Featured Student Work

Jennie sent me pictures of the lovely bracelet she completed in our kumihimo workshop! This is a combination of silk thread and silver-coated copper wire with an open weave pattern.

Once things settle down in November, we'll be doing another kumihimo workshop so you'll get a chance to make your own beautiful braided bracelets!

Quick update

Oops, it's been a while since I've updated this blog, so sorry!

I'm dealing with an influx of work and some big news in my personal life, so there aren't any workshops happening till about mid-November when I'll be doing a wirework with 20 kids from West Island School. Isn't that exciting?

If your school is interested in doing jewellery workshops (wirework, design, and simple waxwork are usually the most fun ones but I'm ready to discuss different ideas!), please let me know! If you don't have any space, the Crafties is more than happy to accommodate.

Other workshops in the pipeline include another round of intensive wirework for adults and teens and a fun and gorgeous tiara/headband workshop for kids. If you're looking for party activities, please contact me as well and we can plan a fun workshop for your guests!

In the meantime, I'm still accepting apprenticeships for engraving and lost wax carving. I'll be putting up a couple of entries on those soon!

Goldsmith creates great work despite having no fingers

I'm so glad a friend shared this with me, and I hope you're as inspired as I am by this intrepid lady!

October Kids' Workshop: Pop Bracelets!

Just in time for Halloween parties or to get ready for Christmas gifts, we're making these chunky, funky, and fun pop bracelets this October! Kids can experiment with different colours and materials, and create something that they can share with family and friends!

This workshop is best for kids ages 8 and up, and they'll learn all the techniques they need to make more bracelets or even necklaces at home.

Details:

Date: October 18, 2014

Time: 2-4 PM

Venue: The Crafties in Sheung Wan, 1/F, Sing Kui Commercial Building, 27 Des Voeux Road West. Click here for a map!

Price: HK$350, all materials included!

To register:

1) Email jubilatehk(at)gmail.com with your child's name and a parent or guardian's contact number. 

2) I'll send you payment information, and once you've banked in the payment, your child's place is confirmed in the workshop. 

It's that simple! 

Other details: 

1) If your child can't attend the workshop, we can provide a full refund up to 7 days before the workshop begins. Otherwise, your payment can be transferred to any one of our other workshops. 

2) Children may be accompanied by one adult only.

We look forward to seeing your kids in October!  

Disclaimer (have to put this in): All participants enrolled in activities do so at their own risk and we or the Crafties are not responsible for any loss, damage, or injury to students or their guests as a result of participating in these activities.

Wirework Class: Vintage-Style Charm Bracelets!

In this workshop, you'll be learning to make a chunky vintage-style charm bracelet with techniques that you can use for other jewellery!

Some basic things you'll learn:
- jump rings
- different bead attachments
- an engagement-style link that I'll teach you to modify to create other link shapes
- clasps

and lots of tips on toolwork and finishing!

This is a beginners-friendly workshop, and even people as young as 14 are welcome to join!

You have a choice between two sessions, one on a Friday afternoon and one on a Saturday afternoon. Each session is a full three hours for only HK$680, and that includes all your materials, like copper wire, beads, and polishing products like sandpaper.

You're welcome to bring your own tools (see below for a list) or buy a package from us for only HK$220. Our package comes with all of the tools below, as well as 3 sizes of brass jump ring mandrels (for making jump rings).

Tools:
Round-nose pliers
Flat-nose pliers
Needle-nose pliers
Wire cutters
Barrette needle file #2

You can also buy silver wire and other gemstones from us during the workshop if you want to experiment with other materials!

To register, please send your name, contact information, and which date you'd like to join to jubilatehk(at)gmail.com. I'll confirm your registration and send you payment information.

Your place in the class will not be confirmed until the course fee has been paid. Refunds are available up to 7 days before the workshop. Otherwise, you can transfer the fee to a different course.

See you there!

歡迎任何朋友參與，年紀最小14歲以上

課程時間 2 PM - 5 PM 

10月10日或10月11日

HK$680

基本材料費用全免 (銅䤼，珠，沙紙 etc.)

