Have you ever been captivated by a beautiful piece of silver jewellery and wished you could create something similar? WMM Silver workshops offer the perfect opportunity to turn that desire into reality! Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and led by Wendy Murphy, an enthusiastic and qualified jeweller with over 20 years of teaching experience, these workshops cater to all skill levels, from absolute beginners to those looking to refine their silverwork techniques. Whether you want to craft a special keepsake or simply explore a new creative outlet, WMM Silver has a workshop waiting to ignite your inner silversmith.
I have been to a couple of the workshops at the WMM Jewellery Studio at Taurus Crafts, Lydney. I first attended a tube set gem ring workshop where we also made a hammered ring. The second one was a special birthday treat for the Unicorn where we both made an adjustable silver ring. This was a new workshop that Wendy had just introduced and allowed children over the age of eleven when accompanied by an adult. The reason the rings are adjustable is so that they grow with the child. I booked this WMM Silver workshop as a birthday treat for my daughter so we could both go along and make something together; we had a great time, and it was lovely for the Unicorn to learn the basics of silversmithing. The most recent four-and-a-half-hour workshop that I attended was the stacking ring workshop. In this relaxed class. the five attendees could all choose three styles of ring each and make them to our own designs. I decided to make a rectangle ring, a beaded ring, and an initial ring.
The way Wendy hosts her workshops is fabulous, they are open to all abilities and no previous experience is necessary. Wendy takes her time to give you a thorough understanding of the creative experience that her guests are about to embark on. She starts by getting everyone to look at the examples she has already made and then asking you to make any selections you need such as styles of ring in the stacking rings workshop or colour of stone or cabochon gemstones in the cabochon set ring workshop. Next, she will demonstrate what you need to do first, as Wendy is an experienced teacher she is exceptionally good at making this process simple to follow and she is happy to demonstrate as many times as required or answer as many questions you may have. She will not only talk you through each step of the process of crafting your jewellery, but she will also demonstrate each step. When you are working on your special piece you will have all the tools you need at your fingertips because Wendy has each workbench perfectly equipped with all the tools you need. She is skilled at making people feel at ease and is fantastic at getting the conversation flowing so even if you go on your own, you will soon be chatting and laughing away with the other attendees. This is due to the small group sizes, there are no more than five people in each workshop meaning that everyone has space to work, and she can easily see what everyone is doing and step in with her expert guidance when required.
Not only does Wendy take the time to explain the process of what you are making, but she also tells you about the history of hallmarking, explains what some of the different hallmarks are, explains about the assay offices (an assay office is an institution specifically set up to assay, which means to test and assess the purity of precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium), and how items are hallmarked and different types of silver or gold that she uses. Hallmarking refers to a system of officially marking precious metal items, typically jewellery, to indicate their purity. It’s essentially a quality guarantee for things like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Hallmarking is carried out at the assay office, the purpose of the assay office is to:
- Mark the Metal: A hallmark is a stamp applied to the item that shows it’s been independently tested and verified to meet legal standards for purity.
- Protect Consumers: Since it’s difficult to tell a pure metal from a lookalike, hallmarking prevents fraud by ensuring you’re getting what you pay for.
- Long History: Hallmarking actually has a long history, dating back to medieval times in places like the UK, where it was established as a consumer protection measure.
In the studio, Wendy has a display case of silver jewellery showing what can be made at each of her different workshops and she wears a selection of pieces that she has made. The true focal point of the workshops though is when she whips out her homemade cake or shortbread for guests to enjoy once they are settled into making their items.
WMM Silver offers a wide range of workshops that make fantastic gifts for special occasions, not only does the recipient receive the voucher for the workshop, but they also receive the experience of making something and to top it all off they then have a beautiful and unique item to take away with them. It is like three gifts in one! The workshops available to choose from are:
- stacking rings
- adjustable ring
- hammered ring or bangle.
- spinner ring
- tube set gem ring or pendant.
- ring or bangle.
- paperclip bracelet
- Russian wedding ring
- earrings
- domed pendant
- cabochon set ring.
- make your own wedding rings.
If attending a group workshop is not for you, then you can book private events. If you have a group of five people, then you can book to visit the WMM Silver studio, or she can travel to your venue. Contact WMM Silver directly to find out more about this.
At the three workshops I have attended, I’ve enjoyed myself so much and seen my skills improve to such an extent that next time I return (and there will be a next time) I plan to book a space on the returners workshop which is only available to people who have attended previous workshops. During the returners’ workshops, guests can work on their specific projects with help and support from Wendy when required. These workshops have an extra charge for the sterling silver used. I am looking forward to increasing my pieces of Wendy Murphy silversmithing studio jewellery collection.
I walked away from the WMM Silver workshop with a newfound appreciation for the craft of silversmithing, and more importantly, a beautiful set of stacking rings I proudly made myself. The supportive and encouraging atmosphere made the learning process enjoyable, and Wendy’s expertise ensured I created pieces that reflected my personal style. I cannot wait to wear my rings and tell everyone about the rewarding experience I had at WMM Silver. I highly recommend these workshops to anyone looking to unleash their inner jeweller and create something special.
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. I have not been asked to write this review and this is not an ad. Read the full privacy policy here.
