261. Balancing a Full-Time Job and a Jewellery Dream: Learning Metal Clay Jewellery Making with Niloo
Release Date: 05/29/2025
274. 5 Tips For Creating Standout Workshops as a Creative with Patricia van den Akker from the Design Trust
Jewellers Academy Podcast
If you’ve ever thought about teaching creative workshops, or you already run them and want to make them truly unforgettable, this episode is packed with wisdom you won’t want to miss. Jessica Rose talks with Patricia van den Akker from The Design Trust, author of 'Teaching Creative Workshops in Person and Online', to share five powerful tips for designing workshops that stand out. Patricia’s approach goes far beyond simply showing people how to make something. Instead, she encourages us to think deeply about why we teach, what kind of experience we want to create, and how we can...
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273. Advanced Stone Setting: Learn to Make Tiara Wedding Bands with April Dace in Brighton
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess talks with fine jeweller and experienced instructor April Dace about her upcoming three-day in-person masterclass in Brighton (2nd - 4th October 2025). Designed for intermediate to advanced jewellers, the course focuses on creating a stunning Tiara wedding band with five claws - a perfect project to refine your stone setting skills and elevate your engagement ring designs. April shares what students can expect, from shaping and fitting rings for stones to creating precise settings, soldering, and claw work. While the...
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272. 10 Tips for Selling Out Your Jewellery Workshops with Anna Campbell & Lynn Powell
Jewellers Academy Podcast
This week on the Jewellers Academy podcast, Anna Campbell is in conversation with Lynn Powell. Anna is the founder and tutor for Jewellery School Scotland, teaching sell-out jewellery workshops in Edinburgh. Lynn Powell is the founder of the Arienas Collective, a creative workshop hub in Edinburgh. The collective was set up to help local artists and makers make a living doing what they love. Anna teaches her workshops exclusively with the Arienas Collective and they regularly sell out months in advance. The Arienas Collective recently curated an exhibition called Love or Money, which explored...
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271. From Beginner to Maker: Inside the Foundation in Silver Jewellery with Tutor Laura-Jayne
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, host Anna Campbell chats with tutor and mentor Laura-Jayne of Small Dog Silver about the Foundation in Silver Jewellery course - the perfect starting point for beginners wanting to make beautiful jewellery from home. Laura-Jayne shares her passion for mentoring new makers, watching them grow from total novices to confident creators. Together, Anna and Laura-Jayne dive into what the 5-week online Foundation course offers, from learning essential techniques like saw piercing, soldering, and stone setting, to creating five...
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270. The Visibility Retreat: A Game-Changer for Your Jewellery Business
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week’s episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jessica Rose is joined by Anna Campbell, Kelly Twigg, and Emma René to introduce something brand new: the first-ever Jewellers' Visibility Retreat, happening this September in Brighton, England. This intimate, in-person, three-day event is designed for jewellery business owners who are ready to get seen, connect deeply with their brand, and confidently attract customers, just in time for the busy Christmas sales season. You will learn about what to expect from this immersive retreat: powerful hands-on workshops in email marketing,...
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269. Overcoming Obstacles: How Jane Taylor Built a Thriving Jewellery Business
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess talks with fine jeweller and tutor Jane Taylor, to talk about her creative journey into jewellery making. From childhood badge-making to running her own boutique jewellery store in Godalming, UK. Jane shares about the winding road that led her to jewellery. From early experiments with polymer clay, to leaving an apprenticeship in search of creative freedom, to building her own brand and shop that's now part of a thriving creative hub. Jane shares the lessons she's learned through decades in the industry, including working for other...
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268. Enamelling for Royalty and Saying Yes Before You’re Ready: Jeweller Mahroz’s Creative Journey
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess talks with Mahroz Hekmati, a talented jeweller, enamelling specialist, and core member of the teaching team at the new Jewellers Academy Brighton studios. Mahroz shares her journey from Iran to Canada and eventually to the UK, tracing her transformation from a graphic design student to an award-winning jeweller whose work has been worn by royalty. She shares about the cultural and personal challenges she faced entering a traditionally male-dominated field in Iran, and how key moments like a last-minute enamelling commission reshaped...