工具表:

圓嘴鉗
平口鉗
斜口鉗
圓柄銼(竹葉型) #2

歡迎學員自備工具，或者由導師處購買工具套裝（＄220） 另付加銅芯棒一枝

如有興趣購買其他材料如銀䤼，寶石等

請聯絡導師提供參加者請聯絡 jubilatehk(at)gmail.com 然後你會收到註冊確認和付款方法

（當付款後發覺時間上不能配合上課，可選擇退款(一定要在課程開始7天前通知）或請聯絡導師安排學員參加其他workshop )

Disclaimer (have to put this in):All participants enrolled in activities do so at their own risk and we or the Crafties are not responsible for any loss, damage, or injury to students or their guests as a result of participating in these activities. 

September Kumihimo Classes

Hey everyone, here's more information on our September kumihimo classes. You'll be learning a basic technique for a flat braid in order to understand how metal wires differ from thread, and then once that's done, we'll be doing a fun hollow-core weave to illustrate the advantages of metal wires. I'll also be showing you some finishing techniques, as well as sharing some basic tool knowledge and goldsmith's tips!

Post-summer Update!

Whew, it's been a while since the last entry! Thanks again to everyone who's supported our workshops and sorry for the lack of updates!

Now that summer is ending and we're gearing up for the fall/winter sessions, we're doing some rethinking on how to structure the courses so that they're more effective and convenient for people. Your feedback has been really valuable, and I'm trying to come up with a way we can all make jewellery together without having to juggle our times around. I know how busy everyone is!

As of this date, the only confirmed course that we'll be having in September is the 4-session kumihimo course. We'll be using this beautiful, traditional Japanese braiding technique to create metal jewellery. It's a great introduction course for beginners, and for those of you who are already familiar with kumihimo, I'm sure you'll be fascinated by the difference between using silk cord and metal wires. Lots of ways to create experimental shapes and unusual patterns! For some basic information on kumihimo, check out what I've written about it before.

However, we do have more kids' workshops and wirework workshops coming up, and if you're interested in a proper apprenticeship, let me know!

I'll be updating again really soon with more information, promise! If you want to reach me directly, please e-mail me at jubilatehk (at) gmail.com!

Changes to the Schedule and Upcoming Fall Classes

I've been contacted by people about the dates of the workshops not working for them, and if you're having the same difficulty, not to worry!

Due to demand, I've changed the dates not to start this week but further off in July and August. Hopefully, this will help accommodate people's schedules better, and I've also started adding the September dates for kumihimo (wirework September dates coming soon!). I've updated the schedule to reflect the changes, so if you saw an advertisement or flyer that had our old dates, please check the schedule again to see our new, more convenient (hopefully) dates!

We've also added a consecutive 4-day workshop for kids in August, and if there's enough demand, we'll do one more, too!

If none of these dates work for you, you can still contact me about dates that are better for you, and we'll see what we can do. If you want to get a private group going, all you need to do is get at least 4 people together and we'll arrange sessions that fit around your schedules, and it costs exactly the same!

Thanks again for your interest!

Thanks to our friends and supporters!

We're totally grateful to all the generosity and help from all of the kind people at (in alphabetical order):

Handmade Hong Kong for the shout-out on Facebook!

HK Magazine

South China Morning Post for the feature in your magazine!

The List

Time Out Hong Kong

Thank you from us all!

Kids' Workshops Summer 2014!

For our kids' workshops, the focus is on creativity but also fun. Kids should feel like they can make something beautiful and amazing and have the pleasure of sharing the things they make with their family and friends. And I want them to be able to take what they learned and keep applying it even after the workshops to appreciate how things are made and to keep creating!

The workshops are open to kids from 8 to 12 years old, and we'll be having a small group of 12 kids maximum, so please register fast before spaces run out. Kids will be grouped according to their age so that their projects will be age and level-appropriate. They'll be going home with something to be proud of after every session, even if they've never made anything before!

Older kids are welcome to join our kumihimo and wirework workshops. They should have no problems learning these techniques!


Kids' Jewellery-Making Summer 2014 Workshops

1.5 hours each session
4 sessions total

Only HKD1,350 and all materials included!

Intensive August workshops
August 13 to 16
11 am to 1230 noon

If kids can't attend some of the classes, please let us know and we'll figure something out!

All classes bilingual in English and Cantonese.


TO REGISTER:

Please send us the name of the child(ren), age, parent or guardian's name and contact details, and the course you'd like to apply for (Tuesday or Friday). We'll respond letting you know if we still have space availalbe and how to pay the fees.

1) Via e-mail: jubilatehk(at)gmail.com

2) Via phone (you can text or call): (852) 9192 3729


DETAILS:

Please contact us (not the Crafties!) for payment details. We accept cash, bank-in deposit, and cheques.

