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

Making a bezel-set sea glass pendant! ⚒️🌊 This classic style is always popular and one of my favourite things to make. Occasionally I get a bit more creative and embellish the settings or come up with a more elaborate hanging bail, but other times I just keep it simple. And shiny! 🤩 Because there’s just something so beautiful about the contrast between the matte frostiness of the sea glass, and the bright shine of the silver! I’ve tried to include like as many of the steps in this reel as I can, but it’s not easy to cover everything in just 90 seconds. If you have any questions about what I’m doing or using please just ask in the comments, and if you’d like a fully in-depth tutorial of exactly how I do this, then I can now help with that too! 🫶 I’m really excited to be teaching in-person sea glass jewellery classes at @jewellersacademybrighton for anyone who is able to travel there (next courses are Saturday 10th May and Wednesday 23rd July) And if you can’t make it to Brighton then I’m also the tutor for the @jewellersacademy online course - which is available for immediate download and currently half price until this coming Wednesday (19th March) Both courses cover claw settings, how to drill sea glass and how to make a bezel setting exactly like this one! ✨ I’ll put some links to both in my stories today. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #processreel #seaglass #seaglassjewellery #bezelsettings #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #seaglassjewelry

Which of these shall I use first?! ⚒️🤩 Would you rather see an updated sea glass drilling demo using the cordless multi-tool, or some soldering with the Versatip torch? 🌊🔥 Let me know in the comments or by voting in the poll! I will be showcasing both of these over the next week or so but you can choose the order of appearance! 🙃 Kelly x @dremel_uk @dremel #jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #mystudio #tooladdict #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools

The making of the trinket box! ⚒️🦋 This was the project for weeks 7 and 8 of my Diploma’s second term, and once it was finished I understood why we were given a fortnight to do it! It wasn’t the easiest piece to make either. In the end I did it in stages over several days, one of which was spent sanding back the firestain that appeared around the sides - on both halves of the box! 😬 I haven’t been able to include every part of the process here, partly because there just isn’t time in one reel, and also because I didn’t actually film everything. The later soldering stages were pretty intense moments and I needed to get in close to see everything properly. It’s unlikely I’d have been able to get a focused shot even if I had been brave enough to try! I was equally pleased and relieved when this one was finally completed. The projects are getting noticeably harder, as you’d expect, but I’m still enjoying every one. If you’re interested in seeing a longer version of this with some more technical explanations, then do check out the Diploma Diary reel from last Sunday on the @jewellersacademy page too. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #processreel #myworkspace #tooladdict #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaker #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #handmadeisbetter #whatimade #trinketbox #jadiplomadiaries #butterfly

The perfect stone for spring! 🌸 This is a Sonoran Dendritic Rhyolite, and the patterns on these always remind me of blossom! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I have been increasingly distracted lately with making things at the bench and getting my Diploma projects finished, and keep forgetting to post any of my finished jewellery pieces. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So I chose this one for today! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I love the gorgeous blue-grey and magenta colours as much as the soft matte finish on these stones. I have a few more of them yet to be set, but this one called to me first. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s a pretty big pendant, so it’s been paired with a longer length and heavier weight 22” chain to complement and balance out the setting, and has a little bit of decoration both around the bezel and on the back. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Would you wear something this size, or do you prefer a more subtle style? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do let me know, as I have quite a few smaller stones also waiting to be set and could do with some encouragement to look past the larger ones now and again! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #ooak #ilovejewellery #jewellerydesigner #silversmith #jewelrygram #rhyolite #gemstonejewellery #ilovejewelry #jewelryaddict #artisanjewelry #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewelry #sterlingsilver #artisanmade #statementpendant #statementnecklaces

I taught my first ever jewellery-making class yesterday! ⚒️ Here’s a little thirty second peek for anyone interested in seeing what I was up to; especially those of you who were so kind as to message and wish me luck! ☺️ Thank you! 🫶 I had the most brilliant day at @jewellersacademybrighton and am still buzzing from the experience. The studios are beautiful, the atmosphere is so warm and friendly and the tools and equipment available there is every maker’s dream! 🤩 I taught five incredibly lovely ladies how to make a bezel-set sea glass pendant, and they all produced the most amazing pieces to take home with them. It’s still a bit of a pinch-me moment if I’m honest. Six years ago I’d only just started teaching myself how to do this, and fast forward to now and I’m thrilled to be sharing what I’ve learned with others. To spend a day in such a fab location and to experience that feeling of pride and joy in making your first-ever sea glass piece five-times over, well that’s really something. I can’t wait to go back and do it all again! ☺️ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #dowhatyoulove #jewelleryschool #seaglasslove #seaglasslover #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery

Set some sea glass with me! 🌊🧜‍♀️ This pendant is the one I was making over the weekend, and this is the (almost final) stage of setting the glass. I still find this bit nerve-wracking; it’s probably the most satisfying part of the process, but until that glass is clicked in place and the silver folded down around the edge, I’m never 100% sure the piece will be a success. And that’s quite daunting when you’ve spent hours making something! My favourite setting tool is still a curved burnisher, held securely in the same way I guess you’d use a vegetable peeler. I’ve tried bezel rockers and square pushers too, but this thing just feels so natural in my hand now that I keep coming back to it, although it can make my arms and shoulders ache quite badly! I do have a hammer handpiece and LX motor that would probably make this task a lot easier, but I’m scared to try it on glass in case it ends up being ‘too much’ and causes it to break. If you’ve had success setting sea glass using one before then do let me know as I’d be interested to see if it would help - or not… 🙃 I’ve also recorded the whole making process of this particular pendant too, and promise to share the rest with you soon! 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

I can’t solder any joins unless I’ve checked them first by holding them up to the daylight and squinting. And I can’t make anything at all if I’m not wearing my optivisors. Not sure if these are just old habits or old age! Please tell me I’m not the only one?! 😬😂 Hope you’ve had a lovely weekend! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths

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

Who else gets excited about unboxing new tools?! 🤩⚒️ I’ve been gradually building up my collection over the last six years, and slowly filling in ‘gaps’ wherever I can too. This most recent purchase is an example of that. I actually bought the steel ring triblet and stepped bangle mandrel together from @durstontools almost exactly five years ago. But the mandrel only goes up to a maximum diameter of 28mm and the stepped mandrel is restricted by its design to three set sizes. Lately I’ve been wanting to create larger circular pendants and more fixed round bangles, and didn’t have quite the right tools for the job. I’ve been making do, using my dapping posts and other random round tool handles for shaping these pendants on, but that’s pretty limiting. And irritating. I finally looked into buying something that was more fit for purpose, and discovered you can get a smaller bangle mandrel too. It goes from 25-50mm so it is quite literally the next size up from the triblet. And the larger round mandrel takes diameters of 50-75mm so I finally have all sizes covered. I opted for the one with the tang so I can secure it in my bench vice - I just find it much easier to use this way. So that’s another tool investment I’m really happy with. Now I just have to find somewhere to keep them! 😳🤔 Have a fab Friday! Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #mystudio #tooladdict #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #unboxing

How I made the engraved butterfly pendant! 🦋⚒️ There was a lot of love for this silver pendant when I shared it over the weekend, and as promised here’s the making process in more detail! I designed the butterfly image myself on my computer, and then used the xTool software to convert this from a PNG into a depth map, which is what you need to do the deeper level embossing. Then I had this laserered into a piece of 0.8mm thick sterling silver sheet using the xTool F1 Ultra. Settings were IR Fiber laser, Power 100%, Speed 2500, 300 LPCm 💫 The total time for the embossing was 44 minutes, but it is super precise so well worth waiting for! Once the machine had done its thing I sawed the butterfly out, filed and sanded the edges, and soldered on a bail and some hanging rings. I then chose to add a patina to emphasise the details of the raised areas and polished up the high parts. Overall I’m really impressed with the result. It did feel like a bit of a gamble on such a large piece of silver (I tested it on copper first, but the metals can still perform differently) but thankfully it paid off! I’m definitely going to be exploring this setting further, and seeing what else I can come up with. Let me know what you think, and if you have any questions, please just ask! 🙃 Kelly xx @xtool_uk @xtool.official #jewellerymaker #silverbutterfly #butterflynecklace #howitsmade #processreel #handmadejewellery #butterfly #jewelrymaking #handmadejewelry #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #butterflies #behindthescenes #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #xTool #xToollasermachine #fiberlaser #laserengraving #XToolF1ultra

