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Jewellery Repair and Upcycle Class

Learn how to repair your jewellery and create new sustainable and stylish pieces

Christine Smalley
(Etelage)

4.9 (79)

ClassBento donates with every booking to

2.5 hours

Summer Hill

5 to 12 guests

$79 (Afterpay available)

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Overview

Reviews

Teacher

What you'll do

Who doesn't have a stash of unworn and broken jewellery in their bottom drawer?

Transform your inherited and pre-loved pieces into wearable art or unique statement pieces.

Give your old jewellery a fresh lease of life and bring vintage charm to your modern designs. Repairing and recycling have become essential parts of the modern craft movement, offering a meaningful way to address sustainability and ethical consumption by ensuring beautiful materials don't go to waste.

You don't need to spend a fortune on mint-condition pieces when you can pull apart, cut up, or restring what you already have.

During the two-hour class, you will learn:

How to make simple repairs to jewellery
Loads of finishing touches and professional tips
How to string beads on wire and finish off with a clasp
How to convert clip ons to studs
How to make a necklace or bracelet longer
How to link charms and chain (linking is a technique used to make earrings, necklaces, bracelets and chokers)

Some examples of repairs you can learn, include:

Restring a broken strand of beads (or some collected ones) on a strong flex cable stainless steel wire
Add an extension chain for extra length in a short choker
Change ear fittings to sterling silver or surgical steel if you have sensitive ears

What you'll get

A bonus repair kit, in your choice of finish (brass or surgical steel) to:

restring 1 necklace

make 1 pair of earrings

A selection of jewellery parts and stringing supplies.
New skills and new jewels!
Valuable tips in cleaning and preserving your jewellery.
Knowledge of sustainable style.
Tools supplied to use on the day.
A sumptuous afternoon tea.

See booking options

Recent reviews of Jewellery Repair and Upcycle Class

5/5 from Jacqueline Dent, attended Jun 2026: This class was excellent. I repaired three broken items and also learned elementary skills.
5/5 from Susan Owen, attended Mar 2025: The teacher was really flexible and worked with everyone in the class. It was a great fun and community atmosphere. Highly recommend.
5/5 from Annabel Narayan, attended Jun 2024: My daughter and I attended this class as we both are passionate about recycling. We were able to fix links in our Jewellery and go away Inspired to create new pieces. Our teacher Christine was great, welcoming and helpful. We recommend her class. We are Three strikes Boutique which is all about recycling, reusing and revamping. Look out for our name in the future :)
5/5 from Shane Tiernan, attended Jun 2024: Really enjoyed the class with Christine. She was very informative and helpful and I left with a repaired necklace and braclet & a new pair of earrings. Highly recommended!!
5/5 from Sandee McMillan, attended Feb 2024: absolutely amazing loved the class and christine is a very gracious and intuitive host Cant wait for the next one
5/5 from Cara Frame, attended Feb 2024: Christine's class was great! I learnt some great skills and up-cycled and repaired/restrung lots of my broken treasures:) Highly recommended! Cara
5/5 from Tiffany Reichert, attended Feb 2024: I really enjoyed my time today. Christine is a lovely, calm and knowledgeable instructor who knows her craft. She created a safe space to learn and try things. She had her own goodies and was happy to share and suggest what we could try. I’m not naturally crafty despite years of trying to be so it was perfect for me and my style of learning.
5/5 from Karen Douglas, attended Oct 2022: Excellent class. Loved the location and ability to buy bits and pieces to continue working after the class. Lovely morning tea. Everything provided and nice small group. Christine made sure we all got great value from the class. Thank you so much Christine!
5/5 from Brenda, attended Oct 2019: It has been so satisfying to restring and repair my jewellery, thank you for your patience Christhroughly enjoyed your workshops, the friendly atmosphere and the creative ideas. Sincerely Brenda

Your teacher

Christine Smalley
(Etelage)

Inspiring Jewellery Designer, Educator and Stylist

4.9 (79)

Women-owned

I am a community-spirited inner westie, jewellery designer, passionate educator, and sustainable style advocate. My jewellery workshops celebrate the maker culture, joy in creativity and craftsmanship of handmade.

The founder of the bespoke jewelry brand Etelage and a former jewelry and bead retailer in Newtown and Cronulla, I love sharing tips and insights on how to start a creative business, drawing from my experience in retail and brand building.

I am dedicated to creating hands-on workshops focused on jewellery making fundamentals and design tips. My goal is to foster a fun and engaging environment where participants can share ideas, be inspired, and let their imaginations run wild.

Fuelled with a passion for women to exude their notable and authentic style, my goal is to encourage all my students to awaken their creative soul and seek beauty, slow, artisan and local.

Workshops are held in a friendly and intimate studio space in the Summer Hill Flour Mill precinct. Alternatively, I offer a mobile service and can travel to your venue. (home, Airbnb or hotel for group bookings only)

With over 20 years teaching experience from TAFE, corporate and community groups to hens, milestone celebrations and kids parties participants craft unique, high-quality jewellery designs that tell a story.

Let's make and play together and unlock your inner creative!

Christine

ClassBento has verified that Christine Smalley has a valid Working with Children Check clearance.