Willow & Twigg - Blog

My Favourite Soldering Aids For making Jewellery

Fri, 29 May 2026 15:45:27 GMT

My Favourite Soldering Aids For Making Jewellery

One of the most commonly used soldering aids for making jewellery is a traditional 'Third Hand' which is essentially a pair of steel tweezers on a heavy base, held in place by a form of thumbscrew. I have never gotten on well with mine, so have been on something of a mission recently to discover a selection of alternatives.

This blog contains a summary of my favourites, together with the links from where I got them from, if they're still available. If the links are no longer working, please get in touch and let me know and I can update them!

Why I Did The Diploma In Silver Jewellery

Sun, 24 May 2026 14:19:44 GMT

My decision to finally invest in Professional Training After 5 Years of Making Jewellery

In 2024, after having been making jewellery and running my own business for five years, I decided to undertake some professional training and enrolled on the Diploma In silver Jewellery with Jewellers Academy. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I could have made, for both myself and my business.

Up until this point I had been re-investing pretty much all my profits into buying tools and materials, and I felt it was time to invest in myself too – which is something I had not done for years.

When I first started making jewellery I took a one-day introductory course in basic metalsmithing, and another in Silver Metal Clay. I made a simple hammered ring and a bangle from silver, and a couple of pendants in the clay – and was hooked almost immediately.

I had already decided I wanted to launch a jewellery business, but had only ever worked with beads and wire and didn’t have a clue about metalsmithing. I wanted to see if I would even like it, and since it involved fire and torches (and frankly I found that terrifying) it wasn’t the sort of thing I wanted to experiment with or try on my own.

Not surprisingly my husband agreed that doing some kind of class first was a very sensible idea, and I found a local tutor and booked myself in for some instruction. That turned out to be a great way to begin, as not only did it reassure me that I would indeed enjoy silversmithing and that soldering wasn’t something to be afraid of, but it gave me a much better idea of where to begin with tools and equipment.

This is an overwhelming subject for any new jeweller looking to get started in working with metals. There are SO many tools, and gadgets and accessories available, and it’s almost impossible to know where to start and what you actually need. Especially when so much of it is pretty expensive.

But I came away from my day-long course with a list of the essentials, and excitedly started building my own collection of tools - which I am still regularly adding to today!

From that point onwards, and for the next few years, I was self-taught and learned everything from books, blogs, online tutorials, social media posts and a LOT of trial and error. I will always be proud of teaching myself in this way, and for the progress I managed to make on my own, but I eventually realised I wasn’t going to get any further by myself.

When I first started in 2019 silver prices were merely a fifth of what they are today (in 2026) and I could afford to play around with designs and ideas and experiment to see what worked and what didn’t. But the cost of materials now means that is no longer possible, and I have to be a lot more careful about what I create – and even how many of something I produce at a time.

The days of being nonchalant with metal are a thing of the past, and if I want to learn new skills or techniques it is far more efficient to do so with proper guidance, so that I can get it right sooner and waste less time and material in the process. I can no longer afford to just pick up some silver and work it out for myself.

I decided to enrol on the Diploma for many reasons, but this need for learning new techniques was one of the main ones. I had reached a plateau in my abilities, and was making the same things over and over. I had several years of experience at this point, and deep knowledge of some processes, but experience in terms of time is quite different from experience in terms of individual skills and breadth of knowledge.

And there were so many gaps in my skillset. I wanted to learn more stone setting techniques, as I had only ever set cabochons (stones with a flat base) - nothing faceted or sparkly. I also wanted to try working in wax, and was curious about using gold. I was also intrigued by the concept of riveting and making hinges.

All of these were things I had been wanting to do for years, but I hadn’t taken the leap into actively learning them and at this stage I knew I wouldn’t ever do that without a bit more of a push!

I also wanted a bit more confidence in my abilities, and was seeking reassurance that I did actually know what I was talking about. By the time I enrolled on the Diploma I had established quite a large following on Social Media and people were regularly asking me questions or seeking advice, and a part of me always felt a little insecure about answering, as I had no way of knowing for sure that anything I gave in response was technically correct – or if there was perhaps an alternative method that I had missed.

I had thought about taking the Diploma several times in the past, but at the time it felt like a bit too big an undertaking and too much of a commitment in terms of time and cost. I needed to be absolutely certain that making jewellery was something I would actually stick with, since I have a long hobby history and always worry about changing my mind suddenly. I also have three daughters who are only a year apart in age, and I really needed to wait until they were all in school to give myself a chance of finding the opportunity to complete the training.

But after five years the time finally felt right. I had amassed all the tools (both essential and less so!) and had come to recognise that the only thing that was going to really elevate the jewellery I made was investing in myself and my technical abilities. I was the most important asset to my business, and I needed to take things up a level if I were to upskill and upscale things the way I had begun to envisage myself doing.

