07855 768017
info@bench-space.com
Unit 47, The Shipyard Estate, Brightlingsea, CO7 0AR
BENCHspace Silver School
Because making matters…
BENCHspace is a silversmithing and jewellery workshop that offers you the opportunity to come and make your very own silver jewellery in your own unique style.
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Taster Sessions
BENCHspace offers a range of taster sessions and courses to build up your skill set with step-by-step expert tuition, enabling you to spend some creative ‘you’ time in our fully equipped workshop.
Taster sessions are a perfect gift for those extra special celebrations – including birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties, bridal parties, (to make bridesmaid, best man, bride and groom gifts) Corporate away days, Team Building and more.
Great for friends and family
Bring your friends and family to share your special occasion, creating amazing jewellery to wear home with pride and great memories to share.
Your Expert Instructor
Karen Cooke
I’m Karen, a silversmith with over 25 years of experience in designing, making & teaching.
![](https://bench-space.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Karen-Cooke.jpg)
In the last 12 months
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Why Choose Us
Here are a few reasons
- Enjoy learning in our fully equipped jewellery workshop.
- Each person has their own jewellers’ bench with full set of tools.
- Make your own amazing jewellery to fit perfectly in your own unique style!
Testimonials
What people are saying
A brilliant team building workshop yesterday afternoon with a fantastic bunch of ladies learning how to make silver rings. A very creative way to get out the office, off those zoom calls and get some hammer therapy…
Plus you get an amazing piece of jewellery to wear everyday that you made yourself.
#winwin
#teambuildingideas #hammertherapy #getouttheoffice #silverringworkshop #benchspacesilverschool
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A few pieces hot off the bench this week by our lovely students…
👏👏👏
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18ct yellow gold is such a warm buttery colour when it’s polished.
We love making wedding rings here and love helping people make their own rings. These two were made by one of our lovely BENCHspacers for friends wedding next month.
It’s always more meaningful when handmade by someone special!!
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What an awesome 3 days spent with @ringoldnicole (and I rarely use the word awesome). It was a masterclass in molten metal magic that was truly mesmerising to watch. She makes it look easy but this is testamount to the amount of hours she has spent honing her craft.
I thoroughly recommend her book #thenewsilversmith to see how she does it!
Many thanks to Nicole for sharing her knowledge and expertise with us and to @beccygillatschoolofjewellery for organising and hosting us all.
Some examples of Nicoles work and some pieces from us learners too, just a snippet of the many things explored and made…
#amazingwomendoingamazingthings
#littlesmith #littlesmithtorch #fusingsilver #botanicals
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Brilliant busy day with @ringgoldnicole at @beccygillattschoolofjewellery. Making chains and leaves today and learning all about fusing with a Little Smith Torch. Trickier than Nicole makes it look!
Looking forward to more tomorrow….
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I’m so looking forward to this course tomorrow!
I’ve just arrived in Olney and booked in to my hotel. I’ve followed Nicole on Instagram for many years and have always been super impressed with her work. Many thanks to @beccygillattschoolofjewellery we have this fabulous opportunity to learn from Nicole (all the way from the USA!)
😆
#Repost @ringgoldnicole with @use.repost
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We’re wrapping up the final day of our bloody brilliant first (of three) workshops in the studio of @beccygillattschoolofjewellery and I think the students are pleased as punch!
These pieces were some of my demos for the class. I’m excited to see what tomorrow’s group wants to learn. One down, two more groups to go!
Cheerio!
#nicoleringgold #thenewsilversmith
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Two lovely silver brooches finished yesterday in the workshop…
Well done to Lottie and to Kate, they look stunning on!
#benchspacesilverschool #handmadejewelry #jewellerymaker #jewellerymakingworkshop
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New dates just added on our website for stone setting masterclasses with @marlieswhite.
Tube Setting: Sunday 29th September 2024
Collet Setting: Sunday 27th October 2024
Flush Setting: Sunday 24th November 2024
Fancy Setting: Sunday 26th January 2025
All classes are from 10am-4pm. To browse or book please visit bench-space.com
Upskill your practice and add some sparkle to your jewellery designs.
(Please note, these are advanced classes and foundation skills already need to be in place.)
#stonesetting #stonesettingclass #benchspacesilverschool #goldsmith #goldsmithing #benchspacejewellery
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It was so nice being back in the workshop yesterday, after two weeks away… and so nice to see all our lovely students and @marlieswhite for our stone setting masterclass. More dates will be added soon for our tube, collet, flush and fancy setting masterclasses (last Sunday in each month) for our continuing students to upskill!
