On Saturday 31st July Georgina Franklin delivered a bangle workshop, focusing on forging. The course had been fully booked for months and it was also the first time we had run this course so we were looking forward to it. Georgina demonstrated many different ways of cold forging a piece of silver wire to create different effects using a variety of hammers. Some students explored hammering textures into copper before working on their silver, while others chose a design and went straight into the silver. It was a really good day, and everyone made lovely bangles inspired by Georgina's samples.
Getting started; Georgina demonstrated forging with many different hammers.
Everyone agreed, once they got started with a hammer in hand, forging was actually very therapeutic!
Lynne began by forging one end of the wire to make it spread out.
Sue started by soldering 2 wires together, then twisted them by holding one end in the vice and twisting the pliers.
Forging to open out the end of the wire.
Georgina's examples of forged bangles.
Sue finishing her bangle by filing and buffing to remove any hammer marks.
Lynne made a lovely bangle including shaping and texturing with different hammers.
This was the first time Kath and done any silver making,
so this was a wonderful achievement and a lovely finished piece.
Sue's twisted bangle finished with handmade silver balls.
The great thing about making your own bangle is you can make it just the correct size for you!
Kate forged a curvy bangle, planished it to remove hammer marked,
then filed, buffed and polished to give a smooth mirror finish.