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 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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’. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The pendant also has a crazy cut-out in the backplate to match the vibe of the stone it holds. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Much as I’m loving the sparkly gems at the moment, these cabochons will always be a favourite of mine. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Nature made them so they cannot be copied. Add that to a handmade setting, and you’ve really got something ‘one of a kind’ 😊️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ (Available now, product tagged in second photo) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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 • 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… 🫣⚒️😂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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… 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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! 🧜‍♀️🌊 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It is also a stone of protection, as well as support and encouragement - promoting optimism and elevated thinking. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As if its good looks weren’t enough of a reason to love it already! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Available now on my website if you’d like a closer look. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #processreel #silversmith #howitsmade #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #jadiplomadiaries #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaking

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 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I usually default to creating pendants but I’m also thinking of making some bracelets and earrings this time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What do you think? Add some more variety into the mix? 🤔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Just don’t ask me for any rings - I’m still trying to solder those darn things straight! 🫣😂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Moss agate and Sterling silver handcrafted pendant, hallmarked - available now on the @britishcrafthouse ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So although they may take a few extra days to arrive, you’ll be getting a bangle that is custom made just for you! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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! 🫣 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ They would be much more affordable though, and the colour is beautifully warm and very close to 9ct buttery gold. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Would a brass bangle be something you’d be interested in? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Let me know if you’ve worn this metal before, and whether or not you experienced any adverse skin discolouration! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #statementnecklace #jewelrymaker #handmadejewellery #seaglass #seaglassnecklace

Some sea glass marbles sitting in the sunshine! 🌊☀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve finally taken photographs of these beauties and created the listing on my website, so you can now pick your own marble to be made into a bespoke caged pendant ✨ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There are 7 available to choose from so far, with several more on the way. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I will endeavour to upload the rest over the next couple of days but wanted to share an early selection for anyone that has been patiently waiting! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I didn’t pre-select them to add in any particular order, but I have to say that playing with marbles in the sunshine was not a bad way to spend the afternoon! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #seamarblenecklace #seaglassmarble #seaglass #iloveseaglass #jewellerymaker #marbleous #marble #seaglasslover #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #seamarble #silverjewellery #handmadejewellery #marblemonday

Well this was a lovely start to the month of May! 🌊💙 A really nice piece of blue sea glass, just waiting for me on the beach as I walked home from taking my girls to school. Question now is, what shall I turn it into? 🤔 Suggestions welcome! Kelly xx #seaglasslover #seaglass #iloveseaglass #seaglasshunter #treasuresfromthesea #seaglasslove #beachtreasures #beachfinds #blueseaglass #seaglasslover #seastheday #beachcombing #beachcombingaddict #vitaminsea #rareseaglass #seaside #besidethesea

This was fun to make! ⚒️ A triangular bangle makes a really contemporary alternative to a traditional round one. I’m falling back in love with bangles, having avoided making any for a long time (put off mainly by the faff with sizing them) and despite being a big fan of circles I’m really loving this one! It’s super shiny, and also hammered for texture and a little bit of sparkle… ✨ The wooden forming mandrel is by Fretz and is a beautiful thing in its own right. It was sent to me by @maddisonsofdurham and if you’d like one too they’re currently offering 15% off ALL Fretz wooden mandrels with code ‘BANGLE15’ This particular version is the Fretz BWM-8B Large Triangle Mandrel with Domed Sides. It’s quite big, which is why I’m using it at the very top, but they have a smaller one too as well as different shapes. And the polish I used is LUXI Red Compound, which is recommended for a high shine final polish on gold and silver. It did a fantastic job too (applied with a felt mop) although you can’t really see in the video as the bangle wire is too fine to capture it! If you want to try this polish, or any of the other colours/grits available in the range, then Maddison’s are also offering 15% off all LUXI polishes with code ‘POLISH15’ Let me know what you think of the bangle - and whether I should add a couple more and connect them together. Something tells me that would look really striking! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellery-maker #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #silverbangle #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips #howtoreels

Forming a flower! ⚒️ I had some fun over the weekend, using up some scrap metal and also generally just playing around in the workshop to see what I can create. I had a fancy to make something a little more structural too, and since the high price of silver prohibits such experiments on a larger scale, I used copper instead. After lots of hammering, sawing, forming, annealing, twisting, and soldering, things eventually evolved into a flower. Not quite sure how, but that’s the beauty of this sort of unplanned process! In this reel I’m using my steel dapping block to shape the copper sheet metal that would become the petals. It’s been a while since I just allowed myself the freedom to be creative, as well as test my skills, and I enjoyed every minute. You can see the finished results on my reel feed! 🙃 P.S. for anyone wondering what the numbers are on my steel block, I just allocated each of the domes a number to help me remember which one is which. Just in case I want to keep a record of exactly how things are made so I can repeat a design! #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #seekinspirecreate #mystudio #tooladdict #dowhatyoulove #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #handmadebusiness #creativeminds #handmadejewellery #hampshirebusiness #metalsmithlife #jewellerymakers #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #jewelrymaker #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

