I often teach workshops, the details are listed below.
Please contact host directly to inquire about further details, for example, the equipment requirements, dates, costs and available places.
You are also most welcome to contact me to ask questions, please email me at kathrynwardill@hotmail.com
Casting small objects in Bronze and Silver with Kathryn Wardill
18 – 21 November 2025
Blue Dog Glass, Belgrave, Victoria, Australia
Create your own sculptural or cast jewellery objects in a hands-on casting workshop
Join expert jeweller and metalsmith Kathryn Wardill for an immersive workshop exploring the art of small-scale metal casting. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced maker, this class will guide you through traditional and contemporary casting techniques to create your own unique jewellery-sized sculptures in silver and bronze.
This workshop is designed to be both structured and exploratory, allowing students to develop a strong foundation in metal casting while experimenting with different approaches. You will learn how to shape and carve forms, work with molten metals, and refine your finished pieces to a professional standard.
By the end of the workshop, you will have created:
One silver casting – sculpted in wax and cast professionally at an external casting company.
One bronze (or silver) casting – created in-house using a direct metal pouring technique.
What You’ll Learn & Do:
Silver Casting – Wax Sculpting & Professional Casting
In this part of the course, students will work with specialist jeweller’s waxes to model intricate shapes and textures. Wax sculpting is a versatile technique used in lost-wax casting, allowing for precise detail and creative expression. Some of the key topics include:
- Considering design possibilities when working with wax.
- Wax Model Creation: Develop the skills to craft wax models primed for casting.
- Wax Working Demonstrations: Hands-on demonstrations covering both soft and hard wax techniques.
- Understand different wax types and their uses in casting.
- Create detailed pieces such as rings, pendants, charms, or miniature sculptures.
- Equipment and Supplies. Gain insight into the tools and materials essential for successful casting and sculpting
- Basic Casting Principles. Explore the foundational principles governing casting techniques.
- Your wax model will be sent to a professional casting studio, where it will be transformed into solid silver.
- Once castings are returned, you’ll learn finishing techniques, including filing, sanding, polishing, and refining details.
- This process offers a professional approach to jewellery casting, ensuring high-quality results with fine detail.
Direct Metal Pouring & Mould Carving
The second part of the workshop focuses on hands-on metal casting, where you’ll experience the exciting process of melting and pouring molten bronze/silver into hand-carved moulds.
- Learn to carve a negative design into cuttlefish bone to create a two-part mould.
- Work directly with molten bronze/silver and pour metal into freeform or structured moulds.
- Learn how to melt metal safely, using a crucible and torch.
- Watch your design take shape as molten metal fills the cavity and solidifies.
- Once cast, you’ll refine your work by learning post-casting finishing techniques, including filing, sanding, polishing, and oxidizing.
This method allows for a more immediate and organic casting experience, with beautiful textures and effects unique to the cuttlefish bone and other organic materials.
Additional Techniques Covered:
Metalworking Basics: Learn how to prepare for casting
Soldering Skills: Join metal components using soldering techniques.
Polishing & Finishing: Achieve a professional surface on your silver and bronze pieces.
Safety & Handling (OH&S): Learn best practices for working with molten metal, casting equipment, and hand tools.
Class Details & Important Notes:
- Class Size: Small group setting for individual guidance.
- Experience Level: No prior experience is required – beginners and experienced makers are welcome!
- Materials: All wax and casting tools are supplied, students will need to cover the cost of bronze and silver, which will be calculated at market rate.
- Project Size Limit: Due to time constraints, cast pieces will be no larger than a walnut.
Allergy Warning: This workshop involves the use of cuttlefish bone for mould-making. If you have a shellfish allergy, please contact us before enrolling to discuss alternatives.
Scheduled class times are highly structured with a balance between demonstrations and students practicing techniques and creating their own creations. Upon completion of the workshop, students will have the knowledge to continue to make their own wax and cast objects.
Class runs from 10am – 4pm Tuesday 18th to Friday 21st November 2025.
Beginner Glass Beadmaking
Blue Dog Glass
Two Saturday course – 10 am to 4 pm – TBC in 2025
Venture into the world of hot glass! Create one-off glass beads, miniature artworks that others will marvel at. Glass bead making, also known as lampworking or flameworking, is an art that involves shaping molten glass using a torch. This ancient craft has been practised for centuries.
The process begins with a selection of glass rods, each with its own unique colour and properties. These rods are heated the flame of a torch until they become soft and malleable. The maker then winds the molten glass around a mandrel, a thin metal rod coated with a release agent to prevent the glass from sticking. This creates the basic shape of the bead.
As the bead takes form, the maker can introduce additional colours and patterns by melting other glass rods onto the surface or by using various tools to manipulate the molten glass. Stringers, thin rods of coloured glass are often used to create intricate designs and details of the beads surface.
Teaching the basics of glass bead making, Kathryn will thoroughly explains all aspects of the process, no experience is necessary. Students need good eyesight and the steady use of both hands. Scheduled class times are highly structured with a balance between demonstrations and students practising techniques. Upon completion students have the knowledge to continue to practice their bead making skills in their own studios. Topics covered include: Health and safety, understanding equipment, glass and mandrel preparation, shaping beads, using stringers, decorative techniques, general tips, tricks and troubleshooting. Please note all tools and equipment are provided. Students will be required to supply their own glass rods, or purchase at the studio for approximately $30. Bullseye glass rods are used and you can preview colours at our online store.
Intermediate Glass Beadmaking
Blue Dog Glass – Belgrave, VIC, Australia
Two Saturday course – 10 am to 4 pm – TBC in 2025
Join an intermediate bead making workshop which is designed to consolidate your skills making glass beads. Building on basic techniques, this workshop will challenge you to explore new techniques and design elements.
