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My **last polishing masterclass of the year** is nearly full.

Only **2 places left** for bench polishing with @foredomelectric @workshop.925

Once those spots are gone, that's it for 2026.

As for next year? Well, I'm leaving it to the One-Eyed Man.

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✨ THE GC&DC 2027 COMPETITION IS LIVE! ✨

We’re excited to announce that entries are now open for the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council 2027 Awards!

Celebrating excellence in technical skill, craftsmanship and creative design, the competition is open to everyone across jewellery, silversmithing and the allied trades - from established makers and designers to apprentices, students and hobbyists.

This year’s competition includes: • 40 competition categories across 2D design and 3D craft & design • 7 Special Awards • 4 Bursaries • 3 Major Awards • 4 Premier Awards • The prestigious College Trophy • 59 Awards in total!

And with the generous support of 63 sponsors and patrons, there are more opportunities than ever to have your work recognised.

Whether you’re looking to challenge yourself, explore a new idea, showcase your technical skills or gain recognition for your work, we want to see what you create.

📣 The briefs are now live! Head to the GC&DC website to explore all the categories and find out how to enter.

🗓️ Entry deadline: midnight, 10 January 2027
🏆 Awards Ceremony: Monday 8 March 2027 at Goldsmiths’ Hall, London

Good luck to everyone entering!

#GCDC2027 #GCDCAwards #JewelleryCompetition #designcompetition #silversmithing

@gcdcawards @lockyjude

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✨ A Proud Milestone for AJC Goldsmith! ✨

I am truly honoured and delighted to be one of the five jewellers who have been awarded the @gsmithscentre Business Catalyst (Small) Grant.

As the owner of AJC Goldsmith, this recognition means so much to me and marks an exciting milestone in my business journey.

With the support of this grant, I will have the opportunity to invest in a Dado laser welder, which will open up so many more possibilities for jewellery repairs. This exciting addition will allow me to expand the services I offer, take on a wider range of repair work, and continue developing my skills and business.

A heartfelt thank you to @gsmithscentre for this wonderful opportunity and for supporting small businesses like mine.
The grant has been funded by the @goldsmithsfoundation .

I am incredibly grateful and excited for what lies ahead. Here’s to new opportunities, continued growth, and bringing even more possibilities to life.

Thank you to everyone who has supported AJC Goldsmith along the way. Your encouragement means the world to me.

#thegoldsmithscentre #thegoldsmithsfoundation #businessgrowth #emergingbusinesssupport

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Five jewellers. Five grants. Five very different next steps.

The Goldsmiths' Centre has awarded its 2026 Business Catalyst (Small) Grants to Aaron Caldwell (@ajc.goldsmith) of AJC Goldsmith, Heather Coleman (@heather.coleman.jewellery), Helena Palmeira (@helenapalmeira), Isabel Distassi (@isabeldistassi) and Aaron Whittingham (aw_goldsmith), each receiving £2,000 to invest in a specific area of their business, funded by the Goldsmiths' Foundation (@goldsmithsfoundation).

Aaron Caldwell is bringing laser welding in-house to reduce turnaround times on complex repairs. Heather Coleman is investing in a pneumatic graver system and specialist training to expand into grain and star-setting repairs and engraving. Helena Palmeira is combining new stone-carving equipment with photography, website improvements and digital sales materials. Isabel Distassi is funding advanced stone-setting and digital rendering training to take on more complex bespoke commissions. And Aaron Whittingham is purchasing a Durston drawbench and micro-plating unit to expand his in-house repair and restoration services.

The grants are open to UK-based sole traders and micro-businesses in jewellery, silversmithing and allied trades who have completed a business mentoring, consultancy or diagnostic programme. The next round is open and applications close on 11 October 2026. Full details at goldsmiths-centre.org/apply-for-grants

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**What's occurring?**

A new stage has begun, I am not done yet!

Every student learns the basics first. No shortcuts. No cheating. Just solid foundations built the right way.

We start with **Lump Pumice** and the legendary **Water of Ayr stone**.

🔹 **Water of Ayr (WOA)**
The darker charcoal-grey stone. Ultra-fine, around 9,000-11,000 grit, producing a beautifully refined finish.

🔹 **Tam O'Shanter (TOS)**
The lighter speckled stone. A fine hone that cuts a little slower than Water of Ayr, perfect for developing control and patience.

In polishing, it's not about rushing to the finish line. It's about understanding every stage of the journey.

Master the basics, and the basics become mastery.

#PolishingSkills #WaterOfAyr #TamOShanter #heritagecrafts #benchpegselfie

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I’m very happy to share I’ve been awarded a bursary place on Heritage Crafts’ five-day Passementerie Masterclass with @jessica_light_ , the ‘Tassel Queen of Bethnal Green’! 😄

Passementerie is an endangered craft, and I’ll be spending five days learning specialist tassel, weaving and table-work techniques with one of the few contemporary practitioners working in the field.

It feels like such a lovely fit with where my own work is heading: ceremony, embellishment, uniforms, costume, banners and objects that are allowed to be a bit excessive.

I’m also really interested in what I can carry back into my work as a Fashion and Textiles technician. Being around students and young makers puts me in a position to introduce them to specialist heritage skills they may never otherwise come across, and hopefully pique their interest in passementerie and endangered textile crafts more widely.

Very excited to learn properly, bring the skills back into my own making, and see where it takes me!

Thank you @heritagecrafts and @goldsmithsfoundation for the opportunity. 🧵🎀✨

📸Image reposted from Heritage Crafts

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✨ Magic FlyAwayMop ✨

Donna is deaf, so we swapped spoken cues for shoulder taps and lip reading. The result? Perfect rhythm and a beautifully polished copper bowl. 👏

Thanks to @heritagecrafts Bursary Scheme, supported by the @goldsmithsfoundation.

#heritagecrafts #benchpegselfie #deafcommunity #deaf
#flyawaymop

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**Dan the Man loves polishing! 🔥**

What a week!

Thanks to the **@heritagecrafts Bursary Scheme**, 10 students joined me at **@sapphorocks** for a week packed with polishing, learning and plenty of workshop banter.

From beginner tips to professional finishing techniques, I've shared more than a few tricks of the trade. Seeing the students grow in confidence and skill has been the best part.

The future of our heritage crafts is looking bright... and beautifully polished. ✨👏

#flyawaymop
#heritagecrafts
#benchpegselfie
#goldpolishingguru
#polishing

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Tiny cleaning ninja alert! 🧹#flyawaymop sneaks into every #nookandcranny Antique Silver Tankard was a worthy challenge @heritagecrafts polishing masterclass @sapphorocks 🇬🇧
#antiquerestoration
#benchpegselfie

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The new copper bowl project is a Big Hit, l just Love the way copper glows they are so shiny, I might need sunglasses indoors!

Spot the tiny Flying Away custom mop fits in so snuggley

#goldpolishingguru
#polishing
#heritagecrafts
#benchpegselfie
#flyawaymop

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A technique most people never see: filed Lump Pumice, sculpted to the job, erasing hammer marks with heritage precision.
Jack’s at the start of his polishing journey, and he’s already glowing like he’s found treasure.

#goldpolishingguru #HeritageCrafts #MasterclassMagic
#benchpegselfie

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The #flyawaymop is having a jig 🕺 💃

#training
#polishing

#heritagecrafts
#benchpegselfie

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