Here’s a little clue as to how the chain bracelet went! ⚒️⛓️ As so many of you suggested, I opted for a more ‘chunky’ style and decided to thicken up the gold wire (it was just 0.8mm) by folding the length in half and twisting it together. I then annealed it, and made three jump rings by wrapping the newly-twisted wire around a dapping post before sawing through the coil. It was fiddly to do, and not at all easy to match up both ends of the cut wire for a neat join when soldering, but I managed it. Not only that, but this was also 9ct gold which has been my nemesis metal up until now, so I was really happy with the results. Especially since I’ve never made twisted rings like this before. I think perhaps the fact I didn’t look up the cost of the gold wire before I decided to try this probably helped! I’ll share the whole of the finished bracelet with you soon too! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #goldjewellery #chainbracelet #jadiplomadiaries

Here are all the pieces I made during the second term of my Diploma In Silver Jewellery! 🤩⚒️ They’re all still away for marking, but this time I remembered to take photos before I sent them! 📷 My favourites from this term are probably the silver wishbone ring and the collet setting. I’m looking forward to wearing those when they’re back. The torque bangle was the most satisfying piece to make, and one of the most complicated and time-consuming projects we’ve had so far. And I think I’d say the most challenging (after the 9ct gold) was the trinket box, mainly because I opted for a difficult decoration style; that butterfly took a lot of effort to solder on without melting anything! Let me know which of these pieces you love most, or which techniques you’d most like to try. And are there any techniques here that you think I should take forward to include in my final project? 🤔 The very last thing we will be making is a statement piece of jewellery using at least three different techniques that we were taught on the course. We’re already a week into term three so there’s not much time left to decide, and I’ve already changed my mind three times… 🫣 All I know for certain is I’m excited by the idea and up for the challenge! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whatsonmybench #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #jadiplomadiaries #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #ladysmiths #silverjewellery

My project for this weekend… ⚒️ These little lengths of silver and gold wire need to become a chain bracelet! This is the first week of term three of my Diploma (where did the time go?! 😳) and although I’m a few days behind my own self-imposed schedule, I’ve got the rest of the weekend to get this done. The marking criteria states it needs to be a minimum of seven inches long, with at least ten links, and of course be entirely handmade with no ready-made components. Now then - should I go for a chunky style, a more refined look, even links, random links… and do I use the gold?! 🤔 Let me know what you’d choose! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #silverjewelry #chainbracelet #jadiplomadiaries

A handful of sea treasure! 🤩🌊🧜‍♀️ All these beautiful sea glass marbles will soon be available on the website under a ‘pick your own’ option. You can select whichever marble you love most, and I’ll make it a bespoke silver cage and turn it into a pendant. There’s a really gorgeous mix of blues, greens, teals and whites here, in a range of sizes. I’ll let you know when they’re ready - I’ve got to take the photographs first but wanted to give you a sneak preview of what will be available! 🙃 Kelly xx #seaglassmarble #seaglass #iloveseaglass #jewellerymaker #seaglassaddict #seaglassobsessed #marbleous #marble #recycledjewelry #seaglasslover #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #seamarble #marblemonday

Engraving sterling silver using the xTool! ⚒️💫 I know that the ability to engrave silver and other metals is one of the things that is most attractive about the F1 Ultra laser to a jeweller, so here’s another demonstration! I previously shared a butterfly pendant with a deep embossed design, and whilst the result was incredible, there are two limiting factors for that setting. Firstly, it takes a lot longer (45 mins for that design) and as it cuts deeply, there is quite a bit of silver being sucked away as dust which is harder to recover for refining. It’s also quite tricky to get image files ready for the embossment setting, as they need to be converted to a depth map. This is an alternative (much faster) method and gave an equally good result. All I used was a simple PNG file, and the engrave mode with the fibre laser and filling settings; Power - 100% Dot duration - 600 DPI - 800 Mode - Greyscale It only took 1.5 minutes to engrave (I ran a second pass to get it slightly deeper) and I’m really pleased with how it came out. The silver disc was hand cut by me from 0.7 sterling sheet, and the pendant was given a patina to enhance the details before being polished with silicone wheel to smooth it, and then a felt mop and Luxor to bring up the shine. The detail is deep enough to really feel with your fingers and I’m confident it won’t be rubbing off at all with wear. I even did a test run on some scrap metal and tried to sand it down to remove the engraving; which I’m impressed to say didn’t budge. Let me know what you think, and if you have any questions, please just ask. There’s a link with more details about the machine in my bio! 🙃 Kelly xx @xtool_uk @xtool.official #jewellerymaker #howitsmade #processreel #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaking #handmadejewelry #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #behindthescenes #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #jewelrymaking #xTool #xToollasermachine #fiberlaser #laserengraving #XToolF1ultra

