Description

Create your own nature-inspired silver jewellery in this one day workshop with silver clay jewellery expert Anna Campbell, Founder of Jewellery School Scotland.

Spend a full day exploring the beautiful possibilities of working with silver clay using botanicals to capture textures and shapes, mould-making, and crafting wearable pieces you’ll be proud to take home.

Whether you’re a complete beginner to working with silver clay or have some experience, this workshop gives you hands-on experience working with recycled fine silver clay, botanical textures and jewellery construction.

What is silver metal clay?

Silver clay is a material manufactured from 100% recycled silver, a plant-based organic binder and water. The silver is recycled from X-rays, the photographic industry, electronics, and so on. It can be moulded and shaped like clay. Once dry, it can be fired and that is when the alchemy happens - the clay turns to solid hallmark quality silver!

Over the course of this one-day workshop, you’ll complete three projects, each designed to introduce you to a key skill in botanical silver clay jewellery making. Along the way, you’ll learn the complete process - from preparing and working the silver clay, drying, firing and polishing - to finishing and wearing your jewellery.

Project 1. Create unique pieces rolling botanicals into the clay

Use grasses and leaves (we’ll supply a wide selection) or bring your own small botanical objects - to impress into the silver clay. You’ll roll out the clay, capture the texture, cut and shape, and begin to design your first piece (for example, earrings or a pendant charm).

Project 2. Make your own custom silicone mould and botanical silver clay charm

Learn how to create small silicone moulds to capture botanical items such as acorns, seed pods, and shells. You will then learn how to use your moulds with the silver clay to create a unique botanical charm. This technique lets you replicate textures and items, create your own repeatable shapes and expand your jewellery-making beyond the day.

Project 3. Hand-make botanical embellishments and assemble your pieces

We’ll explore making botanical elements (think leaves, small flowers) by hand from silver clay or using small moulds, and then constructing your pieces (earrings, charms or pendants) by combining these elements. We’ll cover how to add attachments such as jump rings and chains, so that your pieces are ready to wear.

Throughout the workshop, you’ll be guided step-by-step by Anna Campbell, one of the leading metal clay teachers in the UK, making this a fun and accessible class for complete beginners.

You’ll leave with three pieces of handmade jewellery, new skills, and a strong foundation in working with silver clay.

Whether you’re looking to try a new hobby, make gifts, or you have an eye on starting a jewellery business, this class is the perfect introduction to the exciting world of hallmark quality silver clay jewellery.

What to expect

A full-day workshop, 10am - 5pm (one hour lunch break)

All materials included: recycled silver clay, botanical objects, silicone mould-making materials, and findings (jump rings, earring wires etc). Chains are not included as many people already have their own, however we usually have a selection for sale at low prices on the day.

A relaxed, friendly creative atmosphere and expert guidance to support you throughout

You’ll leave with at least three finished pieces (earrings, charms, pendants) ready to wear, plus the skills to continue making your own botanical silver clay jewellery at home

Suitable for beginners: no prior experience required (we’ll guide you step-by-step).

Why this workshop?

Eco-friendly: the silver clay is 100% recycled silver, offering a more sustainable way to make beautiful jewellery.

Nature-inspired: using botanicals (twigs, leaves, seed pods, grasses, shells) gives your jewellery organic texture and character - perfect for botanical jewellery lovers.

Creative freedom: whether you want to make jewellery gifts, start a small jewellery business, or simply explore a new hobby, this workshop gives you the foundation and freedom to design your own pieces.

Complete process: you’ll see the jewellery-making journey through from start to finish - mould-making, shaping, firing, polishing, finishing - and leave with wear-ready pieces.

Continue making from home: silver clay jewellery making requires very few tools and can easily be done from your kitchen table (as you'll discover!)

Personalised keepsakes: bring your own small botanical objects if you wish (such as leaves, grasses, shells - see tips below) to make pieces that are uniquely yours.

