I love learning new things and really feel you just can't beat an actual in-person class where you can interact with the teacher, ask questions and get feedback. I find that no matter what the class may be billed as, I can get so much more out of the time. You additionally learn a lot from your fellow students who also play a big role in the whole experience. You get to see many more examples of finished pieces, learn how different colour and thread choices work, discover new materials or suppliers and generally get to spent time with like-minded people. A win-win all round.

As much as I love beadwork I often yearn to be working more with metal, or even simply creating work just for myself to wear, but for some reason I get a complete mental block about doing it by myself at home, so love to do classes in metal.

Tonight I had booked a taster class at London Jewellery School. The class I'd booked was Make a Silver Ring and I figured it would have just the right amount of scary metal work to ease me back in.

We began the night looking at samples of the type of ring we could make using texture and form; no soldering was to be involved.

Then, once we'd made our decisions for our own piece, we set about heating metal, adding texture, using the rolling mill etc. for 2 1/2 hours until our rings were done.

I would show you a picture of mine but I've already managed to lose it in the house, so that'll have to wait for another day- but I love it!