Miiiight have lost several minutes of my day staring into this quartz crystal spheres… 😍 They’re like tiny bubbles, complete with rainbows 🫧🌈 I’ve had another selection of these arrive today; this time with some slightly smaller ones in the mix, so I’ll be able to offer two different sizes of caged pendants. I think I need one of each now. For trialling purposes, obvs…. 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #quartzcrystal #jewelrymaker #gemstonejewellery #handmadejewellery #crystalball

A different style of cage for this sea glass marble! 🌊 I found this pendant earlier today in my collection of finished pieces that are still awaiting photography. I’m not going to be making any more in this style (they’re just too fiddly and stressful to get right!) so this is now the last of its kind. It has a beautiful spring-coloured opaque sage green marble with white swirls. Perfectly frosted by the sea! It’s available to ship now for £120 with a chain length of your choice, so please send a DM if you’d like to offer it a home before it goes up on the website! 🙃 *EDIT: Now Sold, thank you! Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #seamarblenecklace #seaglassmarble #seaglass #iloveseaglass #jewellerymaker #marbleous #marble #seaglasslover #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #seamarble #silverjewellery #handmadejewellery

Would you like to pick your own sea glass marble to be made into one of these caged pendants? 🌊🧜‍♀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As I mentioned in a recent reel I am in the process of making more of these necklaces, but I find it hard to choose which marbles to use next. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So I had an idea to upload a listing with a series of untouched marbles in a variety of colours and sizes, and then you can pick the one you want and I’ll make it a bespoke cage. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I can also include an option to select different chain lengths. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Despatch times will obviously take a wee bit longer than for anything that’s already finished, but it’s still offering greater choice for you guys, without the stress of doing fully customised creations for me (since the design itself already exists) ⚒️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What do you think? 🤔 Is this a sensible way forward? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Let me know in the comments or by voting in the poll! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #seamarblenecklace #seaglassmarble #seaglass #iloveseaglass #jewellerymaker #marbleous #marble #seaglasslover #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #seamarble #silverjewellery #handmadejewellery #marblemonday

A quick tour of my workspace whilst it’s tidy! ⚒️ I always like to have a bit of a spring clean in here before the start of each new school term, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing this afternoon. It’s the last day of the Easter break, and as it’s also been nearly 18 months since I last made a video like this, it seemed like the perfect time to update it! 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

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

Only one left! 💫 A new version of my handcrafted sterling silver cage pendants, this time containing a Quartz Crystal sphere 🫧 A beautifully simple design, but a joy to wear, and to hold! The crystal spins in the setting, so it’s perfect for keeping anxious hands busy. And when the light passes through at the right angle you can get the occasional rainbow too 🌈 What’s not to love? 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #quartzcrystal #statementnecklace #jewelrymaker #gemstonejewellery #handmadejewellery

A wearable crystal ball! 🫧 I finally made some of my caged silver pendants with the Quartz Crystal spheres ⚒️✨ This was something I was meaning to do many months ago, but I’m pretty busy at the moment and everything is taking somewhat longer than I plan for it to! 🫣 Thanks so much to those who asked about these and have been patiently waiting for them to be created - I’ve got two finished ones ready to go (I did make three but I’m keeping one… 😂) and they’re up on the website now. There will also be some more sea glass marbles on the way soon too, but I can’t give an exact date. Let me know if you were holding out for a particular colour though, and also if you’d like to see other gemstones made into pendants like this too. I chose the clear crystal to begin with as they look like bubbles to me, but I can look to source other stones too if there’s a demand for them. Hope you are having a fabulous Friday! 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #quartzcrystal #statementnecklace #jewelrymaker #gemstonejewellery #handmadejewellery

My favourite aid for tumbling chains in the barrel polisher! ⚒️⛓️ I’ve tried everything to stop chains getting tangled; silver wire, safety pins, earring hoops and even bits of acetate with holes punched in them. But these are the absolute best thing I’ve used so far. They are the brainchild of Jessica Coté @rosyrevolver and are made of Delrin. They’re tough, slightly flexible but also incredibly strong - and are resistant to abrasion, water, and chemicals. They will not harm or scratch your work, and require no special care other than rinsing after use. They can also be used with all sorts of different tumbling and polishing media, from steel to ceramic. The design allows water to pass freely through and around the tumble aid, which helps to limit any drag and resistance to get the best possible results. Just thread the chain through and fasten it using its own clasp or some safety pins. You all know how much I love a clever solution to stuff, and these are simple yet brilliant - one of those things you didn’t know you needed until you see them! I’ve actually been using mine for a while now but have only just remembered to share them with you. Rest assured they’ve been frequently tried and tested, and I know I’ll be using them for years to come! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking

Such a pretty pink! 💕🌊 Thanks so much to everyone who voted or commented on yesterday’s reel about the exact colour of this piece of sea glass. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The overwhelming majority of you went for ‘Lavender Pink’ and I’m quite happy to side with that! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I took some still photos today so I could really show you how beautiful that shade is, as I don’t think the video really captures it well at all. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sea glass is a funny material, and the apparent colour can change considerably depending on the light, the setting it’s in, and even the skin tone and clothing of the person wearing it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I guess that’s part of its magic, although it does make photographing and filming it a challenge! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I actually almost made this one into a ring, but ring sizes are very restrictive and I didn’t want to limit its future life. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My daughter Lucy has already made a claim for it to be hers one day, so a pendant seemed a more sensible choice. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This particular necklace will be staying with me, but do let me know what you think of the setting. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s a sidestep away from my usual style (I normally leave a border around the backplate of the bezel) but I’m loving the ‘clean’ look of this one. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you like it too, then I’ll make more! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #oneofakindjewellery #seajewels #silverjewellery #upcycledjewelry

What do we think, folks? 🤔 This pendant is made with that piece of pretty pink/purple sea glass I found the other week. But which shade describes it best? 💕💜 Let me know what you think by commenting below or voting in the poll! ⬇️ I’ll share more of the making process of this one soon (I’m still editing the footage as I took way more than I’d thought… 😂) And for all those who will inevitably want to know, the brilliant identification cards are by @seaglassindex 🌊🌈🙃 Kelly x ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #treasuresfromthesea #seaglasslove #seaglasslover #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglasstreasures #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #oneofakindjewellery #silverjewellery #upcycledjewelry

Another use for the steel mitre jig! ⚒️🙌 This little gadget has to be one of the most-used tools in my workshop, and I get asked about it all the time. I use it mainly for getting completely level ends on wire (including bezel wire) which helps get a nice flush join ready for soldering. But it’s also really useful for sawing silver tube or anything else that is difficult to hold otherwise. It saves time, it’s easier to handle, and getting a straight cut first time means it reduces potential waste too. A really useful bit of kit! 🙃 To find one just search online for ‘mitre jig’ or ‘mitre cutting vice’ and there should be a few to choose from. Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking #makingwithcooksongold

Last week I got to be a sailor again! 🌊⚓️ It had been quite a while since I’d spent any time out on the water, but on Monday I joined a team of amazing people onboard a 36ft Bavaria Yacht for five days to complete my Competent Crew training. It was strange seeing my local beach and other familiar landmarks along the Solent from the ‘other side’ but I had an absolutely brilliant time. I learned an awful lot of new skills, and was also surprised by just how much previous knowledge from my years spent in the Royal Navy I was able to recall too. I genuinely thought a lot of that stuff had long-since been buried for good, but it’s amazing how much the brain can recall when put back into the right environment! We visited East Cowes, Yarmouth, Stokes Bay, Haslar Marina in Gosport and Ocean Village in Southampton. No doubt the incredible weather had a lot to do with my enjoyment of the experience (coupled with the fact I wasn’t even remotely seasick, as I had feared!) It was a very busy five days and I’ve only just started to feel like the world has stopped moving, but I can’t wait for the opportunity to get out there again. Thanks so much to @hamblepointsailingschool for helping me rediscover my sea legs and teaching me how to sail. And for all my fellow jewellery lovers, you can expect to see an increase in nautical-inspired designs appearing over the coming months! 🙃 Kelly xx #sailing #learningtosail #CompCrew #onceasailoralwaysasailor #RYASailingSchool #TheSolent #sailboating #thalassophile #oceanlover

How I spent my Saturday afternoon! ⚒️🌊 I have missed being at the bench this last week, so today I enjoyed a few hours in my workshop making a setting for that beautiful piece of pink sea glass I found the other day. The polishing stage is relaxing and meditative - you really can’t rush this. I used to habitually throw pretty much everything I made into the tumbling machine, but lately I’ve taken to doing things manually a lot more often. Not entirely sure why, but I do usually get a better finish and a greater sense of satisfaction at the end - even if it does take a lot longer! I’ve recorded the whole making process of this piece too, and will share the rest with you soon, as well as the finished result. In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 🙂 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #tooladdict #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #processreel #stonesetting #seaglassnecklace #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #seaglasslove #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #silverjewellery