Many thanks to @thesilverwallop and @magpie_metalsmith for looking after our BENCHspacers over the last fortnight. I’m looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow for our weekly sessions !!!
#benchspacesilverschool #benchspacejewelleryclasses #jewelleryschool #jewellerymakersofinstagram #jewellerymakersuk #jewellerymaking
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Some photos from today’s fancy stone setting class with our talented goldsmith @marlieswhite.
Well done everyone 👏👌
Lots of tricky fiddly skills to practice and some lovely stones of blue topaz, citrine, iolite, amethyst, garnet and peridot were chosen!
#stonesettingclasses #stonesetting #benchspacejewelleryclasses #jewellerymasterclasses #bezelsetgemstone
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I’m now officially on holiday for a few weeks and taking some much needed time out…
Our BENCHspacer sessions will continue on Tuesdays over the summer as usual.
Classes will resume in September so I’m looking forward to seeing you all then!
Xxx much love all x
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A little constellation of silver stars made by one of our beginners….
Well done @fannyannfanacapan they look stellar!
We hope you enjoy wearing them x
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#Repost @claireb_designer with @use.repost
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Our last week of my design course and this time we moved into metal.
The joy of having @benchspacesilverschool facilities at your fingertips!
Texturing, hammering and cutting to experiment getting some of our drawn ideas into metal.
#jewellerymaker
#jewellerymaking
#jewellerydesign
#instasmith
#jewelleryoftheday
#handmade
#handmakers
#handmadejewellery
#peggyandsue
#peggyandsuejewellery
#bespokejewellery
#jewelleryrepairs
#jewellerystory
#jewellerystories
#jewellerydesigners
#essexjewellers
#colchesterjewellers
#handcrafted
#bespokejewellerydesign
#benchpegselfie
#designcourse
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Join us in September for the start of your metalsmithing adventure….
For more info visit bench-space.com
#getanewhobby #bemorecreative #metime #makejewellery #beajeweller #makingstuffisgoodforyou
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Making a wiggly ring in a stacking ring set…
Our spinner/ stacking ring workshops use lots of interesting jewellery tools. These wiggly dies are a great way to add interest to a ring, earring or bangle. This is the smallest size die for hoop earrings or rings.
We are using 2mm diameter round silver wire that has first been patterned in a dinky die so it is half round, then made wavy using this amazing die tool. Yes you can also hammer it and put it in a hydraulic press, I prefer to squeeze them in a vice, as it’s easier for beginners to use.
You can buy these dies from @proopsbrothersltd so check them out… I’m not affiliated with them , just giving a shout out to a family owned business in the UK.
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Look at all the goodies !
Last session last night of the level 2 course and all our students soldering skills have definitely levelled up!
Well done everyone 👏!
See you in September for more adventures in metalsmithing …
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Some of our beginners finished pieces…
It was week 8 of our beginners course last night and such a variety of pieces made. Well done folks!
See you all again in September for level 2 …
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Making a setting for an awkward shaped stone…
I love this simple solution Matt came up with to set a triangular shaped rounded Tiger’s Eye stone in last night’s’ class.
The stone had a broken end on it so he polished it with some Emery paper to smooth it out. Then we designed a little wire structure to capture the corners through the loops to hold the stone in place.
It’s a brilliant way to set a stone with rounded edges and it looks great!
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#Repost @claireb_designer with @use.repost
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Week 4 of my design course and this week was all about motifs and taking elements from 4 different patterns and creating new ones.
Also, lots of discussion about how to translate 2D designs into 3D and adding colour to your work.
#jewellerymaker
#jewellerymaking
#jewellerydesign
#instasmith
#jewelleryoftheday
#handmade
#handmakers
#handmadejewellery
#peggyandsue
#peggyandsuejewellery
#bespokejewellery
#jewelleryrepairs
#jewellerystory
#jewellerystories
#jewellerydesigners
#essexjewellers
#colchesterjewellers
#handcrafted
#bespokejewellerydesign
#benchpegselfie #lovemyjob #patterndesign
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Another excellent session last night on our design course with @claireb_designer.
Time goes so quickly when you’re engrossed in a creative process! We’ll be translating our ideas into metal next week so am looking forward to seeing what everyone brings…
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