This ring is made from sterling silver, and 9ct yellow and rose gold. It’s super delicious. ❤️

These silver drop earrings were made by Penny from Colac. She embossed a feather into silver using a rolling mill and then oxidised the piece to enhance the pattern. This was one of two pieces she made on day one of the Intensive Beginners Jewellery Short Course.

Three completely different silver spinners on this ring, including one that has been twisted by hand. All wrapped around a rolling mill textured ring. It’s gorgeous. Made by Del in the Intensive Beginners Jewellery Short Course. We have more time to make more complex rings on the second day of this workshop. So much fun!

One of the earrings made by Del in the first day of the Intensive Beginners Jewellery Making Short Course. Love the hand stamped pattern.

A rolling mill textured silver spinner ring made by Netta on day 2 of the Intensive Beginners Jewellery Making Short Course. We’ve covered an enormous amount of skills over the past two days including sawing, filing, annealing, soldering, using a rolling mill, measuring materials, hammer texturing, oxidising, saw piercing, finishes, packaging, pricing, selling, marketing, suppliers and much more. I think we were all a little tired in the end, but it was so much fun. 😃🤯🥱😴

Can’t wait to see how this stunner turns out. It was made in today’s Stone Setting in Wax Workshop and is heading to Melbourne tomorrow to be cast. It’s set with swarovski crystals and cubic zirconias, which will be cast in place.

This stunner was made by JJ in the Stone Setting in Wax Workshop. This workshop is really popular and so much fun. At the end if the workshop, you’ll take home several stone set rings you’ve created during the 1.5 days spent on the studio.

Isabella made these two rings in the Stone Setting in Wax Workshop. The yellow stone on the right was cast in place and the ring on the left was cast and then set with a raw piece of fluorite. Two completely differently styles of setting made in the same workshop.

One of two great rings made by Tina in the Stone Setting in Wax Workshop. This ring was made with wax and set with three facetted sapphires that were then cast in place.

Lisa carved these two rings from wax. The bottom ring was cast in silver and then Gypsy set with two green sapphires. The top ring was set with a oval synthetic tourmaline into the wax and this was then cast into place. Two different types of setting, both with stunning results.

Life has changed so much for everyone since this was taken. These great hands made some beautiful gold and silver rings last month. This was the last workshop held in Pod Studio a few weeks before the Covid-19 shutdown. It seems so long ago. ❤️

Friends Bahar and Hannah made these beautiful 9ct yellow gold rings in the last Silver Ring Workshop in March. You can make your piece from gold in any of the workshops. Just let us know a few weeks before the workshop date, so the gold can be ordered in.

George and Amelia made these silver rings in a private workshop this afternoon. They’re spending the long weekend doing classes, eating out and travelling around our beautiful region. I have to say I’m a little envious. It was lovely to spend the afternoon with them and I ❤️ these rings with matching textures.

Some of the rings made in today’s Silver Ring Workshop. There are two spaces available in the one day Silver Ring Workshop next Sunday 8 February. If you’d like to learn to make your own unique silver ring, follow the link in the bio to book

Liz made this beautiful ring from round sterling silver wire. There’s such a huge selection of silver to choose from, so it’s always a nice surprise to see what each person chooses to make.

Sherryn made this ring in the Silver Ring Workshop. You get to make whatever you want in these classes, so Sherryn added three lines to her own design. I think it looks great!

How beautiful is this textured sterling silver thumb ring made by Shona? She worked so hard to make this ring. The thicker the metal, the harder it is to bend and it also needs a lot more solder to join it together. I think it was worth the effort. ❤️

Bettina made this sterling silver ring in a workshop with three of her friends. Loving that hammer textured surface.

Kyneton local Tayla made this sterling silver crescent moon ring in the Silver Ring Making Workshop last weekend. It’s super cute.

One of Del’s many talents is cake decorating. It’s a skill that is transferable into making wax jewellery. Love this ring she made in the Lost Wax Silver Ring Workshop.

Lucy carved this ring from wax and it was then cast in silver. Today she cleaned it up and hand-stamped it with the name of her little baby daughter Minnie. ❤️👏🏻🥰

his gorgeous little cat was carved months ago by the very talented @georgianajanearcher in the Stone Setting in Wax Workshop. I’ve finally had the chance to have this cast in sterling silver. Georgiana is now living in Tassie but will be back at some stage to set some gemstone eyes in this amazing piece. ❤️💎

This is one of the rings made by Therese in the Lost Wax Silver Ring Workshop. She used wax wire to create the pattern and oxidised the ring once it was cast in silver. ❤️

Naomi has some experience making jewellery but hadn’t worked with wax before. I’m loving her first creation.

This is Darcy’s first lost wax creation. This silver ring was made from two pieces of wax that were joined together prior to casting. I’m sure this is the first of many pieces Darcy will be creating.

Fiona made herself and her partner a set of beautiful textured gold and silver stacker rings. These rings were made from wax and cast in silver and yellow gold. The results are stunning. I have serious ring envy.

This chunky silver ring has been in my studio for the past two years waiting for Claire to visit again from Perth to finish it off. This ring reminds me of a facetted silver crystal. This ring was carved in wax and then cast in sterling silver. You can made a huge range of jewellery using this technique.

Here’s another little stack of deliciousness made by Fiona in the Lost Wax Workshop. These rings are nice and solid, and the pattern looks fantastic. I’m sure her partner will love them. I’m running a special January Lost Wax Workshop. If you’re taking a break in Jan, then this might be a good opportunity to learn some new skills and take home your stack of deliciousness.

These are some of the many pieces made in the Lost Wax Silver Ring Workshop on Sunday. Students came make as many pieces as they like in the workshop. Some will be cast in silver and a couple in 9ct gold. I’m on the train to Melbourne and finally had a chance to photograph these sitting on the tray table before they are cast later today.