A little bit of floral loveliness for you this Friday! 🌸 These gorgeous Hellebore flowers were all picked from my garden last year. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I have two original plants, which are side by side in the border, a white and a deep pink (the top two in the middle column of the photo) and they’ve self-pollinated and hybridised to produce all sorts of different varieties. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Apparently it’s something known to happen with Hellebore, and they often like to blend with each other in this way. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This year, alas, they fell victim to the mysterious garden critters which have plagued my plants since last summer. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I don’t know if it’s snails, slugs or caterpillars (or an army of all three) but whatever they are, they’re hungry! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m thinking now that I’m better off just opting for plants and flowers that are less appealing to these tiny bandits, so if you have any suggestions of what might stand a better chance of survival please let me know! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And if you’d like to know the names of the original two Hellebore I had here, they are ‘Harvington Pink Speckled’ (the darker one) and ‘Harvington Double Pink Speckled’ (the white one) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #gardening #garden #gardenlife #lovegardening #helleborus #flowerlovers #flowerphotography #botanicalpickmeup #naturelover #hellebore #hellebores #springflowers #iloveflowers #helleboreappreciationsociety #loveflowers #springflowers #hereforthestills

How to set up and use the Dremel Versatip torch for soldering jewellery! ⚒️🔥 For anyone who wanted a quick reference guide, here’s a shorter version of the reel I shared recently. I’ve been using one of these for many years now, and would still put it up there as one of my top five tools because of how much stress and time it has saved me. I’m not able have larger tank or hose torches in my studio and so I am restricted to handheld butane ones only. I’ve not found that to be particularly limiting in terms of what I can make, but a regular handheld torch is often a bit ‘too much’ for the smaller soldering tasks like jump rings, clasps and chain links. That’s where the Versatip has proven to be so valuable. It has a finer and more direct flame (still hot, at max temp 1200 deg C) so it’s just perfect for anything that needs precision more than power. It actually has a multitude of different capabilities (which are the reason for all the extra attachments), but I have to confess I’ve never tested out any of those. For me as a jeweller, just being able to solder silver with it is all I want or need! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #soldering #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking

I managed to find some more space to keep my new tools! ⚒️ Not only that but I think there’s room for a few more too… We we getting rid of some old Ikea shoe racks over the weekend, and whilst trying to work out if I could still use them for something, I hit on the idea of trying them under the bench. I have a basic student bench with no drawers or cupboards and don’t ever use the cross bar as a footrest, so it’s all wasted space. Not any more! I just need to secure these in place and I’ve got room for my new polishing lathe and my extraction hood. Being able to keep the latter on here is especially useful as it means it’s easy to lift on and off the bench whenever I need to move it out the way. A wooden plank would have done the same job, but the shoe rack gives me an extra shelf, fits perfectly and is even the same colour. Win win! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #storagesolutions #toolstorage #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #mystudio #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools

Wishing you a marbleous Monday! 🌊 Here’s a few sea glass marbles swinging gently in the sunshine, to add a bit of colour to your feed today! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m actually going to be away at sea sailing this week, enjoying a much-needed break and learning how to help crew a sailboat at the same time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ll still be dipping in and out of social media (if I can get signal out on the Solent) but my webstores are closed until Friday. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Mr W&T is in charge of the kids, the cats and all things domestic, whilst I get to enjoy some sea air and a bit of time on the water from a slightly less usual perspective. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s been a while since I’ve had to know my port from my starboard, but I’m very excited - and relieved that the weather forecast looks good! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Wish me luck. Let’s hope I still have some sea legs after ten years as a landlubber! 🙃🧜🏼‍♀️⛵️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #seamarblenecklace #seaglassmarble #seaglass #iloveseaglass #jewellerymaker #marbleous #marble #seaglasslover #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #seamarble #silverjewellery #handmadejewellery #marblemonday

What a journey it’s been so far! Here are all the pieces I made during the second term of my Diploma In Silver Jewellery with @jewellersacademy 🤩⚒️ There were slightly fewer individual projects this term than during term one, but that’s because several of them were larger and more complicated, meaning we were given more time to get them done. Weeks six and ten were also allocated for business topics and a drawing and design task, so there was no actual jewellery making to do during those. Overall I’d say things were definitely more demanding this term and the learning curve has continued upwards, but I’ve still loved every minute! My personal favourite projects this time were the collet setting and wishbone ring. I’m looking forward to wearing those when they’re back from marking. The most technically challenging one was probably the torque bangle, and the most time-consuming was the trinket box; mainly because I underestimated the heat needed and ended up with a LOT of firestain to polish out… 😬 We won’t talk about the gold again either, but let’s just say I am relieved I finally made progress with that metal! Which of these pieces do you love most, or which techniques would you most like to try? Let me know in the comments! 🙃 I’m going to be enjoying a little break over Easter now, but am already excited to start again with the third and final term in a couple of weeks. Can’t believe we’re almost at the end already! Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Kelly x #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whatsonmybench #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #jadiplomadiaries #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #ladysmiths #silverjewellery

