Willow & Twigg is a small Hampshire-based business specialising in contemporary handcrafted silver, sea glass and gemstone jewellery including necklaces, rings, earrings, bangles, and bracelets.
Inspired by nature and the ocean, and made with a variety of sustainably sourced materials, the designs are modern, elegant and unique. Styles range from the simple and delicate through to bolder statement pieces and really special 'one of a kind' creations.
Everything is designed and crafted by hand with great care in order to produce a range of jewellery that is as individual as the wearer.
Whether you are treating yourself or searching for the perfect gift for a loved one, if you like your accessories to be just a little bit different then this collection is exactly what you are looking for!
Follow me on Instagram to see more about how and where my jewellery is made, with lots of 'behind-the-scenes' clips and videos showing my creative processes and inspiration!
And that’s a wrap! Here are all the pieces I made during the third and final term of my Diploma In Silver Jewellery with @jewellersacademy 🤩⚒️
The last few projects were focused on more advanced techniques such as claw settings and working with multiple stones - which I loved!
There were also several weeks at the end to work on our final projects. We were allowed to create our own designs for these, but they had to showcase at least three of the techniques that were taught on the course.
I chose to challenge myself technically and made a book locket pendant, that incorporated saw piercing, complex soldering and hinges and rivets.
The ‘cold connections’ week was one of my favourites on the whole course, and I’m already using the techniques in other pieces I’ve been making since.
I also felt that soldering was where I personally saw the greatest progress and consolidation of my skills, and I wanted to include the saw piercing because that was the very first technique we did.
It was also the one I always wished I’d had time to do again, so it felt a fitting tribute to include it at the end instead!
I can’t quite believe the year is already over, but enrolling on the Diploma was one of the best things I’ve done as a jeweller.
The improvement in both my technical ability and my confidence over the last few months has been huge, and my only regret is not doing it sooner!
Thank you all so much for following along with me and for all the support, motivation, encouragement and advice you have offered.
I’ve really enjoyed sharing the journey, and although I’m not going to be moving on to the next Diploma just yet I will be back to share my experiences as I continue learning new skills.
Now I’ve realised the value to be had in investing in my own training, I’m not going to stop! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whatsonmybench #silverjewelry #jewelrymaking #jadiplomadiaries #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #silverjewellery
It’s finally tidy up time! 🙃⚒️ Every end-of-term school holiday or half term break acts as my reminder to have a de-clutter of my bench and check how many half-completed projects are buried here.
I’d love to say I’m one of those people who clears up every time they finish something, but I’m not!
Well, not here at least. I take a different approach to the rest of the house and can’t abide clutter and mess, but somehow I feel the opposite about my workbench.
I frequently leave things wherever they land each time I put down my tools, in case somehow tidying everything away will remove the creativity along with it - especially if something isn’t quite complete!
I’ve been following this routine for a few years now as it prompts me to do it every six weeks or so, which feels achievable.
I also have to admit that sitting down to a clean and tidy workspace IS always a nice change.
Now the bench is squared away I just have to do the rest of the workshop. I won’t film that bit though as I have a feeling it may take me a wee bit longer! 😬
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whereiwork #mystudio #jewellersworkshop #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #timelapsevideo
Are you in need of some Instagram inspiration this summer? 🙌 Then this posting challenge might help!
A couple of weeks ago I asked if any of you would be interested in doing something like this, and promised to come up with one if the idea proved popular.
Well, the overwhelming verdict was in favour of the proposal, so here it is! 🙂
It starts this Friday and runs across the month of August. I’ve not included weekends so these can be used to take a break, catch up any missed days or come up with content for the following week.
Everyone is welcome to join in and it’s deliberately not jewellery-focused!
To take part you simply create a post that ties in with the theme or prompt for that day and add the hashtag #GetSetForSummer25 to the caption text below.
This means everyone else taking part can search for that tag and find and engage with each other’s posts too.
The prompts can be interpreted any way you see fit, and you can choose to do them all - or just the ones you fancy!
There are no prizes on offer for finishing (sorry!) but it’s a great way to keep active on this platform over the summer and enjoy sharing things that might fall slightly outside your usual niche.
Feel free to share all or any part of this post, and tag anyone else you think might be interested too! 🙃
Kelly xx
#smallbizsupport #dowhatyoulove #instagramchallenge #instachallenge
A quick tip when using beading wire! ✨
I’ve been making some beaded bracelets this afternoon for one of my last remaining Diploma projects (yes, I forgot to finish this one earlier… 🫣)
Whilst doing so I thought I’d record and share this quick tip for keeping the beads on the stringing wire until you’re finished.
Just wrap a bit of masking tape on one end and they won’t accidentally fall off.
Simple to do and easy to remove.
I used to make bracelets like this by finishing off one end completely with the clasp or jump ring before adding any beads at all, but the downside of that is you can’t then add any extra beads to the secured end without taking them all off.
The tape is temporary which makes it much more flexible if you decide you need to adjust the design before it’s done.
This tip may of course be obvious to many of you, but it took me a while (several years) to think of it, so I figured it was worth passing on! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #beadedjewellery #makingjewelry #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking
Isn’t this a beautiful stone? 🤩 It’s a Moss Agate, and has been set into a handcrafted sterling silver pendant with a patterned riveted bail.
I cut out the backplate as much as possible too, as it’s just as pretty on the reverse.
This one is still available on my website, along with a few other beauties of a similar size and style - but I’m going to be making some more showstoppers like this to be included in a gallery soon too!
I can’t reveal any more about that just yet, but the idea of spending some time making jewellery this summer and NOT having to take a billion photos or write listings for each piece is REALLY exciting for me.
It’s not something I’ve done before as the opportunity was never quite right, but I can’t wait to see a selection of my work properly on display this autumn! 🤩
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend,
Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #agate #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #ladysmith #mossagate #gemstonejewellery #jewelryaddict #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewellery #mossagatejewellery
Has anyone found a way of restoring these that actually works? 😬
I’m now on my ninth pair of soldering tweezers, after trying and failing repeatedly to keep one pair clean for picking up tiny solder pallions.
I’ve tried writing ‘NO FIRE’ on them, wrapping the ends in tape and all sorts of things to make them look distinctive enough to stand out from the rest and stop me using them to actually solder with.
But it always fails… 😂
I know you can straighten them out a bit with pliers but they’re never quite the same and never as good for picking up the solder.
I’ve now finally got the hang of pick soldering so it doesn’t matter quite as much as it used to if the tips aren’t straight and don’t meet perfectly, but I’d still love to know if there’s a better way of cleaning them up.
If you have any suggestions, let me know! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #soldering #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #jewelrymaking #jewellerytools
Getting my dopamine hit of the day from these drawers at @jewellersacademybrighton! ⚒️
If you’ve followed me for a while you will know how much I LOVE a good storage system and I actually squealed when I opened this drawer today and saw how all these polishing burrs and accessories had been moved from random mixed bags to these acrylic trays.
A place for everything, and everything in its place - and super easy to see and find things too.
I’ve been teaching classes here for six months now and every time I visit I can see how things are settling into place more and more as everyone finds better ways of storing, organising and using things.
It’s a dream for jewellers, and if you’ve not yet been to Brighton to visit the studios then I throughly recommend it!
Not just for the amazing range of jewellery-making courses, but for all the tool and storage inspo too! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #toolstorage #storagesolutions #jewelrymaking
A tip for soldering hinges! ⚒️🔥 A few of you asked how I kept the silver tube from moving when I was attaching the hinges for my final project book locket.
The solution was simple - graphite pencil lead.
Not only does graphite not get affected by the heat of the torch, solder won’t flow over it either. This is why some jewellers use it to ‘dirty’ a seam to stop an existing join from coming undone.
I prefer to use yellow ochre paint for that particular task, but I do like graphite leads for holding tubing in place.
There’s nothing fancy about these; I just removed a few 0.7mm leads from a pencil I had on my desk and pushed as many as I could fit into the silver tube that I was using for the hinges.
After double checking the spacing and placement of them against the middle hinge on the opposite side of the pendant, I used a bit of Wolf Clay to hold them in place and soldered them on.
And that was it.
Obviously there was a lot more to the making process of this whole piece, but I’m relieved to report that this part was one of the least stressful! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #soldering #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking
Time for a tidy again… 🫣⚒️😂
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This is where I work - my creative space and my happy place. As you’ll have seen from other reels I am actually super-organised and highly efficient in managing the rest of my workshop.
But here at the actual bench? Here the ideas run free and the tools pile up, and that’s just the way it works for me.
I couldn’t even begin to count how many works-in-progress there are here, or how many unfinished and partially buried projects.
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I do try and give everything a proper tidy up and put things back in their rightful place every school holiday though, as this gives me roughly six or seven weeks between each intervention.
And now I’m in a bit of a panic spiral because tomorrow is not only the last day of term for my daughters but the last day of the school year. And I’m genuinely not sure where the time has gone.
So once again it’s time to sort the bench out. Or at least it will be soon. This job can go to the top of next week’s task list! 🙃
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Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #mystudio #whereiwork #creativespace #whatsonyourbench #ladysmith #jewellerytools #handmadejewellery #myworkspace #creativechaos
Do you use this method too? ⚒️ This tip for work-hardening stud posts isn’t one of my own discoveries and I’ve seen it shared many times before, but here it is again for anyone who hasn’t come across it yet.
The same method can also be used for straightening wire too, which is especially helpful if you are working with shorter lengths for things like earring hooks.
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #studearrings #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #silverearrings #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips
Making a fingerprint charm bracelet! ⚒️
This was one of the last few projects for my Diploma with @jewellersacademy; creating jewellery using silver metal clay.
If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know I’ve already worked with this material before, but I’d never tried making fingerprint jewellery.
The task was to make a bracelet with five charms, and since I have five people in my immediate family this seemed like a really good time to have a go.
It turned out to be a little more challenging than I’d anticipated… but a lot of fun to do! 😂
Some technical points for those who are interested;
• I had everyone put their fingerprint directly into the clay. In hindsight using wax or a moulding material first would probably have been easier.
• I wanted to have an initial on the back of each one to indicate who they belonged to, and did this by making smaller circles with stamped letters that were attached before drying. Stamping directly into the main charm distorted the prints.
• You have to be VERY careful not to touch the fingerprints themselves. They came out surprisingly well in the end, but I had to use a patina to really see the details.