Throughout the workshop, you will:
- Learn to create intricate canes and utilise them in your bead designs.
- Explore the art of floral bead making, adding depth and detail to your creations.
- Master the technique of encasing, creating beautiful visual effects within your beads.
- Experiment with metals, incorporating them into your beads for unique textures and finishes.
- Discover sculptural techniques, pushing the boundaries of traditional bead shapes.
- Explore the art of creating hollow beads, adding dimension and complexity to your designs.
Kathryn’s highly structured approach includes daily demonstrations followed by ample practice time, ensuring you not only understand the techniques but can confidently apply them to your own creations.
Blue Dog Glass Studio details:
http://www.bluedogglass.com.au/
Student feedback
Intermediate glass bead making, two day workshop, July 2024, feedback:
- “Loved this workshop. I learned so much. Kathryn is a very knowledgeable teacher and I have a lot more skills to try out at home. Thank you so much”
- “Kathryn brilliant, love her teaching style & personality, and really encouraging”
- “Great fun, thank you”
- “Thanks so much for a great weekend of learning”
- “Kathryn is very approachable and easy to ask questions”
- “Thanks, it was awesome”
- “The workshop was very clear and structured, Kathryn was open to questions”
- “The handouts are clear and very comprehensive”
Winter USQ June 2024 – 5 day workshop:
What was the most valuable part/component of your specific workshop?
- “Wonderful instructor”
- “The class with Kathryn, I can’t believe how much I learned, I created pieces I never thought possible”
- “The relaxed attitude to try everything, tutor’s encouragement to extend yourself”
- “Having the “safe” space to be open and create/explore”
- “Kathryn is a great and generous tutor, the workshop had a good mix of stretch and consolidation of skills”
- “Your work, with silversmithing and your knowledge with glass….you are clever and very skilled. I looked up to you, and still do, and inspired me, when I made these Irish fairy dancers 12 years ago.” Heather:
“After making glass beads under Kathryn’s tutelage at Summer School for six years , I am continuing to learn and expand the possibilities of unique glass bead making with her encouragement I have made more beautiful beads than I could ever have imagined myself creating. I haven’t finished learning yet. It is wonderful to wear beads that I enjoy, others enjoy and I know they are unique. Thank you Kathryn” from Meryl
“I enrolled in a glass bead making class not knowing anything about the process. I would have to say I love it. Kathryn is a patient teacher who carefully demonstrates each skill we need to master and does beautiful work of her own. If I had time I would bead all day everyday.” from June
“Great subject, excellent course structure and fabulous TEACHER, what more can you ask for? Patience and confidence, Kathryn has both and passes them on in her classes.” from Kris
“Kathryn is an excellent teacher, her passion and enthusiasm for glass bead making help make her classes a ‘must do’ in my diary.” from Mary
“Kathryn’s class was interesting from the start, covered lots of techniques and was so uncomplicated it’s encouraged me to try anything.” Katherine
“In 2006 I attended Kathryn Wardill’s Glass Bead Making workshop at McGregor Summer School. At the commencement of the workshop I had only a very slight knowledge of the method of Lampwork and limited experience working with glass. Upon completion of the two week workshop I had gained a strong understanding of the materials and techniques along with an insatiable appetite for Glass Bead Making!
In the years that have followed this workshop I have myself become a professional Glass Artist and have collaborated with and designed for some wonderfully talented people within the Jewellery industry. I am eternally grateful to Kathryn for her generosity and support as a teacher and continue to admire the unique application of her skill as both Glass Artist and Jeweller. Thanks Kathryn.” From Brydie Jayne
“Kathryn’s class was packed full of instruction and the material learned in a weekend would have equaled 3 classes with another teacher. Kathryn dedicated time to each student and was endlessly patient as we bombarded her with questions! Thanks Kathryn for setting such a great lampwork foundation for me to learn from!” From Carli
“My beginnings with glass were mostly self taught, leadlighting, glass fusing and bead making, I’d had very limited instruction, and really was struggling! Finally I made it to a Glass Bead Making class tutored by Kathryn at McGregor Summer School and everything fell into place. Kathryn teaches technical background and practical application, by the end of her classes all students are designing their own original glass beads! More than a year later I could not be happier with the professional instruction and personal attention that Kathryn has given to me, I am really happy with the beads I make now and still refer back to the notes written in class time. I guarantee that if you consider taking one of Kathryn’s classes you should do that class – you will always cherish the time you spent there, and especially the skills you will learn from her.” From Sher McKain (Fine Art Student, QCA)
“What a wonderful 10 days of learning from Kathryn. As a self taught bead maker I can thoroughly recommend that a class with her will bring it altogether. She is patient, helps to fix your mistakes and encourages you to push your bead making to higher levels. Thank you Kathryn” From Carolyn
“I landed in one of Kathryn’s lampwork week-long workshops out of curiosity in 2007 and have not looked back. I am inspired by Kathryn’s knowledge of her art. During the workshop Kathryn skilfully and gently builds up your confidence and skill level, letting you find your style while watching you like a hawk – not only for your safety but for others around you. At the end of the week we were left with the skills and confidence to continue working with a hothead but also a collection of lampwork to be proud of. Personally this workshop unleashed a skill and passion that I did not know existed. I have since spent countless hours over the torch perfecting my own skills and developing new ones. This has lead to some fantastic commission opportunities for me as a textile artist. Thank you Kathryn for unleashing a spark that was clearly dormant until you introduced me to the hothead.” With the Kindest Regards Sonja Hindrum
Class photos