How often do you invest in new tools? ⚒️ I do it a lot. But it’s all part of a bigger plan! My collection is now pretty vast, but it’s taken me six years to get to this stage, and I’ve worked hard for it. I will also confess I have tools that I rarely use - at least at the moment. But see, that’s where the plan comes in. I have three daughters very close in age, and they still require a great deal of my time and energy. This means I’m not able to actively make as much jewellery or grow my business as much as I would perhaps like, but my chance will come soon enough in the next couple of years when they all start secondary school and become more independent. (I am also very aware how precious this time is as a mother and a family too, and I’m not going to wish that away! 💕) So right now I am in a period of growth and doing everything I can to build up my skills, my education and my knowledge. Hence why I’m doing the Diploma with @jewellersacademy this year. I’m also investing everything I can back into the business itself too, and buying all the tools I need, ready for whatever I might want to make in the future. The latest things to arrive are this @foredomelectric bench lathe and extraction hood. Both are quite spendy items, but they were high up on the list for me. Let me know if you’d like more info about each of them and I’ll share some feedback later on once I’ve got them up and running. And if you’ve got both, or either, and have any operational tips and advice, that would be very welcome too! 🫶 Have a fab Friday! Kelly 🙃 xx #jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #stonesetting #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #mystudio #tooladdict #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #foredom

Best sea glass find of the year so far! 🤩🧜🏻‍♀️🌊 And probably the best find in several years, come to think of it. I picked it up this morning on my walk back home along the seafront after taking the girls to school. The only thing more exciting for me than finding a marble, is something in this colour! Not only is it a stunning shade but it’s super smooth, and jewellery-grade in quality too. Question now is what shall I do with it? Perhaps make it into a ring, or maybe a pendant… or just keep it as it is? 🤔 Let me know in the poll or comments what you’d do! I might take a while to make up my mind, but I promise to share it again when it’s finished! 🙃 Kelly xx #seaglasslover #seaglass #iloveseaglass #seaglasshunter #treasuresfromthesea #oceangifts #seaglasslove #beachtreasures #beachfinds #pinkseaglass #seaglasslover #seastheday #beachcombing #beachcombingaddict #vitaminsea #sealover #rareseaglass #seaside #besidethesea

Some beautiful blue sea glass in the sunshine! 🌊☀️ Isn’t this colour pretty? Like the blue of the spring skies this week! I have a collection of five new bezel-set pendants waiting to be listed, including this one ✨ I’m hoping to get them added to my website by the end of the weekend if I can, but do drop me a message if you’ve been waiting for one in this particular shade to become available - I know how popular (and rare) it is! 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #treasuresfromthesea #seaglasslove #seaglasslover #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglasstreasures #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #oneofakindjewellery #silverjewellery #upcycledjewelry

Super, super sparkly! 🤩💍💎 This ring is my favourite project from term two of my Diploma and was my first ever collet setting. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ All my pieces were sent off for marking yesterday and I got a confirmation email from the @jewellersacademy team that they were safely received today - phew! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Not gonna lie, it’s pretty scary sending off ten weeks’ worth of hard work in one small package, but at least I had the forethought to take photos BEFORE I posted them this time! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I will share the rest of the images when I’ve had a chance to finish editing them; so far this is the only one I’ve done as I just wanted to see the sparkle of that stone in close up on a big screen… 😂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve also bought an 8mm stone ready for my second attempt at this type of setting. The one here was 5mm and I wanted to go ‘big’. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ (I also thought it might be easier and less fiddly, but I’ll reserve judgment on that until I’ve actually tried it.) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Might make that my challenge over Easter. We’ve got two weeks break now before the third and final term begins. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I don’t know where the time has gone! 😳 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly x ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #colletsetting #silverjewelry #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jadiplomadiaries #silverring

Creative chaos; a bird’s eye view of my bench today! ⚒️ There’s a fair bit going on here. I think I counted six finished pieces and eleven works in progress..? 🤔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s quite possible there’s a few forgotten ones buried there too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Last time I posted a picture or reel of my bench I was tidying it up for half term, and somehow it’s Easter break next week - which means time to do it all over again. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I honestly do not know where that time has gone, but i think a spring-clean is probably due! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #mystudio #whereiwork #creativespace #whatsonyourbench #ladysmith #jewellerytools #handmadejewellery #myworkspace #birdseyeview

Carving into wax using a ball burr is so strangely satisfying to do. Just need to stop myself getting mesmerised by the process and going too far with it… 🫣 I know it’s Sunday and I’m not really supposed to be working, but I was going through my term two Diploma pieces ready to pack them all up and send them off for marking tomorrow and I suddenly remembered I forgot to do the second part of the stone setting in wax project. But the sun is shining onto my bench, my children are playing nicely together (for the moment) and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now. So hopefully in an hour or so I shall have a lovely carved bezel cup for an 8mm Agate stone! 🙃⚒️ #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #waxcarving #whatsonmybench #tooladdict #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking

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! It gave me a proper headache trying to film it though. I just couldn’t find the right light needed to accurately capture the gorgeous lavender and lilac hues in the pattern of the stone. This was the best I could get but you’ll just have to believe me when I say it still doesn’t really do it justice. It’s so much more stunning in real life! It will be some time before it appears on the website as it’s currently in the queue for hallmarking, and given the crazy high costs of that at the moment it will be a while before I have enough pieces to send off for assay. But it was also too lovely not to share with you, so consider this an advanced preview! If you are keen to offer it a home before then though, then please just send me a DM. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #agate #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #ladysmith #mossagate #gemstonejewellery #jewelryaddict #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewellery #mossagatejewellery

I saw this print today whilst wandering around The Lanes in Brighton and loved it so much I had to bring it home for my workshop walls (if I can find a space, that is…) 🖼️🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I travelled up to town again yesterday for the @jewellersacademybrighton launch party - which was just brilliant. Such an incredible atmosphere and a huge buzz to be amongst so many other jewellers! 😊️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thanks so much to all of you who came up to say hello and introduce yourselves too. It really does mean so much to me that people choose to follow me on here, but to then meet you in real life as well is such an amazing opportunity! 🫶 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The print I’m holding here is by Rob Lowe @supermundane and I picked it up from @theymadethistagram. It just resonated with me so strongly - the retro colours, the symmetry and the words! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My head is always full of SO much stuff, and it’s true that much of it I do not understand - but there are a great many ideas, dreams and ambitions in there too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And it is also still very much buzzing from last night and the excitement of more trips to the studios in future - to teach, but also to train. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ For I’ve long since realised the best way to keep my brain happy is to keep it active and allow it to be busy; and learning new skills and seeking out new experiences is a great way to do just that! 🤩⚒️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Have a wonderful weekend! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #ladysmith #makersgonnamake #jewellerybusiness #knowyourmaker #smallbizuk #hampshirebusiness #creativebrain #neurodiversity #adhdinwomen #busybrain

Bezels on the bench! ⚒️🌊 Just a few sea glass pebbles wrapped in silver and waiting to be turned into pendants. I usually find making the bezel part itself goes one of two ways; I struggle with every single one of them, or they all work out nicely and fit perfectly first time. Anyone else experience this too? 🤔 Thankfully this day was a better one, and that’s why I decided to keep on going whilst the going was good! 😂 Next stage is to cut out some baseplates and decide whether to keep them plain and simple or make them all fancy… I’ll see what mood I’m in when I return to the bench tomorrow! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #seaglasslove #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #bezelsettings #workinprogress

The sound of the sea really soothes my soul! 🌊 It was so calm and peaceful down on the beach this morning, I could have stayed there for hours. If you feel the same way, but perhaps don’t have such easy access to the ocean, then save this clip and come back to it as often as you need 🙂🫶🌊 #vitaminsea #oceanwaves #beachsound #bytheseaside #beachlover #amomentofcalm

How to set up and use the Dremel Versatip torch for soldering! ⚒️🔥 I asked you all which Dremel tool you’d like to see a demo of first, and the overwhelming response was for this one! I’ve been using one of these for many years now, and would still put it up there as one of my top five tools because of how much stress and time it has saved me. I’m not able have larger tank or hose torches in my studio and so I am restricted to handheld butane ones only. I’ve not found that to be particularly limiting in terms of what I can make, but a regular handheld torch is often a bit ‘too much’ for the smaller soldering tasks like jump rings, clasps and chain links. That’s where the Versatip has proven to be so valuable. It has a finer and more direct flame (still hot, at max temp 1200 deg C) so it’s just perfect for anything that needs precision more than power. I struggled to create this post in a way that seems less ‘salesy’ (and I did try… 😂) but honestly, I love the thing! I have been asked about it hundreds of times before and have shared it many times before now too. Dremel very kindly sent me a brand new one so I could give a proper demo on how to set it up as well as how to use it, but I promise you that any recommendation is totally genuine! It actually has a multitude of different capabilities (which are the reason for all the extra attachments), but I have to confess I’ve never tested out any of those. For me as a jeweller, just being able to solder silver with it is all I want or need! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #soldering #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking

Do you have a favourite combination when it comes to jewellery? Maybe particular metals and stones together, or certain textures or shapes? 🤔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve got a soft spot for this necklace because it incorporates several of the elements I love most; silver, flowers, gemstones and circles… 🌸💎 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I use all of these frequently in my designs. Sometimes individually and sometimes combined with each other. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I am also fond of pairing the colour blue with silver too, be it a pale aqua-coloured piece of sea glass or a gorgeously deep London Blue Topaz like these! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My favourite colour is actually green, but I’m forever being drawn back to the blues when making jewellery. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Topaz, Turquoise, Aquamarine… even Sapphire. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I love all of them! 🙃💙 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #handcraftedjewellery #artisanmade #handmadeintheuk #artisanjewellery #handmadejewellery #igjewellery #silverjewellery #topaz #floralnecklace #silvernecklace #flowerjewelry #silverjewelry