• I managed to get all five charms from one 10g pack of Art Silver Clay.
• I fired them off in the kiln rather than with a torch, but used the slightly longer time setting for ‘extra strength’ as they’re going to be on a bracelet and liable to be knocked about more.
• The black and white circular thing is just a desktop mug warmer I have to speed up the drying time.
If you have any other questions please just ask, and I’ll try and answer them! 🙂
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #silvermetalclay #charmbracelet #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #silverclayjewellery #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries #fingerprintjewelry #howitsmade #processreel
Another organisation tip! ⚒️⛓️
This is a time-saving idea that I came up with a while ago and thought was worth a re-share.
I got fed up rifling through my collection of gallery wire each time I was trying to price something up or place a new order for materials, so I made myself an index card for easy reference.
On this I have a small sample of all the different wires I use, along with the descriptive names and store SKU numbers.
I have one for all the loose chain I use too - it’s just white card and double-sided tape.
It’s so much quicker to find the info for whatever I’ve used, and easier to make direct comparisons between the different types too when choosing which ones to work with.
The only thing I don’t record in pen is the cost, because this fluctuates so often. Instead I calculate this as ‘price per cm’ each time I place a new order, and pencil it onto my guides, updating it whenever I use up one batch and start working with a new one.
This way my prices will be more accurate and reflect what I actually paid for the silver, so I won’t be at risk of over/undercharging.
It may have taken a little while to make something like this, but it’s proven to be well worth it in the long run.
If your brain also works visually and needs a little help with organisation and memory recall, then this system may help you too! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #metalsmith #organisationtips #makingjewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking #timesavingtips
Trusting the process! ⚒️ This was my final project piece for my Diploma with @jewellersacademy 📖
I’ve already shared the finished result of the locket itself in a reel, but here’s a glimpse of the making of it - which in total took me over a week.
Would you like to see the full process in more detail and slower speed?
I think I already know the answer most of you will give! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #silverlocket #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries #bookpendant #howitsmade #processreel
Would you like some content ideas for your social media this summer? 🤔
I want to stay engaged and keep active here on Instagram during the month of August, but I also don’t want to be tied to my bench or spending all my time working.
My children will be home from school and I am eager to get outside as much as possible with them this year, which means it can be harder to come up with regular content.
I know taking a complete break works for a lot of people, but I don’t want the struggle of re-building momentum afterwards and in all honesty I enjoy using this platform too much and would miss it!
In the past I have found Instagram challenges to be a great way to have fresh or different things to post about during quieter months, and since I haven’t seen any being suggested elsewhere I thought perhaps I should create my own instead.
It wouldn’t be complicated, just a simple prompt for a post each day of the month - and not including weekends, just to make it more manageable.
What do you think? Would you be up for that too?
If you’re already wondering about what to share this summer and fancy having someone else come up with the ideas, then let me know and I’ll see what I can do! 🙂
Kelly xx
It’s called ‘metal fatigue’ - if you repeatedly bend a piece of silver over and over again too many times the molecules in it will become rigid and cause it to harden. Eventually it will lose all remaining flexibility and crack or snap.
If you’ve ever done this with a paper clip then you’ll know what I mean - the same thing will happen to a cuff bangle (or an ‘adjustable’ ring) if you manipulate them too many times.
They usually have enough pliability to make an initial adjustment for a perfect fit, but once you’ve got them comfortable you need to leave them alone and put them on and take them off this way - in other words, mind the gap!
I’ve posted this clip a couple of times before, but it’s always worth reiterating the message now and again to raise awareness.
Feel free to share it or pass it on if you’d like more people to know how to look after their jewellery and help it last forever! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #cuffbangle #cuffbracelets #makingjewelry #jewelleryknowledge #silversmith #metalsmith #makingjewellery #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #silverbracelet #silverjewellery #handmadejewellery #jewellerytips
Sharing some sea glass love on a sunny Sunday afternoon! 🌊
I am going to be making some more intricate style sea glass pieces over the summer, with the unique hanging bails that I’ve been enjoying making recently.
But for now I have a selection of classic and contemporary ones available; all carefully set in a plain but shiny setting. There’s a nice mix of colours and sizes too.
These are a great choice for gifts as they are as simple as I can get them, making them easy to wear and helping them go with pretty much anything in outfit terms.
Dress up or dress down - if you’re a fan of the ocean and would love to wear a little piece of sea tumbled treaure then these will work for you!
I always pick the best pieces of glass to use in this type of design too. Each one has a beautiful frosty surface complete with all the little C-marks and indentations carved from years spent rolling around in the waves.
Often I wish I could know the exact history of the glass I work with, but then I think that’s all part of its appeal.
You have beauty and mystery combined, and upcycling at its most elegant.
What’s not to love about that? 🙃
Kelly xx
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#seaglassnecklace #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #oneofakindjewellery #seajewels #silverjewellery #upcycledjewelry
It’s far easier to avoid getting patina in areas you don’t want it in the first place, than to try removing it afterwards!
I recently shared a reel about how I oxidise chains and larger pieces of silver, and this is my favourite method for applying it with a little more precision!
This bracelet was set with a pale piece of sea glass, so I didn’t want the inside of the bezel to be darkened.
Removing the patina from inside bezels is tricky and time consuming and even a little bit left behind can create unwanted shadows and spots behind the glass.
Using watercolour brush pens allows me to apply it exactly where I want, precisely and carefully. It’s also ideal for pieces where I have stamped letters and only want to highlight those and keep the rest of the silver shiny.
This idea of using brush pens is not new and I’ve seen it several times before, but I’m sharing it for anyone who may not yet have come across this little tip!
For those who want to know, I use neat Platinol solution in mine, which doesn’t need to be heated and doesn’t smell of eggs like LOS. It doesn’t lose potency over time and has been in this pen for over a year without refilling, so lasts ages.
If I’m oxidising a larger piece or whole pieces I dilute a small amount of this solution in water (that’s what the Tupperware pot is for). It works just as well and makes the solution go further, but will only last a couple of days before turning clear.
And yes, you should probably wear gloves when doing this! 🫣🙃⚒️
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #metalsmith #makingjewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #silverjewellery #handmadejewellery #jewelrytools #jewellerytools
A stone that is just as beautiful from the back as it is from the front! 💕🌿 I will never get tired of staring into the depths of a Moss Agate.
Each one is like its own miniature universe.
And each unique stone deserves a unique setting - which I why I never tire of making these statement pendants either! 🙃
Hope you’ve had a fabulous Friday!
Kelly x
Have a lovely evening,
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #mossagate #handmadejewellery #mossagatejewellery
A quick tour of my workspace whilst it’s tidy! ⚒️
Instagram still only lets me have 90 seconds for each reel, which doesn’t leave much time to go into detail, so I apologise if it seems rather swift or I talk too quickly. I have to keep things brief!
But if you have any questions about any of my tools or the setup I have for using them, then please just ask.
And if you’d like to see any of these sections in a bit more detail let me know in the comments and I can make some more detailed reels of those areas individually.
Lastly, for anyone wanting to know exactly where I got any of my tools or storage solutions from, do take a look at the ‘Tool Links’ highlight beneath my bio, as I already have shortcuts to most things included there! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whereiwork #mystudio #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #mycreativebiz #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking
Little things that make life so much easier! ⚒️
I do a LOT of jump ring soldering for various designs in my collections, and used to just lay them out on the soldering block. But in doing this I always ended up with a flat section under the solder join that had to be sanded away after.
Now I lay the rings so that the join is just over the edge of the block, which means I can get a smoother and neater result with a lot less tidying up required afterwards.
It may not seem like a big difference, but when you solder as many jump rings as I do then those precious few seconds soon turn into hours saved!
For those who’d like the technical details, I use paste solder here. It may be more expensive than other forms of solder, but it more than makes up for that extra cost by being clean, quick and so much easier to use.
Plus it stays put when you bring the flame in. Just don’t fire it directly or it may incinerate and crumble before it has a chance to flow. I also use a mask when using it as the fumes can be nasty.
And the torch I’m using here is the Dremel Versatip. You can find other reels specifically about this torch further down my page, and there’s a shortcut to it in the ‘tool links’ highlight beneath my bio.
Hope this is helpful! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #soldering #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking
It’s my birthday today! 🎂🥳 I’m celebrating one more orbit around the sun, and am ever thankful for the privilege of growing older.
Although I’m perfectly happy to be turning 44, I still can’t quite fathom the reality of time passing in terms of decades.
In my head the seventies are still only thirty years ago, and the nineties merely a decade gone! 🫣
Looking back now and remembering my childhood and my youth I believe I was pretty lucky to have experienced everything I did, when I did.
Perhaps it’s another sign of reaching middle age, but when I find myself thinking ‘those were the days’ I really do mean it.
For those who also remember this era and enjoy a bit of nostalgia I’ve added a few facts in this post - taking you back to the golden age of 1981…
Let me know if any of these resonate with you, and if there’s anything you particularly miss! 🙃
Kelly xx
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#gettingnostalgic #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaker #1981 #childofthe80s #nostalgicmemories #fortysomething #44 #ilovethe80s #borninthe80s #borninthe80sraisedinthe90s
Wishing you a Marbleous Monday! 🌊⚒️ If you’d like a sea glass pendant like this one then you can now pick your own marble from a selection on my website and I’ll make it a bespoke silver cage and chain.
There are lots of colours and sizes to choose from, but do let me know if there’s something in particular you’re looking for that isn’t in the line-up as I may have the just the one waiting to join the queue.
The perfect locket for any mermaid! 🧜♀️
Kelly xx
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#seaglassnecklace #seamarblenecklace #seaglassmarble #seaglass #iloveseaglass #jewellerymaker #marbleous #marble #seaglasslover #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #seamarble #silverjewellery #handmadejewellery #marblemonday
Hello! My name is Kelly and I create handcrafted jewellery from my home studio on the south coast of Hampshire.
Along with my finished pieces I love to share my creative processes, giving a glimpse of what goes on in my workshop from behind the scenes.