Who is it for?

Anyone curious about silver clay jewellery making

Nature lovers and botanical jewellery enthusiasts

People looking for a unique, creative day out or a gift-making experience

Beginners with no previous experience (and those with some craft experience who’d like to expand into silver clay and botanical textures)

Crafters who want to learn how to make their own moulds, embellishments and finished recycled silver jewellery.

If I want to bring my own botanicals, what do I bring?

Firstly, there will be plenty to choose from at the workshop, so you do not need to bring anything except yourself! But, if you would like to bring your own botanicals for use in the workshop here are Anna's tips:

Pick leaves/grasses etc the night before the workshop. Place them in a tupperware-style box with damp kitchen roll in the bottom. Anything we use needs to be fresh, dried items such as leaves will just crumble when pressed into the clay.

The clay will pick up texture really well, so choose leaves with very deep vein structure, such as sage leaves. Waxy leaves like ivy, for example, do not work well.

Jewellery is small, so you want to focus on smaller leaves - no more than 3cm long but ideally smaller. You can also mould sections of leaves or grasses if you bring larger items

You can bring leaves, grasses, seed pods, small twigs, shells, sea urchins, acorns etc

Earth conscious credentials

We are mindful of the effect we have on the environment, and do our best to minimise our impact.

On this workshop you will be making hallmark quality silver jewellery using metal clay, which is made from 100% recycled materials.

You will take all the lovely products you have created home with you on the day, and workshop correspondence and notes will be sent to you electronically.

More information

The Arienas Collective workshops, courses and events are run from a welcoming and supportive environment within a Georgian mews home in Edinburgh’s City Centre New Town. We invite you to join us, leave any day-to-day worries behind and immerse yourself in being creative.

Spaces on our workshops and courses are limited so that our creative team of artists and makers can offer you the hands-on help and support you need to make the most of your time with us.

Our taster and introductory workshops focus on teaching creative skills and methods you can continue practising at home, using affordable materials and equipment. Where more expensive equipment is required we will mention this in the workshop description.

All the equipment and materials you need are included in the price, unless stated otherwise.

Light refreshments from local suppliers are provided. On full day workshops you are welcome to bring your own lunch to eat inside or out. There is also a wide range of independent sit-in or takeaway delis, cafés, and restaurants, plus a range of supermarkets all within a 5-10 minute walk.

Accessibility

The workshop space is on the first-floor of our Georgian mews home and unfortunately we do not have lift access. Blue badge holders can park outside our front door on the single yellow line by arrangement.

Allergies

The workshop space is in our open plan living space and is not nut free. Please let us know about any skin or food allergies before booking. We offer a dairy-free milk and gluten free snack alternative.

Minimum number and no refund policy

To ensure we can always pay our creatives a fair fee, we require a minimum number of bookings for each workshop and for this reason bookings are non-refundable. You are welcome to transfer your space to someone else if you can no longer attend, and let us have their contact details. Should we have to cancel due to low numbers, we will transfer your booking to the next available date. If no alternative date is available, you are welcome to swap to an alternative workshop, or request a refund.

We do our very best to avoid cancellations. Since we often get late bookings, we keep our workshops on sale for as long as possible. We realise that some of you travel from afar, so if you book a space and have not yet received an email confirming your workshop is going ahead and need to make plans for your trip, please get in touch before booking any travel or accommodation so we can update you on booking numbers. Or check in before booking.

Private workshop bookings

Most of our workshops are also available to book for: private get-togethers with family and friends; themed wedding and birthday celebrations; corporate team building and well-being purposes; and in-store retail events for your customers. If you’d like to know more please Email Lynn.

Age restrictions

Our workshops are planned with adults in mind. Many are suitable for teenagers, but some may require under 16s to be accompanied for insurance purposes. Please check with us before booking.

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Botanical-themed silver clay jewellery workshop

By The Arienas Collective

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