Two of the three rings made by Ngaire from Stawell. This wrapped wire was first made from wax and cast in sterling silver. They look so good.

Hammer textured sterling silver wax carved ring made by Bec (great name) in the Lost Wax Silver Ring Workshop. This workshop is two half days, if you can’t make the second day, you can join the second half of another wax class. They run every month.

Ngaire made this flower ring in the Lost Wax Silver Ring Workshop. It’s incredible what you can do with wax

It’s mesmerising watching the process of oxidising these hammer textured silver earrings. I love how this product instantly oxidises.

Margaret was a little worried about her sawing skills but as you can see, she nailed it. Fully handmade in the Half Day Silver Earring/Pendant Workshop. Interested? Click on the link in my bio now.

Cassie brought her sister and mum along to a Silver Earring Workshop for their birthdays. She made these minimal triangle stud earrings that sit neatly on the earlobe. Love these.

Donna came the long way from Bombala in NSW, due to the bushfires to learn to make jewellery. These earrings and another equally stunning pair were made in a three hour private workshop. Pretty amazing skills if you ask me. She also made a silver ring in a group workshop the day before, so she’ll be heading home with new jewellery and new skills!

These earrings are the size of 50 cent pieces. They were embossed using vintage lace, domed and then the black oxidisation was added. Kelly made these is the silver earring workshop this morning. They’re a great pair of one-of-a-kind earrings.

14 year old Piper was given this workshop by her dad for Christmas. She made these embossed silver earrings in the Half Day Silver Earring Workshop.

Not only is Cindy a Professor, she’s also pretty handy with a jewellers saw. She whipped these up in the Half Day Silver Earring Workshop. It’s so hard to photograph shiny things, so my photos don’t do justice to her beautiful earrings.

These layered silver drop earrings have been hammered and polished, and were made in private workshop by a lovely mum with her daughters on a few days away.

These earrings made by Annie are stunning. Love the organic hand sawn shape. These were made in the half day Silver Earring Workshop.

Hammer textured sterling silver studs made by Nicole in the Half Day Silver Earring Workshop. As with most Pod Jewellery workshops, you can make what you want.

These beautiful oxidised sterling silver earrings were handmade by Kate in todays Design Your Own Silver Earrings Workshop.

Leslie made these lovely drop earrings with a stud back in the Design Your Own Silver Earrings Workshop today.

These earrings were made on Saturday in the half day Silver Earring Making Workshop. Choose your shape, add a texture (or not) and then finish by brushing, oxidising or polishing. It's great fun and you walk away with a pair of earrings that are unique and made by you!

The finished sterling silver earrings, designed and handmade by @eloise.forbes in the Design Your Own Silver Earrings Workshop.

It’s time to celebrate each time we open the mould and see that the casting has worked.

Carmel carved a ring from wax and added a gumnut to her piece, which she then sandcast in silver. The other piece was cast from a piece of coral and will be set into a ring. There is so much detail visible in each piece.

We made lots of moulds yesterday in the Sandcasting workshop. I’m fascinated by all the objects that can be cast using delft clay. It so much fun melting and casting the metal.

Casting keys was a challenge but well worth it. Once cleaned up, this so going to look stunning as a pendant.

It’s so much fun to melt down scrap sterling silver and use it to create something new. If you’d like to learn to cast your own metal, consider joining a cuttlefish casting or Sandcasting workshop. Both are super fun and you’ll leave with a piece of jewellery and some new skills.

You can bring your own gold to make your wedding rings.

Anthony and Kamila met in Poland three years ago. Anthony is Australian with Polish heritage and Kamila is Polish. They spent the day cleaning up and melting down their gold nuggets, turning it into 14ct gold, carving a pair of wedding rings from wax, creating a sand mould, casting their rings and polishing them up. It was a huge day and they left with two super impressive solid gold wedding rings to take with them to Poland for their wedding next year. 🇵🇱🇦🇺❤️💍

Kiran and Karl are halfway through their private wedding ring workshop. Karl is carving Kiran’s ring from wax in a shape that it fits around her engagement ring. This will be cast in platinum. Kiran made Karl’s wedding band from white gold. We will be meeting up again in a couple of weeks to finish these rings off.

I whipped up this wedding ring for a last minute wedding that’s taking place next week. It’s incredible the different look you can achieve by oxidising a ring.

Freshly cast cuttlefish. The silver has hardened but is still red hot. Florencia and Luke flew down from Sydney to learn some new skills. Along with cuttlefish casting, they also carved some wax pieces, which will be cast in silver and posted back to them in Sydney.

The finished cuttlefish pendants made by Florencia and Luke from Sydney.

9ct rose gold hammer textured ring with a matt finish made by Shantelle in the Silver Ring Workshop.

Anny brought alone these racing pigeon leg rings and added them to the bangle she made in the Silver Bangle Workshop. Love the colour of these. It’s incredible the things you can use to make jewellery.

The studio deep clean is finally finished and classes start again tomorrow. I took the opportunity to rearrange the studio and I finally have a pace to store all of the tools and equipment. Most workshops are fully booked until September and I’m now also holding weekday workshops. You can see dates and workshops by following the link in the bio.

New micro motors arrived in the studio this week. These new drills will allow me to teach setting workshops and more advanced Lost Wax techniques.

George used a Fretz planishing hammer to add this facetted hammer texture to the silver ring he made for his partner Amelia.

Ever wondered how we make rings perfectly round?After the ring has been soldered, we slide it onto ring mandrel and then hammer it with a poly mallet. The mallet won’t damage the metal but it will move it. Depending on the thickness of the metal, we can also make a ring larger using this technique.

Shona apply that lonely hammered textured to her sterling silver ring.