I also regularly post lots of jewellery-making tips, tricks and techniques that I’ve picked up over the years; if you can’t see these on my main page then swipe across to the reels menu and you’ll find lots more there ➡️
If you’re new to my page, then welcome! I hope you find the content useful and interesting 🙂
And if you’ve been here for a while then thank you so much for following along with my jewellery journey thus far! ⚒️
I love the community that I have found here on Instagram, and am so very grateful for all the encouragement, motivation and support I receive - it really is hugely appreciated 🫶
Wishing you a wonderful rest of the weekend,
Kelly x
#jewellerymaker #jewelrymaking #jewellerymaking #jewellerybusiness #smallbizuk #hampshirebusiness
Evening! Here’s just a few of the pretty things you can currently find on offer in my Etsy store with a 20% discount ✨
As an artisan jeweller with a micro business I very rarely do sales, especially with metal prices continually going up and not down. But sometimes I need to do a little declutter!
None of these are test pieces or seconds, they’re just end of line designs that I am archiving in order to make way for new stuff after the summer… 🤩
The perfect time to stock up on gifts if you wanted to make the most of the opportunity! 🙃
Just head to my Etsy store via the link in my bio or stories today, and look for the ‘sale’ tab on the left hand menu when you get there.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #handcraftedjewellery #artisanmade #handmadeintheuk #artisanjewellery #handmadejewellery #igjewellery #silverjewellery #silvernecklace #silverjewelry
Possibly the most challenging gemstone I’ve ever tried to photograph! 📸 This multi-coloured beauty is an Imperial Jasper and my goodness did it give me some grief trying to get the images I needed in order to list it.
It wasn’t any difficulty with the new camera (which is still awesome and which I love a LOT) but rather with the reflections in the glossy surface of the stone itself.
I ended up taking three different sets of images on three different days to try and eliminate any glare or shadow lines in the surface of the stone.
I have a large hand-held circular diffuser which is usually fab for this sort of task, but despite waving it in all directions and contorting myself into some really odd positions I struggled to avoid getting the diffuser itself in the shot.
The most annoying thing was I couldn’t really see any unwanted lines until I put the images on the big screen.
Anyways, I managed to get the pictures I wanted in the end (most of them without reflections) but not before I’d taken over 300… 🤪
The pendant is finally up online and ready for a new home.
I’m trying really hard to fight the urge to keep this one, since I’ve spent so bloody long staring at it - those colours are sooo pretty they suck you right in! 😵💫😂
I’m now off to see if I can find/create some sort of diffuser box for outdoor product photography. Will let you know what I come up with!
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #jasperpendant #handmadejewellery #oneofakind
How do you oxidise your silver jewellery to get an aged patina effect?
This is one of the questions I get asked often.
I used to use Liver Of Sulphur for this process, but the smell of rotten eggs became too much, and I got fed up of having to go out in the garden each time because the family complained about it… 🫣
So I switched to a liquid called Platinol. It doesn’t need to be heated to work, and doesn’t smell anywhere near as bad.
I also find it gives a quicker and more even result.
For large pieces or chains where I want to get a total covering I add a few drops to water in a jar like I’ve done here, which gives the gunmetal-grey shade I like on my jewellery.
This makes the solution go a bit further but it will usually only last a couple of days in the container before turning clear.
If you want a darker result you can use it in a more concentrated form and/or warm the metal itself a little first.
I also keep watercolour brush pens filled with neat Platinol solution to paint finer details in specific areas or add to stamped lettering.
Once the metal has been oxidised you can intensify or reduce the effect by polishing to remove the ‘high spots’ and apply whichever finish you prefer.
I will opt for either a shiny or a matte finish depending on the piece in question, but I do have different polishing barrels and keep a separate set of steel shot for anything with a patina.
This way any jewellery I make that I want to have a bright and shiny finish doesn’t get accidentally darkened!
Have a wonderful Wednesday! 🙃
Kelly xx
*As with all things like this, please read and heed the safety warnings and advice before use. I avoid directly touching the liquid itself and always wear eye protection!*
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Happy first of July! ☀️ I hope you’re all managing to keep cool in the current summer heat.
I tried to do some work in my studio today but it was far too hot for soldering and such, even with the windows and door wide open.
So I’ve retreated to the garden to do some non-making tasks instead. It’s equally warm but at least there’s a slight breeze and I’m surrounded by flowers.
Sharing a few more photos I took out here this morning so you can enjoy some botanical loveliness too! 🌸🌿
Kelly x
#gardening #gardenlife #inmygardentoday #catphotography #flowerphotography #botanicalpickmeup #naturephotography #hereforthestills #iloveflowers #canoncamera
Another of my favourite bezel tips! ⚒️
This is a quick and easy method for trimming the excess metal from the backplate of settings.
These are heavy-duty kitchen scissors by Joyce Chen but florist shears are inexpensive and work equally well ✂️
Both are designed for cutting through tough materials like branches or bone, and they do a fine job on sheet metal as well.
I’ve not tried them on anything above 0.7mm thick as I haven’t needed to and don’t want to ruin them by experimenting, but I find the scissors are particularly perfect for 0.5mm sheet (as shown in this reel) and the florist’s shears for the larger bezels using 0.7mm.
I’ve got some jewellers tin snips too which I used to use for cutting sheet metal, but they have handles that are more like a pair of pliers and are nowhere near as comfortable to hold or use as these.
Definitely a time-saver; just be VERY careful of your fingers and don’t use them on anything else like paper as it can dull them! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #bezelsettings #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips
A few pretty things I have made! ⚒️🫶 These are the Moss Agate pendants I’ve been working on recently, along with a gorgeous multi-coloured Imperial Jasper stone 💕
I’ve been really enjoying making some more unique and ornate hanging bails for these larger pieces too - most of which are created from odds and ends I’ve collected in the scrap pot!
They’re all available and up on the website now (with the exception of the Jasper which just needs a few more pics).
On the subject of pictures I also wanted to say a big thank you to the lovely and very talented photographer @jasalynthorne who saw my recent post about my new camera and took the time to send me some really helpful pointers on how to use it for photographing jewellery.
That advice made taking these images WAY easier and I’m really enjoying that part of the process again.
I really do love this community and value the encouragement and support I find amongst you all so much! ☺️🫶
Have a lovely evening,
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #mossagate #handmadejewellery #mossagatejewellery
Ta daa! Here at last is the finished final project piece I made for my Diploma with @jewellersacademy 📖⚒️
It’s a locket-style pendant, and the three skills or techniques I decided to include were saw piercing, hinges/rivets and complex soldering.
It took me a week to finish, and I’m so pleased it all worked out exactly as I saw it in my head - especially as I didn’t take the time to create any prototypes in copper first, which might have been the more sensible route! 🫣
I’ll share more of the making process and the reasons behind my design choices in another reel and my final ‘Diploma Diary’ entry which will be posted in a week or so.
But in the meantime I know a lot of you were eager to see the finished piece, and so here it is.
‘Ad Altiora Tendo’ means ‘I strive for higher things’ or seek to improve myself, which felt appropriate for the last piece I’ll create on the course.
I haven’t yet made anything to put inside it, as any separate components won’t count towards the marking, but all ideas and suggestions for that are welcome! 🙃
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #silverlocket #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries #bookpendant
Another work-in-progress clip of the pendant I made for my final diploma project! ⚒️
I still don’t know what made me feel quite so brave as to attempt a piece with this many individual solder joins, but I went with it anyway.
Jewellery making requires a lot of faith and self-belief, particularly as it’s hard to visualise the final design when it looks like this half way through… 😬
Happy to say I managed it though, and it’s all complete now and sitting on my bench ready to be sent off for marking next month.
Who’d like to see the finished article? 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #whatimworkingon #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries
You can get 20% off a huge number of listings in my Etsy store for the next week or so!
I decided today (rather impulsively, but it’s been a long time coming) that I needed a massive de-cluttering of my inventory so I can make way for new designs and fresh ideas.
As a result I’ve knocked down over half my available collection by 20% in order to do that.
These aren’t seconds or samples; just things that I want to move aside to free up room in my head as well as my business!
I’m slowly drifting away from Etsy as a platform generally anyway in favour of my own website and other channels, so this feels quite cathartic too.
I don’t often run sales at all as I like to think my prices are already as fair as they can be, so if you want to grab some handmade jewellery at an even more generous reduction - do go take a look! 🙃
Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #jewelrymaker #handmadejewellery
Come set a gemstone into a pendant with me! ⚒️
I find that the final stage of making a handcrafted piece of jewellery like this is both the most nerve-wracking, and the most satisfying.
You spend hours creating the bespoke setting, and it can be down to the last few minutes before you know for certain that the stone will fit and be held securely.
This particular pendant is now all finished and will join a few of her sisters up on the website over the weekend.
I have three Moss Agates and one Imperial Jasper pendant ready to go - I just need the wind to die down a little so I can go outside and take the photos!
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #whatimworkingon #silverjewelry
#artisanjewellery #artisanmade #ooakjewelry #mossagate #mossagatejewellery
Why do I cut out the backplate on my pendants? A few of you have asked this question, and it’s a fair one!
Firstly, I do it because it reduces the overall weight of a piece and this helps keep it under the limit for hallmarking.
Any item of silver above 7.78g here in the UK has to be sent for assay and hallmarked before you can legally sell it as ‘silver’.
Now I’m not against hallmarking and I LOVE seeing my maker’s mark with my initials on the pieces I’ve made, but it IS a huge additional expense and adds time to the whole process.
To try and reduce the costs I tend to save items up for hallmarking and send them in larger batches (the cost of the postage there and back alone is over £20) but it can take me a long time to make enough and sometimes I just want to get things out there in the world.
And the other reason is simply that the underside of the cabochons I use are often just too pretty to keep hidden.
Cutting out some of the backplate allows both sides to be seen! 🙃
This Moss Agate pendant is one of the ones I have been working on this week. It is available and will hopefully be up on the website soon, but you’re welcome to send me a DM if you’d like to offer it a home before then!
Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #mossagate #handmadejewellery #mossagatejewellery
One of my favourite bezel-setting tips! ⚒️ A while ago I shared a reel showing how I use a piece of scrap wire and a fine-tipped marker pen to get an even border around the outside of a bezel.
So many of you commented on that post to say that you use a washer or jump ring in the same way, especially for the inside of bezels, and this week I tried it for the first time too.
I have to say it’s a game changer!
Just get a jump ring in the same thickness or gauge as the border you want, put the pen tip inside the ring and run it around the edge of the bezel wall as you draw the line.
It really is as easy as it looks.
The jump ring I’ve got here is 10mm across and 1mm thick, but for smaller bezels you can just use a smaller ring.
Thanks so much to all of you who shared this tip with me back then.