Sawing out a silver butterfly! ⚒️🦋 This was the pendant I created recently with the laser engraving detail - the silver is 0.8mm thick and too much for my machine to cut, so I did it by hand. The reel is 22 seconds long, but the actual time taken to saw it out was almost 14 minutes. I did manage to get round in one go without breaking a blade or cutting any fingers though! After this stage the silver then had to be filed, sanded, and polished by hand too. There’s already a reel showing the whole process from start to finish if you’re interested, but I found this clip on my phone this afternoon and thought it was worth a share on its own. I’m still not sure whether to make more of these butterflies either - let me know if you’d like to see them added to my range! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend, Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #greenlionsawframe #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #butterflies

Gold and silver stacking rings! ⚒️💫💍 These were the last project from term two of my Diploma in Silver Jewellery. There’s a mix of both satin and shiny finishes here, with the set comprised of one plain and one textured hammered gold band, a silver ring with a gold nugget embellishment and another silver ring with a gold tube-set cz stone. All made in my size, of course! 🙃 I’m so, so happy to say that I managed to create both of the gold bands without any issues this time. A huge relief, and a satisfying end to the second term. Let me know of which of these is your favourite! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #silverring #goldring #stackingrings #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #jadiplomadiaries #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #ladysmiths

Another of my favourite workshop staples! ⚒️ I’ve been asked about these burrs quite a lot again recently, so here’s the lowdown on why I love them! I always take the time to clean up soldered joins on things like jump rings, even the smallest ones. I find that the few extra seconds spent doing so gives a much higher quality finish, as well as giving me the opportunity to inspect each join and make sure it’s soldered properly. And rubber or silicone burrs are a massive timesaver for this task! My first choice for cleaning up jump rings in particular is the one I’m using here. It’s an Eveflex Rubber Burr, 506 in Blue (coarse grit finish) in the flame profile, with a 2.34mm shank to fit in my Foredom pendant motor. I find it makes swift work of removing any excess solder and tidying joins, but still gives a fine enough finish that no further work is needed other than a spin in the barrel polisher. These rubber burrs come in all different shapes and finishes - which you choose is down to personal preference and the task in hand. However I would always be careful when using them on larger pieces and more obvious joins, and work my way through the different grits in order, just as you would with emery paper or sanding sticks. But for jump ring joins, these are a one-stop process and I absolutely love them for that! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #soldering #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking #jewelrytipsandtricks

Another scrap-pot project! ⚒️🪼 I forgot to share this with you when I made it last month, but here’s the result of my latest creative experiment using the odds and ends on my bench! It’s a silver jellyfish, made from folded sheet, random lengths of chain and some bits of wire. It has a degree of free movement around the top part, which spins, and makes a very satisfying jingly noise when you shake it. I’ve absolutely no idea what to do with it now, and I’m not even sure if it would actually work as a pendant, but it was a fun challenge! Might just put a hook under my bench shelf for now and let it hang there whilst I figure out its future! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #jellyfish #workinprogress #workspacewednesday #silverjewelry #reducereuserecycle #feelingcreative #makersgonnamake

Ooof - just look at those look at those layers! 🤩 This stone is a Laguna Lace Agate, and the first image is actually the back of the pendant. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I still can’t decide whether I like it better from the front (which is slightly domed) or the reverse, which has this amazing layered stack of colours. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That pattern was too pretty to hide, so I made the backplate cut-out on this one as large as possible. This created a simple frame effect so it can be worn either way around. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So many of the gems I use are like this, and just as beautiful on both sides. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s got me thinking that maybe in future I need to come up with a bail design that will allow them to spin round whilst being worn too… 💫 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What do you think? 🤔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #artisanjewellery #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaker #silverjewellery #gemstonenecklace #silverpendant #agatenecklace #jewellerydesigner #sterlingsilver #handcraftedjewellery #artisanmade #handmadeintheuk #jewelleryartist

You know I’m always on the lookout for effective storage solutions for my jewellery tools! ⚒️ And this weekend I created a dedicated space for my sanding discs and polish sticks to live, by repurposing an old spice rack that we no longer needed in the kitchen. A quick ten-minute idea that worked out perfectly and means these few things are now close at hand and not being continuously moved from one side of the room to the other - which they had been up until now. The butcher’s block that I use as my hammering station now has quite a few bolt-ons, but it’s proven to be a brilliant piece of furniture! I do apologise for my rather haphazard DIY skills; Mr W&T would no doubt have marked everything out first, measured it all properly and used the correctly sized drill bits and screws. I however didn’t have time to wait around for him, so just got on with it using whatever I had closest to hand. It does the job. And yes, the cat stayed underneath the bench and refused to move throughout the entire process. #jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #storagesolutions #toolstorage #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #mystudio #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools