SSG Newsletter March 2019
Note: Above image is from our Locket Making Workshop from October 2018.
Welcome to our first update for 2019.
Current news is taken from our first Silversmiths' Guild Newsletter for 2019, which was emailed out on the 6th of March 2019. If you're not on the subscriber list you can subscribe here.
Newsletter/Blog Update Content:
- Welcome
- March Club Night
- March Workshop
- October 2018 Workshop
- Classes / New Level 3
- New Tools
- Tip Of The Month
- Request For Assistance
- Special Meeting 1st April
- Playcentre Fundraiser
- Send Us Your News!
2. CLUB NIGHT IN MARCH:
Thursday 21st of March 7:00pm - 9:30pm. On Club Night we open the Studio to current Silversmiths' Guild Members only - for FREE! Bring along your projects and share the love of silversmithing with other members. If the Club Night is postponed/cancelled for any reason it will be noted on the Events Page listing.
3. MARCH WORKSHOP:
Fold Forming Saturday 23rd of March - 10:00am - 3:00pm. This month is your chance to perfect your fold forming skills, use fold forming on a current project or just have a go at this technique. Form forming adds a third dimension to your jewellery and is a wonderful addition to your skill set. For more info visit the Fold Forming Event .
4. OCTOBER 2018 WORKSHOP:
Our workshop for October was Making A Locket, run by Nicola Roake, which was focused on providing skills to the Tutors to pass on to students. I for one, was intimidated by this amazing silversmith yet wonderfully surprised to meet such a kind, patient and knowledgeable lady who is so willing to share her knowledge! Click to visit her website here.
It was a challenge to fit all the work into one session, but we came away with some fantastic new skills - and for some of us - a lot more work to do! Options for the locket included with or without a secret compartment and all lockets had hinges and catches to cut, file, sand & solder. Huge thanks to Nicola for sharing this wonderful process with us, for all of her preparation work, and for the stunning samples she brought along, showing us that with some basic skills in locket making - some really creative pieces can evolve! There will be photos of this workshop on our Website Gallery page in the near future.
Note: There's an article on Nicola Roake and her work in the latest "The Shed" Magazine.
5. CLASSES:
Classes for Term 2 are now listed on our website. As of last year we also added a new Level Three Class, which has been popular with students who have repeated Level Two Classes and are ready for some very advanced challenges. Even current SSG Members may be interested in attending one of these L3 classes to learn some new skills, such as...
- More advanced stone setting techniques:
- Prongs and claws for faceted/unusual shapes
- Basket and Tiffany settings
- Pushover/Gypsy settings
- Card settings
- Advanced construction techniques:
- Cold connections
- Hinges
Speaking of stone setting techniques...
6. NEW TOOLS:
We have new tools! Checkout photos of new tools below: Top images show a new Ring Holder, and there are a lot of attachments for different ring sizes. Bottom left we have a Flexi Shaft Holder (the white piece) which you can slide onto the flexi-shaft, and clamp it into a vice. This leaves both of your hands free to control your piece! Lastly we have two new sets of Chenier Cutter Pliers, and a new set of Flat Stock Wire Shaper Pliers.
7. TIP OF THE MONTH:
Our tip of the month is from Noeline who got this word of wisdom from a DVD in our Silversmiths' Guild Library: "Roll your solder down until it is thin enough to cut with scissors - it makes life so much easier." Got a tip to share with us? We'd love to hear about your silversmithing experiencing so if you have any tips and/or project examples contact us today!
8. REQUEST FOR SILVERSMITHING EXPERTISE:
We've been contact by Tim Weusten who would like some help, if we can. Tim has two beautiful collections of teaspoons which were made into two separate windmills, complete with blades. One of these is complete however the other is missing blades. Are there any silversmiths who would be interested in looking at these and creating blades for them? If your answer is yes - please email us at: info@ssg.org.nz or contact us direct for further details.
9. SPECIAL MEETING:
There will be a Special General Meeting for members, to be held on Monday the 1st April. Notification of this meeting will be emailed to SSG Members and is for the purpose of discussing the proposed Constitutional changes. Tea, coffee & snacks provided.
10. FUNDRAISER FOR PREBBLETON PLAYCENTRE:
One of our members has requested we spread the word - there is an upcoming Bingo Night Fundraiser event on Friday 5th of April if anyone would like to be involved. Funds are being raised to complete the play area mound and whare. For more info you can email: prebbletonpc@gmail.com.
11. SEND US YOUR NEWS!
We'd love to add a feature on what you're creating! Including any tips you've learned along the way and anything you'd like to share. You can contact the Guild through our website contact form, email us at: info@ssg.org.nz or email me direct at: crystal@silversmith.nz.
Get creative, share, and enjoy!