Turns out it was the best decision, and probably came at the best possible time. I absolutely LOVED the whole course, and whilst I am not the sort of person to ever have regrets, I do now find myself wondering where I would be today if I had done it a year or two earlier.

I learned a lot. But I didn’t just learn a lot of new techniques, I also consolidated the ones I already had knowledge of and in many cases deepened my understanding not only in the fundamentals behind why things are done a certain way, but also in discovering lots of alternative methods too.

It also boosted my confidence immensely, not just in the physical making of a piece, but also in the giving of advice or explaining things to other people. It felt like I finally had the endorsement to talk about metalsmithing and jewellery making with more credibility, and I felt less like an imposter or hobbyist. I started to take myself more seriously as a jeweller and business owner.

I also realised how much being self-taught had potentially cost me, not just in the materials but also in time. I had thrown myself into learning all the things, all at once – without structure and without discipline. I was trying a little of everything and not really giving myself the chance to get good at something before moving on to the next. I also approached everything in the wrong order and took on more complex challenges before mastering the basics, but I couldn’t see that at the time.

I’ve already mentioned that I wasn’t really able to undertake such training any sooner, but my goodness – what if I had? I can honestly say I learned more in that one year on the Diploma than I had in all the years prior. It was so considered, and incredibly well-structured. We started at the very beginning and built on knowledge and skills week by week – in the most efficient and effective way.

The tutorials were taught by lots of different tutors, all with their own different ways of doing things which was so refreshing and gave me so much more all-round understanding. We were encouraged to try things in different ways, so if one method or way of approaching something didn’t work, there were always alternatives. I have a naturally inquisitive mind and loved having the opportunity to learn from so many talented people.

The accountability was also crucial for helping me stay on track and seeing things through properly. The projects were released weekly (sometimes we had an extra week for the particularly tricky ones) and we had to submit our work at the end of each term for assessment and feedback. There was extra time built in to the end of each term too, so we could catch up or do-over anything that needed it, but the deadlines kept me focused.

Some projects were more difficult than others, and that varied for each individual, but it was absolutely manageable to fit it in alongside everything else I was juggling and I never once felt pressured or pushed for time.

In fact, it actually helped me to order and arrange my week in a far more effectual way, as it created some structure that had long since been missing. I hadn’t even realised that, but I was being reactive rather than proactive and just doing what I could whenever I was able. By setting aside a day for doing the Diploma projects I had to fit everything else around it, and this made me really stop and think about making better use of my time.

I also really enjoyed my ‘Diploma Day’ each week and it often felt like a self-indulgent luxury to take time out to sit and the bench and just create. I had forgotten how that felt and I had missed it so much. It had eventually become a necessity to set up a business to fund my jewellery making, and in doing so I had become distracted by making what would sell, rather than what I really wanted to make.

This was one of the reasons I had fallen into a plateau – I had started to lose the joy of making and learning, and the Diploma brought that back. And in the easiest way, as I didn’t have to come up with the ideas of what to make. I had all the materials ready packed and organised ready to go, and I just had to watch the tutorials, grab my tools and get started. I was told what I’d be making, how to make it, and what to make it with – and that was everything I needed to reignite and rediscover that creative spark.

And then there was the support. All the way through. I had fortnightly catch-ups over Zoom with my tutor group and mentor, and a number of one-to-one sessions too. These were brilliant for problem-solving, brainstorming and getting advice, and for mutual assurance and motivation amongst my fellow students. We also had a closed Facebook group that was always monitored and the best place to get quick answers and suggestions if we needed them.

We celebrated and commiserated together, and I never felt for one minute that I was doing things alone, and that made a huge difference. I knew I was never ‘the only one’ to struggle with a particular project or technique and being able to laugh at failures or challenges made it all the more valuable to me. It’s by far the best way to learn.

I also shared and documented my journey through the Diploma on both my own Social Media pages and through the ‘Diploma Diaries’ series of reels that I created for the Jewellers Academy page. The positive feedback and overwhelming encouragement I got from my followers and audience there also had a huge impact on me.

I will admit that I actively missed the whole process the following year, and it did feel that there was a gap that needed filling. I wasn’t able to enrol on another Diploma straight away (because I needed to take time out to write my book) but I will be doing the Diploma in Wax Jewellery from this September and I am so excited!

My reasons for doing that particular course will be the subject of another blog post, but for now I would just like to say to anyone who is perhaps considering the Diploma In Silver Jewellery and hesitant about making that leap, to absolutely go for it if you are able.

Whether you already have some existing experience, like I did, or are a completely beginner looking to get started, then I strongly believe that this course is the best possible investment you could make.

The tools and the kit will only get you so far – the knowledge and the skills and the confidence will always make the biggest impact on the jewellery that you create, and I have come to realise that professional training is the quickest and most effective way to build that up.