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267. Pricing, Stockists & Standing Out: Why Alternative Events Could Be Your Secret Weapon with Hannah from Slab Jewellery
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, host Elin Horgan is joined by Hannah Royce-Greensill, founder of Slab Jewellery, whose path to becoming a full-time jeweller began in an unexpected place, freelance web design. Hannah shares how she balanced both careers in the early stages, using her digital skills to support herself while slowly and steadily growing her jewellery business. Hannah opens up about the power of being bold in growing her jewellery business and how a single, heartfelt Instagram post about her dream to be stocked at Clifton Rocks in Bristol led to...
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266. 5 Mistakes Businesses Make with Their Branding (and How to Fix Them) with Nicola McMillan and Anna Campbell
Jewellers Academy Podcast
Imagine this: you’ve poured your heart into designing beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces. You’ve set up an Instagram account, maybe even a website… but somehow, you’re still not getting the attention or the sales you hoped for. Sound familiar? The truth is, having great work isn’t always enough. Without a clear, compelling brand, getting lost in the crowd is easy. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. Branding is something so many jewellers struggle with, especially when starting out. That’s why this week’s episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast is a must-listen. In...
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265. Celebrating Alternative Jewellery with Alice from the Museum of Alternative Jewellery
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week’s episode, host Kim Thompson sits down with Alice from the Museum of Alternative Jewellery to explore the wonderfully imaginative world of non-traditional jewellery making. Alice shares how a childhood love of beads, Polly Pockets, and playful textures evolved into a lifelong passion for alternative jewellery as self-expression and even a personal ‘safety blanket’. From shrink plastic to acorn cups and found objects, Alice reveals how unconventional materials can carry just as much meaning and beauty as precious metals. They dive into how jewellery can be both a...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, host Anna Campbell is joined by Niloo, a Diploma in Silver Metal Clay student based in Finland. They dive into Niloo’s journey from a full-time IT engineering role to discovering a deep passion for jewellery making through metal clay.
Niloo shares how the creative freedom of metal clay, the structure of the diploma course, and the supportive online community helped her reignite her artistic spark. From her love of nature-inspired botanical projects to her goals of turning her hobby into a jewellery business, this episode is full of inspiration and practical insight for anyone considering learning jewellery making.
Anna and Niloo explore the value of mentorship, the importance of deadlines for momentum, and how having access to tools, expert feedback, and lifetime video content makes all the difference. If you're curious about metal clay, love the idea of working flexibly around a busy schedule, or want a peek behind the scenes of our diploma experience, this episode is for you!
About Niloo
Hi, I’m Niloo - I studied computer science and worked in tech for a few years, but deep down, I always loved art and making things by hand.
One day, I finally listened to that little voice inside and signed up for the Metal Clay Diploma at Jewellers Academy.
Now I’m in Term 3, totally in love with this material, and honestly… I’ve never been happier! The future feels bright — and full of silver!
Follow Niloo on Instagram @nilooartisanjewellery to see her beautiful work and creative progress.
Diploma in Silver Metal Clay
If you’re inspired by Niloo’s journey and intrigued by metal clay, check out the one year online Diploma in Silver Metal Clay. Suitable for beginners or those with some experience, this course takes you quickly from beginner level to metal clay artist.
Enrolment is open until 13th June 2025. Kits are available until 31st May 2025 (our friends at Metal Clay Ltd have set this deadline in order to make up the kits and ship them before the course starts in September).
Here are some useful links:
FREE 5 Days of Silver Metal Clay online course
Learn more about the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay
Book a no-obligation discovery call
Ready to enrol? Here is the payment page