All fees must be paid to confirm a place in the workshops. The fees are refundable ONLY UP TO 7 DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE WORKSHOPS.

If the child cannot attend the workshops, you may transfer to someone else or you can use your fee towards another upcoming workshop. Don't worry, we'll work something out!

We will not take your payment if the workshops are full.


See your kids there!

Disclaimer (have to put this in):
All participants enrolled in activities do so at their own risk and we or the Crafties are not responsible for any loss, damage, or injury to students or their guests as a result of participating in these activities.

What is kumihimo?

I'm sure most people have seen a kumihimo braid at some point and just not realized the exquisite piece of art they were looking at. Kumihimo braids called obijime are used to secure an obi around a kimono, and kumihimo braids are also used to ornament all kinds of objects, from fans to cellphones.

Traditionally, kumihimo braids are done on a marudai, which you can see here.

From Wikipedia

Using a marudai will produce a large variety of kumihimo braids, which you can see here. These ones were made using thread. Just look at those gorgeous patterns!

Also from Wikipedia

For our kumihimo workshop, we'll be using a bunch of coloured wire (copper and aluminum) and beads to create jewellery like below. No beads, sorry! I'm kind of a minimalist, but I'll definitely teach you how to incorporate beads into your kumihimo work. You can see three different types of braids below, all done on a kumihimo disc.

Those of you who might be feeling a bit fancy can also choose to make kumihimo jewellery using copper, silver, and gold-filled wire, as well as semi-precious gemstones -- all of which we're happy to offer at discounted prices. You can mix together different gauges (or sizes) of the same wire for a multi-layered monochromatic look or combine different types of wires to create a more colourful effect.

Unfortunately, we won't be using a marudai because 1) it's damn expensive and 2) not exactly easy to source. Instead, we'll be using a kumihimo disc, which looks like this:

The difference is that with a marudai, you can make thicker braids and use more strands of thread. However, you can still use create a lot of complex patterns, so don't worry, there's lots to do with the disc!

Anyway, I'm going to end this post with Chabi and Nutmeg demonstrating their kumihimo skills. If those two can do it, so can anyone!

Here we have Chabi getting her tools ready.

Chabi is now contemplating the disc.

Nutmeg is hard at work.

And this is why I can't have workshops at my flat.

If you're interested in learning kumihimo, please check out our current schedules and how to register here!

An Introduction to Wirework Jewellery

I have to confess that I didn't spend a lot of time on wirework jewellery before I apprenticed as a goldsmith in Italy. I've always liked crafts and making things, but this was in the Internet Dark Ages, before Pinterest and Tumblr and all of those other new-fangled sites, and I didn't know that I could start off making really complex jewellery without knowing how to solder or buy all kinds of tools. I was under the impression that wirework was mostly stringing beads and stones together with wire and that was it.

I guess it's kind of funny that I had to do the apprenticeship first before I discovered the versatility of wirework -- so many things you can actually do! 

Here are a couple of examples of simple wire wrapping over semi-precious gemstones using copper wire, sterling silver wire, and gold-filled wire.

These are fairly basic stuff, and in Wirework I, participants should be able to come away with enough knowledge to start making jewellery using the same techniques as above. Wirework II will get a bit more advanced, with complex link-making and wire-knitting. Below is an example of a knitted necklace with peridots using 14 karat gold-filled wire.

And this is an earring made with knitted coloured copper wire.

You don't have to do Wirework I in order to do Wirework II, but you do need to be familiar with the tools and basic wirework techniques in order to be able to keep up with the workshops. 

As for Wirework I, beginners who have never even picked up a single pair of pliers in their lives are absolutely welcome. Don't be intimidated, the workshops are focussed but relaxed, and you'll likely find yourself so addicted to making jewellery that you'll be wielding your pliers any chance you get. Who knows, you might run off to Italy and take up goldsmithing, too!

If our wirework classes sound like something you'd like to do, please check out our current schedules and how to register here!

Our Workshops!

Our jewellery-making courses are ideal for people who want to use their creative energy to design and make unique pieces for yourself, as gifts for others, or even for starting your own business. You'll learn something new each session and finish the courses feeling confident in your ability to harness your creativity to make beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewellery.

Workshops are held in English and Cantonese, and, if necessary, Putonghua. You also get a free drink courtesy of the super generous Crafties staff!


DISCOUNTS:

Yes, we also have discounts!

1) Students and seniors (it's never too late to start!) with a valid ID get 15% off.

2) Register with a friend, you get 10% off.

3) If you sign up for all three classes, you get 15% off.

By the way, you can't add up your discounts, sorry! All classes are maximum 10 people only, so register before the spaces fill up!


TO REGISTER:

Please send us your name and contact information, along with the course you'd like to join.

1) Via e-mail: jubilatehk(at)gmail.com

2) Via phone (you can text or call): (852) 9192 3729


DETAILS:

Please contact us (not the Crafties!) for payment details. We accept cash, bank-in deposit, and cheques.

All fees must be paid to confirm your place in the workshops. The fees are refundable ONLY UP TO 7 DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE WORKSHOPS.

If you cannot attend the workshops, you may transfer to someone else or you can use your fee towards another upcoming workshop. Don't worry, we'll work something out!

We will not take your payment if the workshops are full.


Kumihimo workshops: 4 sessions

Kumihimo is the beautiful Japanese art of braiding. (I've written a short introduction here where you can see a couple of pictures of kumihimo work.) Although kumihimo is usually done with thread, we'll be using coloured wire and beads to interpret braiding techniques, starting from simple to complex.

If you're looking for a versatile jewellery-making technique that gets you creating things fast, then this workshop is ideal for you!

Includes a basic package of coloured wire, beads, clasps and other jewellery findings, and a kumihimo disc.

You can also choose to upgrade to our discounted semi-precious gemstones and copper, sterling silver, or gold wire for extra-special jewellery!



Wirework I: 4 sessions

Wirework is one of the essential basics of jewellery-making. You'll learn the core techniques of making links and wire-wrapping to create your own unique pieces. Here's a brief introduction and some pictures of different types of basic wirework.

These aren't just step-by-step tutorials, but a real grounding in techniques that you can apply to your own designs. Once you've mastered the basics, you'll be creating your own jewellery in no time!

Includes a basic package of copper wire and semi-precious gemstones.

More gemstones and sterling silver or gold wire are available at our discounted prices! You can bring your own tools or buy a set of pliers from us for HKD200.

Tool set: round-nose pliers, chain-nose pliers, flat-nose pliers, cutters, 3 sizes of brass jump ring mandrels.

Optional: barrette needle file #2 (you can buy this from us for only $120)

Wirework II: 4 sessions

For more advanced learners! This series of workshops will explore more challenging link-making techniques to add extra complexity to your designs.

Includes a basic package of copper wire and semi-precious gemstones. More gemstones and sterling silver or gold wire are available at our discounted prices!

Masterclass: Wax carving

Carving wax? What's that got to do with jewellery-making? In fact, many of the jewellery you see in stores today start off as wax models that are eventually cast into precious metals. If you've done wirework and are ready for the next step, then wax carving is for you!

I'm not too sure about how to organize this group, but if you have a design you want to create for a special occasion (or for whatever reason, of course), please contact me and we can sort something out. If enough people are interested, I'll start a workshop group and we can all save money!


Masterclass: Hand Engraving

One of the oldest traditions in metalwork and sadly dying out. I apprenticed in Italy to one of the last masters of his generation, who has engraved for royalty and presidents, and I would love to pass on skills that I gained. Here are a couple of samples of my old engravings back when I was just getting started to give you an idea.

Hand engraving is definitely challenging to learn, but you'll end up with a rare and unique skill that you can apply to the ornamental decoration of almost anything metal, from printing plates to silver cigar boxes to belts to even weapons. We'll have to set up a schedule of workshops, but a lot of the work is simply practicing on your own! Contact me, I'd love to welcome another engraver into the fold!

Disclaimer (have to put this in):
All participants enrolled in activities do so at their own risk and we or the Crafties are not responsible for any loss, damage, or injury to students or their guests as a result of participating in these activities. 

Welcome to Jubilate Jewellery-Making Workshops!

Finally, the workshops are ready to go!

For the past few years, I've been putting off my jewellery-making workshops partly because I couldn't find a venue that I liked. I thought about doing them at my flat, but there isn't enough space, and my two cats would probably end up demolishing all of the materials.

Behold the faces of destruction:

But finally, I found out about the Crafties, and it's just the nicest location you've ever seen. It's spacious and filled with all kinds of equipment and friendly people, so I thought it was finally time to get this ish started!

So, on this blog, you'll find updates on what's going on, such as workshop schedules (which you can see on the right-side column over there -->, as well as on regular posts), information about jewellery-making techniques, plus samples of students' work and more!