Instead of looking at a piece of jewellery now and thinking to myself ‘I wish I could make something like that…’ I find myself asking, ‘how would I make that, and what do I need to know in order to be able to do it?’ There’s no longer anything out there that feels like it wouldn’t be achievable or possible; it’s just a matter of recognising the techniques you need and finding the right training to learn them.

Find out more about the Diploma In Silver Jewellery at the link HERE

The Evolution Of My Jewellery Workshop

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:07:42 GMT

How my workspace has changed over the years!

I often receive lots of comments and compliments about my workspace setup and all the tools I have filled it with over the years, but it's been quite a journey to get to this stage.

Almost all my profits have been re-invested back into my business, and I've worked hard to collect all the tools and materials that allow me to create the jewellery that I do. This blog post shows the gradual evolution of my workspace and bench over time.

I purchased my jeweller's bench in January 2019. My husband assembled it for me, with the help of our youngest daughter, Cleo (then aged two). It was a basic student's bench from Durston Tools, and I still use it today. The bench lived in the corner of a spare bedroom that was also used as a study. I had very little space and had to constantly move things around to access them.

I did a local two-day class in basic silversmithing and silver metal clay to help me get started (and overcome my fear of soldering torches) and began building up my own tool collection. I couldn't afford a pendant motor, and used a Dremel rotary tool with a flexshaft attachment for the first year of my jewellery making journey.

In June 2019 I launched my own business and began selling my jewellery on Etsy. I had limited room to store anything and very little free time (only my eldest daughter was in school at that point) but I was determined to make it work. This was also the point at which I created my Instagram account, having never really used that platform before.

My computer desk was in the same room, and I was surrounded by all sorts of clutter and random things that we still needed to sort through properly after our move back from the USA two years earlier. I kept all my packaging materials in storage boxes and wrapped my orders on the floor. This was far from ideal, but I made do!

A year later I was still in the same room, grabbing every spare moment I could to work at the bench and make jewellery. I was teaching myself new skills and learning new techniques as I went along, and investing all my profits back into the business to buy more tools and materials.

A month later we decided that I needed more space and I moved my bench, my desk and all my equipment downstairs and took over the dining room. There was a LOT of de-cluttering and some serious organisation to be done, but I was so excited to finally have a whole room of my own in which to work!

We bought a large garage tool trolley from Homebase for me to use as storage and a soldering station, and I re-purposed an old butcher’s block I’d had for 20 years into a heavy-duty bench for all the hammering etc. I did start out with a rubber mat to protect the carpet (we are renting so I couldn't remove it) but it smelled so awful it ended up in the garage and I bought a rubber-backed woven rug instead.

A week later, after a lot of hard work and some rather long evenings, I had at last gotten everything shipshape and I finally had the workshop of my dreams!

A basic gardening bench became a packing table, and I now had a dedicated area for each aspect of the business, which felt amazing after a year of constantly moving boxes around to find space!

A fortnight later I was celebrating reaching 2000 followers on Instagram, but by the end of March the Covid Pandemic had officially been declared and by the 23rd of the month the UK had entered its first full lockdown period.

I was now homeschooling two out of three children, and trying to entertain the youngest who had been at nursery and was due to start school in September. Jewellery making became a means of escape as well as a business and I carried on learning and practicing as much as I could.

By now I had added a bench vice and a metal clay kiln to my studio. And things regularly started to look a little less organised as ‘creative chaos’ became my modus operandi!

2021 was to be another challenging time. The Covid restrictions were still lingering on, and my husband went away in the spring for an extended eight-month deployment with the Royal Navy. I was flying solo for most of the year, juggling parenthood and my fledgling business.

This was also the year I gained regular company in my workshop. My middle daughter, Lucy, began taking an active interest in making jewellery too, and in June we welcomed Merlin into our home.

In December my husband returned home from sea, and we started to find a new ‘normal’ again as life slowly returned back to its pre-pandemic status. All my girls were now settled into school and I had more time during the day to spend at the bench.

By 2023 my business was growing slowly but steadily. I was still selling my jewellery on Etsy and also through The British Craft House, and in spring 2022 I had set up a webstore on this website and started selling my work directly from here too.

Pretty much all the profit I have ever made during these last seven years has been directly invested back into my business in the form of tools and materials (and occasionally furniture!) and I am still doing this today.

At this point I made the decision to invest properly in my own skills and training too, and in September 2024 I began the Diploma In Silver Jewellery with Jewellers Academy. This not only consolidated all my existing skills, it taught me a lot of new ones, and I will definitely be continuing my learning with more professional courses from now on. I'm going to be doing the Diploma In Wax Jewellery this September (2026) and am really excited!

Find out more about the Diploma I did at the link HERE

Seven years after first putting that bench together I am still using it every day. I still have a great many dreams and ambitions for my business too, and can’t wait to see where things go into the rest of 2026 and beyond!