Ring making

SPEND A DAY LEARNING A NEW SKILL. MINDFUL AND MIND FULL ( IN A GOOD WAY)

Katie Woodward and Kirstie Maclaren wanted to create a different type of craft evening. So they set up The Workbench to run pop-up workshops across the UK, with crafters making one-off rings in cafés, bars and at festivals. And if you’d rather make your own at home, they’ll post workshop boxes, along with video tutorials and equipment.

I went along to a pop-up in London, determined to make a one-off ring. Armed with a cocktail, a piece of jeweller’s wax, a craft knife and some sandpaper, I started by chipping away at the wax until I had a ring I was happy with. It’s very therapeutic, as you can only slice off tiny pieces of wax at a time, which you then smooth down with sandpaper. The wax softens as you carve it, so shaping it gets easier as you go along. The Workbench’s Instagram page is full of ringspiration, and if you have something specific you want to make, the girls can help. I created a silver textured ring, while others made tiny midi-ring bands, heart-shaped signet rings, and square designs. Katie and Kirstie took the rings back to their workshop, where they cast them in silver (you can choose gold or rose-gold plated, gold or platinum, too) and polish them up, before sending them back to their creators. A couple of weeks later, I got a shiny envelope through the letter box, with my sparkly new ring inside. For dates and venues, visit theworkbenchlondon.com; or find inspiration on Instagram @theworkbenchldn . Workshops cost from £69, including materials.