I made this reel to illustrate it as best I could for anyone else who might find it helpful too! 🫶
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #bezelsettings #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips #jewelrytipsandtricks
Time to start using up some of my gemstone stash - starting with this trio of Garden Moss Agates.
Which one would you choose, or are you going to wait to see the settings I create before making that call?
Let me know! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #whatimworkingon #silverjewelry
Soldering jewellery used to make me really anxious, but over the last few months I’ve really made my peace with it! ⚒️🔥
I think it’s probably the skill I’ve most improved on during the course of the diploma, and I no longer feel nervous or hesitant about it.
I can even do pick soldering now, with either hand, and that’s something I never thought I’d be able to get to grips with at all, let alone feel confident about!
Now don’t get me wrong; it doesn’t always go smoothly and sometimes stuff still doesn’t turn out as I expected or hoped, but I’m not scared to have a go and have a much better understanding of my tools and torches too.
Much of this improvement in my soldering is of course due to a lot of time spent practicing, but it was the diploma projects that really helped consolidate my skills whilst pushing me to be braver and to try new things.
Learning is a continuous process and I’m still very much enjoying the journey! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #whatimworkingon #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries #soldering
My favourite gemstone! 🌿 Moss Agate will always be right at the top of my list when it comes to cabochons. Each one is just so beautiful and unique, and I love the soft blend of lilacs, greens and greys in this one!
I added a little extra detailing on the back too, courtesy of a patterned silver butterfly, and gave it a soft matte finish for a contemporary look.
It’s attached to a 20” Navette chain that fastens with a hook and can be easily shortened by a couple of inches too if you need to adjust it to fit a neckline.
It’s also Hallmarked, and can be found in the @britishcrafthouse if you’d like to take a closer look.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! 🙃
Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #mossagate #handmadejewellery #mossagatejewellery
It’s getting there! This is another peek at the piece I’m currently working on as the final project for my Diploma with @jewellersacademy.
Several of you guessed correctly; it’s going to be a locket-style pendant, and the three skills or techniques I’ve chosen to focus on are saw piercing, hinges and complex soldering.
The soldering part is (thankfully) now complete and I just need to do the polishing and assembly now… 🤞🤞
Stay tuned if you want to see the finished piece! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #whatimworkingon #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries
Do you do this too? ⚒️🔥
I’d like to think I’ve been working with metal for long enough now to be able to judge when the correct annealing temperature is reached and the silver goes a dark red colour.
But there’s something reassuring about using the sharpie method to be extra confident. Or perhaps it’s just one of those old habits now that I can’t break!
Either way, if you want to know when your metal is at or about to reach annealing temperature, then this is a handy trick to use.
It’s not foolproof and I’m sure there are far more experienced metalsmiths out there who will have better ways to do this, but it’s always worked for me!
And for any of my non-jeweller friends wondering why we do this, it’s so we can keep manipulating the metal after it gets work-hardened. The more you bend and hammer it, the less pliable it becomes.
Regular annealing softens it back up so we can continue to form it easily without risk of it cracking or breaking.
These discs had become hardened after being patterned with the rolling mill, so needed to be annealed before I could dome them into a concave shape for earrings.
There is a reel showing the whole making process further down my page if you’re interested! 🙃
Kelly xx
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All the pretty things currently growing in my garden! ☺️💕
I should really have been taking pictures of jewellery, but it’s an absolutely glorious day down here on the south coast and my garden is filled with so many flowers… so I went on a side quest instead.
The pink and purple ones are my favourites so here’s the best of the bunch for anyone else who needs a botanical-pick-me-up this week.
Hope you’ve had a wonderful Wednesday!
Kelly xxx
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#gardening #gardenlife #inmygardentoday #flowerphotography #botanicalpickmeup #naturephotography #hereforthestills #iloveflowers #canoncamera #pinkflowers #canonphotography
The best part is the last part! ⚒️ Removing the safety film and template sticker after piercing out a design in silver is a mix of satisfaction, and relief!
Yup, I’ve chosen saw piercing as one of my three techniques for the final project I’m working on.
It’s one of the things I felt I’ve made the most progress with over the last year and I was really pleased with the result of this attempt.
The sanding and tidying up afterwards was a bit more fiddly, but I’m feeling optimistic about the project as a whole.
For those wanting the technical details; the silver is 1mm thick, and the blade was a very fine 6/0 which I paired with my mini Greenlion frame.
I managed to go round in one without breaking any blades, and being the impulsive and impatient fool I am, I didn’t actually taken the time to practice it beforehand… 🫣
This was the first and only attempt because I like living on the edge a little sometimes.
I have filmed all the stages of this though so I’ll share more with you soon! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #whatimworkingon #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries #greenlionsawframe #greenlion
It’s almost the end..! ⚒️ This collection of silver is going to become my final project for the diploma I’ve been working on this year.
At least it will if it works out the way I’m hoping… 🫣
We’ve got a few weeks to complete this task so I’m starting early, just in case it all goes wrong and I have to come up with something else.
We need to include at least three techniques taught on the course; any guesses as to which ones I’ve chosen? 🙃
I’ve made a fair bit of progress since I filmed this clip over the weekend, but let’s just say I’ve reached the stressful stage now.
If anyone happens to be making any sacrifices to the soldering gods this week, please put in a good word for me.
I’m going to need to muster a lot of positive thoughts and patience before it’s done! 🤞🤞
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #whatimworkingon #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries
Everyone has a favourite shade of sea glass, and I think this one is mine! 🌊
Can you see the tiny bubble near the top right edge too? 🫧
There’s a collection of new silver bezel-set pendants available on my website now, including this one.
I’m not going to keep any this time though, tempting as it always is. I’ve got quite a few of my own now… 🙃
Have a lovely Sunday!
Kelly xx
#seaglassnecklace #seaglasspendant #seaglass #iloveseaglass #jewellerymaker #seaglasslover #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #silverjewellery #handmadejewellery
This is the method I use to solder posts to earrings! ⚒️
I first made this reel in 2023, but when I recently asked you all for soldering props I could use instead of the ‘third hand’ tweezers (which I don’t get on with at all) this technique was by far one of the most popular suggestions!
So I’m sharing it again in case anyone hasn’t yet come across it.
The smaller tweezers that I use here are stainless steel (so won’t rust) and the smooth jaws make it really easy to gently tilt the post and align it to the angle I need.
They’re not necessarily secure enough for larger soldering tasks like ring shanks, but earring posts are really light and delicate so they don’t need to be held firmly and I find this is just enough to keep them in place.
The binder clip on the end uses gravity and balance to hold the posts down whilst soldering; I just take care to make sure that the post is straight before gently and carefully lifting it onto the join.
I’ve since been trying out LOTS of other soldering gadgets too, for all sorts of different tasks, and I’m trying to think of the best way to share them all with you.
I think perhaps a carousel would be the best idea to begin with - and then maybe individual reels showcasing each tool in turn?
What do you think? Let me know if a detailed guide to soldering aids would be useful and I’ll put one together! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #soldering #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking
Want to know where I get my jewellery tools and equipment from?! ⚒️
I get asked for details on the things I use almost daily now, and whilst I’m always happy to share, Instagram doesn’t make that easy!
As you probably know, we still can’t put functioning links in posts or captions - but we CAN add them to stories.
What’s more, if those stories are saved to a highlight then they stay visible, along with those links.
So that’s exactly what I’ve done. Every time I mention something in a reel or post I will share it to stories too, and then add those slides to this highlight.
I started doing it around 18 months ago and it still seems the best way to gather everything in one place for easy reference.
I try and keep it updated as much as I can but if you ever spot any links that no longer work, of if there’s anything not included that you’d like to be - just let me know! 🙃
Kelly xx
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My happy place! 😊⚒️ Here’s another little look around my workspace.
The room is purposely arranged into different areas for different tasks, which works really well for me both in terms of workflow processes and not losing stuff…
It’s a bit chaotic in places (creative freedom warrants that to a certain degree I think) but there are some pretty organised systems here which I’m rather proud of, and I know exactly where everything is. Well, almost everything!
If you’d like to see me give a guided tour in person then take a look at the pinned reel on my main page.
I’ve added a few labels to highlight the main items of interest in this clip, but if you’d like any more info on anything here, please just ask! 🙃 xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whereiwork #mystudio #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #mycreativebiz #seekinspirecreate #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking
Sooo satisfying! Quenching hot metal after soldering or annealing it is one of the best workshop sounds - who’s with me?! 🙃🔥⚒️
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #soldering #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #mycreativebiz #seekinspirecreate #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #mystudio #dowhatyoulove #handmadebusiness #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking #quenching
✨NEW✨ Sea glass and silver bezel-set pendants now available, as promised! 🌊
I’ve picked out some of my nicest pieces to create these, as my website has been somewhat starved of this magical material for too long.
There’s seven of them, all simply and elegantly set in a plain but shiny style - and with a nice mix of colours and sizes.
Which one is your favourite?
Anything blue inevitably finds a new home first, but I think the deep aqua might just take the crown in this selection. It’s a really lovely shade and is a super chunky pebble of glass.
But then again, the tiny grey one with that unusual golden glow is also calling me…
I will be making more in that style with the borderless edge too as I love the tactile look of it.
All of these are available now, with tags in the photos where applicable, and you can now choose the length of chain too.
Hope you’ve had a fabulous Friday! 🙃
Kelly xx
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#seaglassnecklace #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #oneofakindjewellery #seajewels #silverjewellery #upcycledjewelry
I finally bought myself a new camera; making this my most expensive business purchase in a LONG time! 🫣📸
I held off for as long as I could, not just because they are such a spendy item, but also because I was overwhelmed with the vast range of cameras available and struggled to know which one to choose.
But since my existing DSLR is now well over ten years old and starting to get a bit temperamental, I decided that this was the year I’d finally upgrade.
A camera is an essential part of my business as I take all my own photographs and image quality really matters when you sell mostly online.
I know many people will argue that you don’t need a top of the range one to get the job done, and that’s true, but I’m aiming to use this for the next decade too so it seemed well worth the splurge.
In the end I went for the mirrorless Canon EOS R8 and although I’ve only had it a few days and used it once (see yesterday’s post to check out my trial pics) I have to say I am loving it so far!
I’ve yet to read the manual properly or fully investigate all the settings and functions, but from what I’ve seen it do so far just in ‘auto’ mode, I’m really excited about the potential.
If anyone else has the same camera and can offer any tips or advice on how to get the most out of it, do let me know.
And as always, I’ll make sure to give my feedback once I’ve really gotten to grips with it! 🙃
Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #creativeentrepreneurs #jewellerybusiness #jewellerymaking #smallbizowner #canoncamera
Flowers and cats; two of my favourite things after jewellery! 🌸🐈
I finally invested in a brand new camera this week, after using a second-hand Canon DSLR for the last ten years or so.
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I’ve got lots of product photos I need to take, but couldn’t help testing it out in the garden first!
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I went for a Canon camera again, but a mirrorless EOS R8. This is the first time I’ve used it so a bit early to give a verdict, but I’m pretty blown away with the quality of the first few snaps I’ve taken!
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Will let you know what I think of it once I’ve had it a wee bit longer, but I’m very excited to start using it.
I might even go so far as to read the manual and learn how to do it properly this time…! 🙃📷
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Hope you’re having a wonderful week so far,
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Kelly xx
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#gardening #gardenlife #inmygardentoday #catphotography #flowerphotography #botanicalpickmeup #naturephotography #hereforthestills #iloveflowers #canoncamera
Another of my favourite storage solutions! ⚒️
I used to keep my jewellery saw blades in a rather smart wooden holder (stored safely up on the pegboard to avoid it accidentally getting knocked over).
But after a while I noticed many of them had become rusty and corroded.
So I switched to these test tubes instead. They’re made of a strong acrylic (not glass) and are simply sealed with a cork stopper.
They’re the perfect length for the blades I use, and also inexpensive; I got a pack of 15 for less than £6 online.
I’ve kept the wooden holder for the few blades that are currently in use, as it stops them getting mixed up while I’m working, but the rest have been stored in the tubes for almost a year now and it works brilliantly.
I even found a stand to hold them in order, that fits neatly on the end of my bench so I can see it clearly and reach them easily.
I’ll add the link to my stories today, and you can find it in the ‘tool links’ story highlight beneath my bio too 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #sawpiercing #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking #jewellerytips #jewelrytipsandtricks #jewelrytips #storagesolution
New sea glass pendants! 💫🌊 These will all go live on my website on Friday 🙌
There’s a lovely mix of sizes and shades here; all are natural ocean-tumbled sea glass, and all are set in simple, classic handmade silver bezels.
I’ve actually had them waiting around for a while now, but hadn’t found the motivation to take the photos.
However a brand new camera arrived today (very exciting) and these are the perfect pieces to road test it with!
Which one of them would you choose? 🙃
Kelly xx
#seaglassnecklace #seaglasspendant #seaglass #iloveseaglass #jewellerymaker #seaglasslover #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #silverjewellery #handmadejewellery
Doming some daisies! ⚒️ I’ve been making some more flower stud earrings this week, and I use this dapping block and punch to create the curved effect.
If you’re wondering what the numbers are for, that’s my indexing system. The punches are numbered, both on the stand and the shank, but the steel block itself wasn’t.
So I added my own numbers with a sharpie. It’s not really sequential and not related to size; I just started with the largest indentation and worked my way around.
Whenever I create something that I will likely want to make again in future, I make a note of the exact combination of the punch and block indentation that I use so I can repeat it quickly next time and get the exact same results.
Sounds simple enough, and perhaps unecessary - but after many, many times of telling myself I’d either remember what I did or be able to work it out again, I can testify that I cannot.
So instead I have learned to number everything, and write stuff down. It’s just easier that way! 🙃⚒️
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #soldering #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #mycreativebiz #seekinspirecreate #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #mystudio #handmadebusiness #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking
I’m going to write a book! 🤩📖🌊
This week I officially signed a contract with @bloomsburypublishing to create a sea glass jewellery book for their @herbert.press range of crafting publications - and I am soooo excited!
A large part of me is still trying to wrap my mind around the idea and how very much it meant to me just to be asked.
But it’s also quickly taking shape in my head and I’m already starting to visualise how it’s going to look!
As you already know I absolutely love teaching, and sharing my tips, discoveries and ideas with you all - so to have something committed to print will be amazing.
The book won’t be due for submission until April, and publication can take anywhere from twelve to eighteen months after that so it won’t actually be in print until around May 2027, but I know that will come around quickly!
It’s going to take a lot of work, and it’s for this reason I have decided not to join another Diploma this autumn, but I’m still going to be making lots of jewellery and continuing to learn new techniques.
I’m also very seriously contemplating the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay for September 2026… watch this space! 🙃
My current Diploma course may be coming to an end soon but my jewellery-making journey is far from over and I have so many ideas for the future.
I am really, really excited and can’t wait to share it all with you as I go! 🫶
Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #ladysmith #seaglassjewellery #creativeentrepreneurs #jewellerybusiness #jewellerymaking #smallbizowner #empirebuilding #mumboss #indiebiz #dowhatyoulove #hampshirebusiness
This felt a bit emotional! ⚒️✨ Opening the very last packet of materials for the Diploma I’ve been doing this year with @jewellersacademy.
The objective of this project is to create some beaded jewellery pieces, then we have a few weeks to complete our final project and it’ll be ‘course complete.’
It’s all come full circle for me in a rather lovely way, as beading was where I first discovered my love of making jewellery, almost twenty years ago now. So it’s fitting this is the last official project we do on the Diploma.
The year has gone by so, so quickly, and I’ve absolutely loved the experience.
Not only have I learned a LOT of new skills and thoroughly consolidated my existing ones, but there is so much more benefit to doing this programme.
My confidence has increased hugely, my creativity has been re-ignited, and it’s unlocked a love of learning and desire to progress that I hadn’t expected.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. I’ve seen more growth in myself and my ideas in the last nine months than I have in the whole of the last six years, and my only regret is not doing it sooner.
And I really mean that.
I’ve already got my final project design in hand, but I will keep that under wraps until it’s finished, just in case!
I know I am going to really miss the course structure and my fellow students come September, but I will return for another.
It won’t be this year, as I’ve got something else (really exciting) lined up for the next few months that I’ll share with you soon, but this will definitely not be the last Diploma that I do! 🙃
Have a fabulous Friday,
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #whatimworkingon #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #workinprogress #beadedjewellery #jadiplomadiaries
If you’d prefer a hook or toggle clasp to a traditional sprung catch, just let me know! ⛓️
As the price of silver is sooo crazy high these days, I’ve had to stop keeping finished chains available for each of my jewellery pendants and instead make them up individually as required.
This can potentially slow down despatch of any purchased necklaces by a day or so, but it does mean I’m able to offer a choice of different lengths now - and a choice of clasp too if needed.
Trigger or lobster clasps are arguably the most common means by which to fasten a chain, but if you have difficulty with the mechanisms or would prefer something a little different then I can make a clasp to match.
They’re not so well suited to finer or delicate styles, but for medium to heavy weight chains they are an elegant and sleek alternative.
If you’d like one of my pendants and would prefer a different chain or clasp to the one it’s listed with, please just message me and ask! 🙂
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #artisanmade #ladysmith #dowhatyoulove
Another of my favourite bezel-setting tips! ⚒️ I keep a piece of chamois leather to the side of my bench and use it to cover the peg whenever I’m setting a stone or some sea glass.
It not only helps stop the metal from slipping, but prevents the backplate getting any marks or scratches on it.
It’s just a regular car-cleaning chamois cloth, held with a binder clip. Every so often I flip or rotate it so the surface I’m working on is soft and unmarked, and so far it’s lasted over five years (never washed.)
I do also have a ball vice now for more intricate stone setting, but I still prefer to set my bezels by hand like this, with just a curved burnisher.
And for anyone wondering, the bezel strip on this piece is 0.3mm fine silver.
For anything thicker or heavier gauge than that I’d probably use my LX pendant motor with hammer handpiece now! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #bezelsettings #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips #jewelrytipsandtricks
Have you ever tried this?! ⚒️ I’ve not shared this tip for a couple of years, but as I was cleaning my soldering block again this morning I thought I’d record the process in case anyone hasn’t come across it before.
After a while I find the surfaces of these blocks tend to get really dirty and uneven, with bits of solder, remnants of holding clay, flux, and all sorts of other crap stuck to them.
Not only does this make it harder to see what I’m doing, but it can also start to increase the appearance of that coppery pink tint on the metal post-pickling.
When I know the pickle itself isn’t contaminated, then it’s usually a sign I need to clean up the soldering block…
It’s really easy to do; just grind it down on a rough flat surface like a patio or concrete slab until it’s free of all the stains, dents and debris.
I can’t remember where I first saw this tip, but I do this regularly now and it really can make a difference.
Just don’t lean over too far whilst you’re cleaning it - you don’t want to breathe that dust in! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking
Who else loves patterned gemstones? 🤩 This beauty is another ‘Crazy Lace Agate’.
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The pendant also has a crazy cut-out in the backplate to match the vibe of the stone it holds.
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Much as I’m loving the sparkly gems at the moment, these cabochons will always be a favourite of mine.
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I think it’s the fact that each one is always unique too, so no piece I make with them will ever be identically replicated.
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Nature made them so they cannot be copied. Add that to a handmade setting, and you’ve really got something ‘one of a kind’ 😊️
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Kelly xx
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(Available now, product tagged in second photo)
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#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #jewelryoftheday #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #ladysmith #agate #instasmithy #silversmith #gemstonejewellery #handmadejewellery #oneofakind #madebyhand #statementpendant
Metal clay making in progress! 🫣⚒️ And yes, another mess. I think this is just the way my creative brain likes to work - with everything scattered all around me!
This was taken over the weekend, when I suddenly decided to tackle the latest projects from my Diploma.
We needed to make five charms for a bracelet using silver metal clay, so I thought I’d design mine as fingerprint jewellery. This meant I needed to choose a time when all my family were home with me too.
I love working with this material, but I don’t have the space to leave everything out all the time, and I think it’s the constant faff of getting it all out and putting it away each time that deters me from using it more often.
Really must find a way around that as I’m well aware it’s a shame to have all this kit and not use it.
And yes, the fingerprint charms came out okay in the end, which was a relief - although they took a lot more effort than I’d anticipated.
I’ll share the results soon, once I’ve edited all the footage together!
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #workinprogress #silvermetalclay #pmc #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries
Repost from @willowandtwigg
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One of my favourite bezel-setting tips! ⚒️ I’ve shared this once before, but it was quite a while ago and since I’m currently sitting at my bench filming stuff anyway, I thought I’d share it again.
The quickest method I’ve found to get an even border around a bezel setting is to take a piece of scrap wire and simply hold it in place between the bezel wall and a pen as you draw around the whole thing.
A super-fine marker is always best for getting a clear line, but it doesn’t have to be a scrap of wire.
I have used the stems of burrs before and even drill bits and broken cocktail sticks - whatever happens to be close at hand and the right size for the border width you want! 🙃
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #bezelsettings #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips #jewelrytipsandtricks
Making ‘fingerprint’ jewellery with my children… and making things more difficult for myself, again! 🫣😂
This weekend I was working on one of the last few projects for my Diploma; creating jewellery using silver metal clay.
Now if you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know I’ve already worked with this material before, but I’d never tried making fingerprint jewellery.
Since one of the tasks was to make a bracelet with five charms, and I have five people in my immediate family, this seemed like a really good time to have a go.
It turned out to be a little more challenging than I’d anticipated… 😂
I left the camera on as I was recording the process for my Diploma Diaries, and as you can see, I was quite oblivious to the performance going on behind me.
This is my middle daughter, Lucy (aged ten.) I then had to repeat the process with my other two daughters and a rather grumpy Mr W&T who was trying to make dinner at the time and didn’t appreciate the urgency with which metal clay needs to be treated.
I got there in the end and the charms were successfully made, and are now waiting to be fired.
I’ll share the full process this weekend. If it works! 🙃
Hope you’ve had a great start to the week,
Kelly xxx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whatsonyourbench #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #handmadejewellery #motherofgirls
A few hours of work condensed into 80 seconds! ⚒️ This is the ‘behind the scenes’ process reel I promised you, showing the Jasper heart-shaped pendant being created.
I’m not sure what takes me longer - making the necklace in the first place or trying to shorten the footage afterwards to make a reel… 🤔
In any case, I hope you can still see all the different steps involved (or as many as I was able to squeeze in) and as always, if you have any questions about what I’m doing or why - please just ask!
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #mycreativebiz #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #mystudio #dowhatyoulove #jewellerymaking #tooladdict #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #jaspernecklace #statementpendant #processreel
Who else never thought to do this? 🫣⚒️
Feel free to laugh and tell me it’s obvious, but I have spent six years watching tiny silver spheres roll off the back of my soldering block, some of them never to be seen again.
Turns out there’s a super simple way to avoid this; carve a groove or trench in the block and aim the torch towards it when melting the metal.
This way it will catch any rogue granules that try to make their escape.
I’m not afraid to admit that this never occurred to me before, and I’m sharing the tip here in case it’s new to any of you, too! 🙃
This was one of my absolute favourite takeaways from my Diploma.
If you’d like some more (specifically on granulation) then head over to the @jewellersacademy page and watch my latest ‘Diploma Diaries’ post, where I share another seven.
And remember - every tip or trick is new when you see or hear about it for the first time, and I’m always here to learn!🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking
As if I needed more pliers… ⚒️😂 I got these to make some oval links for the chain bracelet I made last week. In the end I didn’t use them and stuck with the circles, but still thought they were worthy of a share!
Of course, you can also make your jump rings oval-shaped from the start by taping together two round dapping posts or dowel rods, and wrapping the wire around them to make a coil. Then saw through it from the inside, just as you would for round jump rings.
But this method is a great alternative too, especially if you only want a few or perhaps a mix of both shapes.
It’s also strangely satisfying to do!
Squeeze the pliers gently for an oval shape, and take them out further for a more rectangular or oblong result.
I got these on Amazon, and they’re actually marketed as body piercing tools. Just search online for ‘ring opening pliers’ and there should be lots of sizes to choose from! 🙃
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking
It’s my new favourite thing! 🤩⚒️💍 The camera really doesn’t capture the gorgeous shade of green or the beauty of the checkerboard-cut.
Every time I look at this ring I remember how far I’ve come with my jewellery making skills, and it inspires me to go further.
I’ve got the silver, I’ve got the stones and I’ve now got the tools; a new emerald shaped collet block and punch arrived this week.
I still have to finish my Diploma and a few other things I’m working on, but I’m looking forward to enjoying one seriously sparkly summer! ☺️✨💎
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kelly xx
#gemstonering #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #imadethis
It’s not just me who does this, is it? 🫣
Some lessons I’m starting to think I will never learn. I promise this was not deliberate; it was supposed to be a clip in another ‘how it’s made’ reel.
Instead it’s a ‘how not to make it’ reel... 🙃
Moral of the story; use masking tape to hold stuff down when hammering. Even for those quick two-second tasks you think will only take two or three hammer strikes.
Don’t do it this way.
Unless of course you enjoy searching for lost tiny components on the floor, in which case this is a fun and unpredictable pastime! 🙌
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #mycreativebiz #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #mystudio #dowhatyoulove #jewellerymaking #tooladdict #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #hammering
One of the BEST tips I’ve picked up from my Diploma! ⚒️
This stuff has been a game-changer for me during all my soldering, not just with the delicate and fiddly stuff.
If you want the science behind how and why it works, read on…
Yellow ochre is a naturally occurring clay, and acts as an ‘anti-flux’ by preventing solder from flowing into areas where you’d rather it didn’t go.
It dirties the metal and creates a barrier that solder avoids, effectively protecting any covered areas - as we all know, solder only likes to flow on clean surfaces.
Here’s why it’s a good choice;
💛 It’s chemically inert. Yellow ochre is a naturally occurring material, meaning it doesn’t react with solder or the metals being soldered.
💛 It’s safe. Yellow ochre is non-toxic and doesn’t smell.
💛 It’s clearly visible, which makes it easy to see where you’ve applied it.
💛 It won’t act as a ‘heat sink’ or barrier like some protective coatings can.
💛 It’s simple to use. I have it in the form of regular watercolour paint and keep it in a ceramic ramekin. I let it dry out and just add a little water each time I want to use it and apply with a fine brush.
💛 It’s not expensive. This single tube of Winsor & Newton paint cost me just £6 and will probably last forever.
You can also use graphite pencil lead for the same purpose, and I have heard there are specialist anti-flux pastes on the market too, but this has worked really well for me so far.
Let me know if you’ve tried it too!
Have a fab Friday 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking
Finding some focus… ⚒️🙃
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #seekinspirecreate #mystudio #tooladdict #dowhatyoulove #silverring #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #handmadebusiness #handmadejewellery #hampshirebusiness #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaker #jewelrymaking
Do you use this method too? ⚒️ This tip for work-hardening stud posts isn’t one of my own discoveries and I’ve seen it shared many times before, but here it is again for anyone who hasn’t come across it yet.
The same method can also be used for straightening wire too, which is especially helpful if you are working with shorter lengths for things like earring hooks.
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #studearrings #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #silverearrings #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips
This is where I work… 🫣⚒️😂
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I couldn’t even begin to count how many works-in-progress there are here, or how many unfinished and partially buried projects.
But this is my creative space and my happy place. As you’ll have seen from other reels I am actually super-organised and highly efficient in managing the rest of my workshop.
But here at the actual bench? Here the ideas run free and the tools pile up, and that’s just the way it works for me.
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I do try and give everything a proper tidy up and put things back in their rightful place every school holiday though.
This gives me roughly six or seven weeks between each intervention.
And somehow it’s half term again at the moment, so perhaps that’s tomorrow’s job… 🙃
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Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #mystudio #whereiwork #creativespace #whatsonyourbench #ladysmith #jewellerytools #handmadejewellery #myworkspace #creativechaos
Beautiful sounds! 🔊📣⚒️
This clip is some of the best jewellery-making noises from the last few reels I made. I thought they sounded rather good together and was going to just share this as it was, but then Insta suggested this audio track and it somehow fit exactly...
Not sure if it was picked out for me for this reason, or merely a coincidence, but I liked it! 🙃
#jewellerymaker #ASMR #behindthescenes #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #seekinspirecreate #mystudio #tooladdict #dowhatyoulove #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #handmadebusiness #creativeminds #handmadejewellery #hampshirebusiness #metalsmithlife #jewellerymakers #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #jewelrymaker #jewelrymaking
Making a sea glass pendant; a bird’s eye view! ⚒️🌊
Here’s a reel of the pink sea glass necklace I made recently. I took a slightly different approach to filming this one and just left the camera directly overhead my bench peg.
Even though I only took a few seconds of each stage (and none of the soldering is included here) I still ended up with 40 minutes of footage!
I’ve included as much as I can in the 90 seconds Instagram allows me, but even though it’s sped up I’ve not been able to include all the steps.
That might help give some indication of just how much goes into the creation of handmade jewellery!
As always, please just ask if you want to know more about what I’m doing or any of the tools I’m using.
And no, the finished pendant isn’t for sale. I kept this one! 🙃
Have a lovely weekend,
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes ##howitsmade #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #tooladdict #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #processreel #seaglassnecklace #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #seaglasslove #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #silverjewellery
My top three storage systems for jewellery making supplies! ⚒️
They’re all made from strong and clear plastic or acrylic so they’re durable, and so I can instantly see what’s in them and what I might be running low on.
The bead boxes have compartments that go all the way to the lid so the contents don’t get mixed up, and the photo boxes came in a case with moulded placeholders so they all stand up neatly (I just took off the lid).
The acrylic drawers come in different sizes and I stick all my gemstones and sea glass to sheets of white card using double-sided tape. This means I can also annotate info like prices next to each one if I want to.
Simple, but very effective!
Oh, and I use tiny pieces of white card to write product codes and other details on the stuff to pop in the box compartments, and have a Dymo label maker for the others.
Hope this is helpful for anyone else looking for a way to keep all those supplies arranged tidily!
There’s a highlight below my bio called ‘Tool Links’ which has shortcuts to all the workshop things I’ve shared in the past, as well as all these!
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #toolstorage #storagesolutions #storagehacks #jewelrymaking
What I made this week! ⚒️ The latest technique we were taught on the Diploma was granulation.
This is something I have done a few times in the past and thought I knew everything about - but I was wrong! 😂
I learned a LOT through this project, but it also made me realise just how far my skills have come too.
When I started the course back in September I was pretty happy with my soldering skills, but fast forward just eight months and I’ve now reached a level where I can not only do pick soldering comfortably - I can also do it with either hand.
For my non-jeweller followers, pick soldering is moving molten solder around and carefully placing it on the jewellery to be soldered using a fine titanium wand.
At the same time you have to steadily heat the piece with your torch and take care not to melt everything. It’s more accurate and great for tiny tasks, but it’s hard to master!
Each of the granules on the ring was soldered in place individually whilst it was resting upright in the block, and I honestly feel like a whole new skill level has been unlocked!
I can’t even begin to explain how happy it makes me to finally be able to do this, and what it’s done for my confidence as a metalsmith.
How I managed to complete both pieces without getting firestain or having at least one granule fall off though, I’m still not sure. But I will definitely be using this technique more often in the future.
By the way, can anyone else see the tiny dinosaur in the turquoise stone? 😳🦕
And yes - my bench is currently an absolute state and in desperate need of a tidy. Must be half term holidays again… 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #silverjewelry #gemstonependant #jadiplomadiaries #workspacewednesday
Do you do this too? ⚒️ It’s one of those tips that might seem obvious, but when I first got a charcoal block I didn’t know that wrapping it in binding wire can help hold it together if it cracks.
I’ve been doing some granulation for my diploma this week (melting silver into tiny balls) and that process always works better on charcoal as it conducts heat better.
So I went to get myself a new block, and managed to find a round one that is the perfect fit for my soldering turntable.
It wasn’t cheap at nearly £28, so I definitely don’t want this one to end up in pieces like the first!
And yes, I did try to subsequently bind the first one after it broke, but once it had separated it really wasn’t going to go back together properly.
It’ll still come in handy though, whenever I need a really small one! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking
Green is my colour! 🤩💚💎 I made a little something for myself this weekend, as I was super excited about the new gemstones and couldn’t wait to use them.
But boy, was this hard! 🫣 Even though the actual collet part was a pre-cast one, this ring took me hours. And hours and hours…
There was a lot of clean up of the setting to do, then it took me an incredibly long time to get a flush join on either side of it with the ring band.
It felt like I was filing and sanding the ends forever to get them straight, so if anyone has any tips on how to do that I’d be most grateful!
Then I had to battle some firestain when polishing because I didn’t use the ‘big’ torch initially, and when it came to setting the stone I really didn’t think it was going to work at all as it just kept rattling… 😬
I’m still very much a novice when it comes to using the hammer hand piece and I think I was using the wrong attachment to begin with (the anvil one that looks like a tiny bezel rocker? 🤔) as progress was so terribly slow.
But when I switched to a more pointed end it finally started to push the silver over the stone securely. I was going to smooth it out afterwards, but decided I liked the texture it created and left it as it was.
I have since ordered an emerald-cut collet block so the next stage is to learn how to make the entire setting from scratch, although I might have to leave that for a couple of weeks!
Overall I’m really pleased with the result. I just wish the camera was better at capturing the colour of the stone!
It really is a gorgeous green and I’m more than a little bit in love with this one! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #cocktailring #whatsonmybench #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #whatimadethisweek #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking
Something unique for the weekend? ✨🤩 This pendant features a Crazy lace Agate gemstone, in a handcrafted bezel setting with a riveted bail.
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It’s actually the stone that ALMOST made it into the torque bangle I made for the Diploma, but you all voted for the Aquamarine instead - which on reflection I agree was the best choice there! 🧜♀️🌊
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This stone then sat on the bench for a while, but I didn’t want it to feel left out or neglected so made it into a pendant instead.
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Fun fact; Crazy Lace Agate is known as the ‘laughter stone’ or ‘Happy Lace’. It is associated with sunny Mexican fiestas and dancing and is believed to bring joy to those who wear it.
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It is also a stone of protection, as well as support and encouragement - promoting optimism and elevated thinking.
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As if its good looks weren’t enough of a reason to love it already! 🙃
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Available now on my website if you’d like a closer look.
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Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #agate #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #ladysmith #gemstonejewellery #jewelryaddict #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewellery #agate
Is this how it starts?! 🫣⚒️💎💍
I genuinely didn’t ever think I’d find myself staring down the road of ‘fine’ jewellery, as it just didn’t appeal to me and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to acquire those kind of skills.
But damn, those sparkly stones have a LOUD call…
Large cabochons and sea glass will always be my first love, and I’ll never stop working with those. But now I’m learning all these new techniques I want to make ALL the things too.
My Diploma course may be coming to an end in a couple of months, but my learning journey won’t be! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #silverjewelry #gemstonejewellery
Well that was a surprise find this morning! 🌊🧜🏼♀️ It’s very rare to come across such large nuggets of sea glass on our local beach.
Smooth, tactile and perfectly frosty. I love the way it glistens in the sunshine too. The mermaids clearly wanted somebody to have this one! 😊️
Wishing you a fabulous Friday, whatever you’re up to!
Kelly xx
#seaglasslover #seaglass #iloveseaglass #seaglasshunter #oceangifts #beachtreasures #beachfinds #beachcombing #beachcombingaddict #vitaminsea #sealover #seaside #besidethesea
I totally fell for the sparkles… 🤩✨💍 Made another of these claw-set rings this week because I loved it so much, and haven’t taken it off since.
*Might* also have ordered a selection of beautiful gemstones in different shapes and sizes too.
After all, what better way is there to practice my new-found jewellery making skills than by creating a load of pretty trinkets for myself?! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries
Why I keep glass jars in my pickle pot! ⚒️
For those of you who aren’t jewellers, pickle solution is used to clean up metal and remove any firescale (discolouring) from pieces after they have been heated or soldered. It works best when warm, so it’s often kept in a slow cooker or crock pot.
I use glass jars in mine to contain the actual pickle solution itself so it doesn’t eat through the glaze of the main ceramic dish and damage the metal underneath.
I then surround these jars with water to help the heat transfer.
And the reason I have two jars, is simply because there was space for two!
This 3.5L pot is a recent upgrade after my trusty old 1:5L one burned out through regular use.
As it’s bigger I can fit a second jar in there, so I separate out different types of metal or different sized components if I want to - especially since copper and brass tend to turn the pickle blue or green much faster.
Another advantage of the glass jars is it means the pickle solution itself is less likely to get contaminated with any bits of rust or debris that often come off the metal rim around the lid as it corrodes over time.
It’s a system that works really well; just be careful to always allow the liquids to heat up and cool down gradually as any sudden temp changes can cause the glass to crack.
Hope that answers the main questions on this topic, but if you have any more please just ask! 🙃
#jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips
One to sell and one to keep, right?! 🙃 These two Labradorite cabochons have such a stunning blue flash, that I think I’m going to have to hold one back for myself.
Maybe buying gemstones in pairs is the answer to that ‘maker’s reluctance’ I seem to struggle with so badly when it comes to actually using my stone collection for jewellery… 🤔
I’m thinking a pair of pendants for these two - although they would make one epic pair of earrings!
Kelly x
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#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #whatsonyourbench #labradorite #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #gemstonejewellery #handmadejewellery
Beautiful bubbles in a wearable cage! 🫧 Well, not actual bubbles of course, but that’s what they remind me of.
These handcrafted pendants each contain a natural clear Quartz Crystal sphere held in a sterling silver cage locket.
A beautifully simple design, but still a conversation starter.
The crystal spins freely in the setting so it’s perfect for keeping anxious hands busy, and when the light passes through the inclusions at the right angle you can get a gorgeous flash of colour like a tiny rainbow 🌈
They’re available in two sizes now; handmade to order with your choice of chain length too.
Just please don’t ask me to reveal exactly how I make them. As you know, I’m not one for gatekeeping and readily share a lot more than most - but there are one or two secrets I would like to hold on to! 🤐🙃
Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #quartzcrystal #statementnecklace #jewelrymaker #gemstonejewellery #handmadejewellery
Making a chain bracelet! ⚒️ This was the first project from term three of my Diploma and I decided to go for a random link style, using twisted rings in both silver and gold.
I secretly really enjoy making chains. It’s a slow and steady process and I find the repetitive nature of it forces me to slow down a little and really just get in the zone.
My main takeaways from this week were;
• 9ct gold is no longer an intimidating metal to work with. This may have been helped by the fact I didn’t look up the value of the piece I had before I used it.
• Twisted wire rings with two strands are a total pain to make and I must remember to anneal the coil one last time before sawing through it to stop it all pinging apart too much.
• Soldering all the large rings closed first is easier and faster than using a third hand to hold the chain and doing it systematically one link at a time. Hanging the actual joins over the edge of the block also reduces clean up later.
• Patina doesn’t always work so well with mixed metals. I added some, then didn’t like it and polished it right back.
I was pleased with the finished result though and would love a necklace made in the same style.
Might have to save up to buy some more gold wire first though! 🙃
Kelly xx
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The evolution of my smithing skills! ⚒️ This is the difference that just eight months can make.
Yes, I know I had a few years of experience making jewellery before I started the Diploma with @jewellersacademy but I was nowhere near capable of producing a ring like the one I finished this morning.
And I am so incredibly chuffed with the result! This three-claw ring was THE project I was most eager to do when I began the course, and I finally did it today! 🤩
I was so pleased with the setting (and the fact I managed to successfully solder it first time without melting anything) that I upgraded the CZ central stone to a London Blue Topaz.
As a bonus all these claw settings have also encouraged me to finally master the art of pick soldering too - another skill I never thought I’d get the hang of!
I’m not keen on making rings like this regularly, but I AM thinking about earrings and pendants using faceted gems and the new setting styles I have learned over the last few months.
There’s just something about that sparkle! 💕💫
I feel a new stone addiction coming on… 🙃
Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #silverjewelry #jadiplomadiaries
What I made this week! 🤩⚒️ Possibly my most ambitious ring yet. This was created using some leftover materials from my diploma.
The basket for the setting was a pre-cast one, but too big for the stone so I filed off the original point and added two more claws either side instead.
The apex of the stone isn’t protected now though and therefore probably more vulnerable to breaking, which means it isn’t something to be worn every day - but I still love it!
It’s also not the kind of jewellery I am planning on adding to my range (at least not at the moment) but I found myself wanting to really challenge myself and push my new-found skills.
There’s still a lot of practice needed and the learning curve has been pretty steep, but five years ago I’d never have imagined even attempting something like this.
I may not ‘want’ to make fine jewellery just yet, but there’s a huge amount of satisfaction in knowing that one day I could! 🙃
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #clawsetting #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #whatimadethisweek #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jadiplomadiaries
Behind the scenes! ⚒️ This carousel is made up of images taken during the first term of my Diploma In Silver Jewellery with @jewellersacademy 💫
I can’t quite believe we’re approaching the end now, and I’m currently thinking about my final project. Looking back at all these photos makes it seem like so long ago!
Many of you will have seen my reels and followed my journey on here and over on the JA page, but whilst I’m only too happy to have shared that with you all, I’m also really pleased I’ve documented this for myself too.
Sometimes it’s very easy to focus on what we are doing now, and forget to look back at how far we’ve come - but this is my own visual reminder of my progress.
I’m so, so pleased I decided to take this course, for all sorts of reasons, and if anyone else has signed up for September then I throughly recommend you take time to record the process too, even if only for yourself.
You’ll be so glad you have when you get to the end!
If you’d like to read more about my experience so far, how I’ve been finding it and why I chose to do it in the first place, then I’ve also written a blog which you can now read on the Jewellers Academy website.
I’ve popped a link in my bio and will add it to my stories today too! 🙂
Kelly xx
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#jewellerymaker #mystudio #whereiwork #creativespace #whatsonyourbench #ladysmith #jewellerytools #handmadejewellery #myworkspace #jewellerymaking #jadiplomadiaries
Another showstopper of a pendant! 💫 This one features a beautiful Moss Agate, which is one of my favourite gemstones.
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I don’t actually have many of these larger pieces available at the moment, but I am looking forward to making more soon once my Diploma is finished, as I absolutely love working with rocks like this!
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I usually default to creating pendants but I’m also thinking of making some bracelets and earrings this time.
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What do you think? Add some more variety into the mix? 🤔
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Just don’t ask me for any rings - I’m still trying to solder those darn things straight! 🫣😂
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Kelly xx
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Moss agate and Sterling silver handcrafted pendant, hallmarked - available now on the @britishcrafthouse
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#jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #agate #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #ladysmith #mossagate #gemstonejewellery #jewelryaddict #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewellery #mossagatejewellery
My top three storage systems for jewellery making supplies! ⚒️
They’re all made from strong and clear plastic or acrylic so they’re durable, and so I can instantly see what’s in them and what I might be running low on.
The bead boxes have compartments that go all the way to the lid so the contents don’t get mixed up, and the photo boxes came in a case with moulded placeholders so they all stand up neatly (I just took off the lid).
The acrylic drawers come in different sizes and I stick all my gemstones and sea glass to sheets of white card using double-sided tape. This means I can also annotate info like prices next to each one if I want to.
Simple, but very effective!
Oh, and I use tiny pieces of white card to write product codes and other details on the stuff to pop in the box compartments, and have a Dymo label maker for the others.
Hope this is helpful for anyone else looking for a way to keep all those supplies arranged tidily!
There’s a highlight below my bio called ‘Tool Links’ which has shortcuts to all the workshop things I’ve shared in the past, but I’ll add these three to my stories again today too!
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #toolstorage #storagesolutions #storagehacks #jewelrymaking
Wavy bangles! 🌊 These are another of the pieces I’m now making to order, and are available in two thicknesses and several different sizes.
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The range of variables means keeping lots of these in stock and ready to ship isn’t really possible, especially given the increases in the cost of silver.
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So although they may take a few extra days to arrive, you’ll be getting a bangle that is custom made just for you!
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I have also created a few in brass too, but haven’t added them as a listing as I wasn’t sure if they’d be popular - and I’ve heard stories of brass turning skin green! 🫣
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They would be much more affordable though, and the colour is beautifully warm and very close to 9ct buttery gold.
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Would a brass bangle be something you’d be interested in?
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Let me know if you’ve worn this metal before, and whether or not you experienced any adverse skin discolouration! 🙃
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#handmadejewellery #jewellerymaker #silverbangles #whatsonyourbench #recycledmetals #silverbracelets #handmadeisbest #wavybangle #stackingbangle #slowmade
Have you ever tried this? ⚒️ Twisted rings and jump rings can look really striking in jewellery, and they’re quite simple to create.
The key is to use square wire to begin with, and anneal it often to keep it soft.
Secure it in a bench vice (I have a piece of leather to grip it better and prevent marks in the metal) and slowly twist it round in one direction.
I use my parallel pliers to hold the end, but I know some jewellers prefer to use a drill instead. I’ve never tried that but I’d say a manual drill is probably safer - let me known if you’ve done it with a powered one!
Keep twisting and annealing the wire until you get the twists as tight as you want them, and anneal again one final time before you use it.
The tricky part can be creating a neat and seamless join that doesn’t show after soldering, but that’s something that just takes a little practice.
If you have any advice on that next stage, please feel free to share in the comments! 🙃
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking
Trickiest Diploma project yet I think! 🫣⚒️ I know how this one is supposed to look. And I know how it’s supposed to be done. But I’ve also learned that the simplest-looking pieces are usually the hardest!
I have a pendant to make with these cast settings first, and then also a ring.
All being well I shall end up with some really lovely sparkly and shiny jewellery by the end of the weekend… 💍💎🤞🏻
I’m feeling quite brave today, but do wish me luck anyway as I will probably need it!
Best go make a sacrifice to the soldering gods in readiness… 🔥🔥🔥
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #silverjewelry #gemstonependant #jadiplomadiaries
Have you ever tried this? ⚒️ I was testing out some of the different attachments that are available with the Dremel and this one (no. 7103) is for carving.
It can do wood, ceramic, most metals, glass and even stone. I thought I’d try it on a pebble and was surprised by how easy it was to do.
I went over the engraving here three times in total, and the indentation is deep enough that I can feel it and make out the letters even when I can’t see them.
Could potentially be a nice thing to carry in your pocket!
I have also tried it out on sea glass and can confirm it works on that as well. I didn’t show it here as I know some of you have rather strong feelings about messing with that particular material - but let me know if you want to see the results of that too! 🙃
*Edited to add - for safety I would recommend doing this underwater or at least keep the stone wet. For the same reasons as when drilling sea glass, it contains the dust and keeps things cool!
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whatsonyourbench #makersgonnamake #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #dremel #creativecommunity
The latest treasure to leave the bench! 🌊⚒️
This beautiful sea glass marble pendant is already on its way to its new home, but if you’d like one too then you can now pick your own marble from a selection on my website and I’ll make it a bespoke silver cage and chain.
There are lots of colours and sizes to choose from, but do let me know if there’s something in particular you’re looking for that isn’t in the line-up as I may have the just the one waiting to join the queue.
The perfect locket for any mermaid! 🧜♀️
Kelly xx
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#seaglassnecklace #seamarblenecklace #seaglassmarble #seaglass #iloveseaglass #jewellerymaker #marbleous #marble #seaglasslover #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #seamarble #silverjewellery #handmadejewellery
Another jewellery-making first! This time a claw setting 💍🤩
This one was really hard, not gonna lie. And it took ages.
We are now into the third and final term of the Diploma though so the projects we’re given are more challenging - but this also makes them all the more satisfying when they’re done!
Once again, the ring I’ve made is not perfect, but it went better than I expected and for a first-ever attempt I’m really quite chuffed with it.
I’m going to have another go soon - once I’ve got to grips with soldering rings better!
Thanks so much to everyone who offered suggestions on alternatives to the ‘third hand’ yesterday. I’ve now ordered some different tools and they should be here later this week.
I’ve been put off making rings for so long due to the difficulties with soldering them straight, and I’m really hoping to find something to help me get over that.
I promise to report back my findings once I’ve tried everything out! 🙃
Kelly x
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #clawsetting #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #whatimadethisweek #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jadiplomadiaries
Does anyone else feel the same way, and is there a better option?! 🤔⚒️
Before anyone mentions it, yes, I am familiar with the old saying ‘a poor workman blames his tools’…
BUT I’m really hoping there’s an alternative out there to the ‘third hand’ for soldering ring settings and shanks together!
I just can’t get on with it and it’s probably one of the main reasons I actively avoid making rings.
No matter how carefully I set it up, it still always ends up moving a tiny fraction when I’m soldering, and this is enough to skew the setting I’m working on so it looks wonky.
I overcame the problem with bezel-set rings by using head and shank locking tweezers, but they don’t work for holding tube or collet settings. Neither does wolf clay, which also have.
So I’m asking for suggestions please - if anyone else has found a better solution!
I still have a few more rings to make on my Diploma course and I really want to avoid any more unnecessary stress, or wasted silver! 😬🫣
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #ladysmith #jewellerytools #handmadejewellery #myworkspace #soldering
Making a sea glass pendant; a bird’s eye view! ⚒️🌊
As promised here’s the reel of the pink sea glass necklace I made recently. I took a slightly different approach to filming this one and just left the camera directly overhead my bench peg.
Even though I only took a few seconds of each stage (and none of the soldering is included here) I still ended up with 40 minutes of footage!
I’ve included as much as I can in the 90 seconds Instagram allows me, but even though it’s sped up I’ve not been able to include all the steps.
That might help give some indication of just how much goes into the creation of handmade jewellery!
As always, please just ask if you want to know more about what I’m doing or any of the tools I’m using.
And no, the finished pendant isn’t for sale. I kept this one! 🙃
Have a lovely weekend,
Kelly xx
#jewellerymaker #behindthescenes ##howitsmade #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #tooladdict #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #processreel #seaglassnecklace #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #seaglasslove #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #silverjewellery
A quick update on the caged pendants! ⚒️✨
The ‘pick your own sea glass marble’ option is now live on my website - there’s around six up there at the time of typing this and more on the way over the weekend.
I’ve also now got two different sizes of crystal spheres available as well. The difference is quite small at just 2mm but it’s enough to be visible when they’re side by side, so I’ve amended the listing to reflect this.
Both of these designs are now also ‘made to order’ with a turnaround of up to a week, although I anticipate having everything made and sent out well within that timeframe.
Until now I’ve always preferred having things finished and ready for immediate despatch, but with the huge increases in metal prices I can no longer afford to do that.
It just doesn’t make good business sense to have excess stock or materials waiting around any more, so I’ll be probably be switching the majority of my repeatable items over to this system in the coming months.
The upside of this though, is it means I can offer more choice in terms of personalisation and things like chain length etc, so having to wait a little longer for delivery actually gives you more options overall!
And if you ever do need anything in a hurry, please just drop me a message and I may be able to bump things up the queue.
Wishing you a fabulous Friday! 🙃
Kelly xx
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