I finished it! ⚒️🦋 The little collection of silver sheet strips and squares I shared with you last Wednesday is now a butterfly-topped trinket box. This was quite a tough project for me and took several days to complete, not least because I had to solder it a couple of times and ended up with a lot of firestain around the sides. That took pretty much an entire afternoon to sand back out, but I got there in the end. Thankfully I was going for a satin finish anyway so although it didn’t show up clearly straight away, I hadn’t actually wasted hours getting it to a fine shine before then. I’ll share the full making process of this one in a week or so once I’ve finished editing all the footage, but I’d love to know what you think. Do you like the butterfly, or would you have gone for something simpler like a gemstone? I’m definitely going to be keeping this one once the Diploma is over, but not sure yet if I’ll ever make another! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #whatimade #workspacewednesday #silverjewelry #trinketbox #jadiplomadiaries #butterfly

How it’s made - a silver gemstone torque bangle! ⚒️ This was the third project from term two of the Diploma In Silver Jewellery that I’m doing, and probably the most ambitious piece we’ve had to make on the course so far. It was complicated, with lots of stages, and for the first time I had to make a list beforehand so I didn’t lose track of what I was doing. I also had to go back and refer to the tutorials several times too, to make I kept to the brief and the given design. I knew it was going to be tricky so I took my time and made sure I didn’t rush any of the stages - a strategy that paid off! I’m really proud of this one. An awful lot of work went into it, and it was polished entirely by hand too. I usually put things in the tumbler for a few hours to get a fine shine, but I didn’t want to risk denting the bezel setting. Things are getting harder during the second term, but I’m still loving every minute! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #processreel #silverbangle #torquebangle #bezelsettings #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths

My first ever collet setting! ⚒️ This was the fifth project from reel two of my Dioploma course and things are definitely getting more challenging now! I actually had to make the collet part twice, after getting my maths wrong initially. The one you see featured here up until I used the collet block was actually far too wide at the base. So I re-made it and carried on. Everything shown from the sanding of the setting onwards became part of the final ring. I didn’t go back and film the first few stages again though as I was a bit cross with myself and pressed for time, but the process and procedures were the same. Just goes to show the huge difference a couple of millimeters can make, and why precision is so key when it comes to making jewellery. Sadly, maths has never been a strong subject of mine! 🫣 For the stone setting stage I stuck with the pin vice, as I’m still learning and not quite brave enough to use the pendant motor for that just yet. I did however give in to the need for power tools and use my LX motor and hammer handpiece to set the stone though, as I wasn’t getting anywhere with the square pusher or burnisher I’d usually use. It was the first time I’ve actually used the LX properly and I think it could well become one of my favourite tools! As always, if you have any questions about anything I’m doing or using here, please just ask! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #processreel #silverring #colletsetting #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

So excited to finally share this with you! 🤩🌊 I’ve mentioned before that I’m going to be teaching sea glass jewellery in person at @jewellersacademybrighton this year, and now I can reveal that I’ve recorded an online course with @jewellersacademy too! 🫶 I often get asked if I do workshops or online tutorials, and this is the best way for me to offer both. There is a LOT that goes into the professional recording of these courses and I loved the whole experience! It’s just so much more content and detail than I’d ever be able to put out there myself so I was thrilled when Jess asked me if I’d take part and I really hope that I’ve done it well. We covered bezel setting, claw setting, and drilling - and I did my best to include everything I’ve learned during my years of working with sea glass, including all the things NOT to do! 🙃 I’ve put a link in my stories today, but if you’re reading this at a later date and would like me to send it to you just drop a note in the comments. And if you enrol on the course and have any questions or queries about anything I’m doing or using, please just get in touch and ask as I’m always happy to help! Have a lovely Monday! Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #treasuresfromthesea #seaglasslove #seaglasslover #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery

What I made this weekend… 🦋 I seem to have butterflies on my mind a lot at the moment, not sure why. Perhaps it’s that wonderful feeling of spring that’s in the air right now! Anyway, I’ve been experimenting with the xTool F1 Ultra again to see just how deep an engraving I can get in sterling silver. And this is the answer; pretty deep! It’s not the same butterfly as the one I was sawing out in my last reel, but a bigger one. I’ll share more details and the full making process in a longer reel when I’ve edited it, but I got so excited about the finished piece that I wanted to show you right away. Let me know what you think, and what I should try engraving next! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #silverbutterfly #butterflynecklace #handmadejewellery #butterfly #jewelrymaking #handmadejewelry #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #butterflies #laserengraving

Sawing out a silver butterfly! ⚒️🦋 This was the decorative feature I chose to add to the trinket box I made this week as part of my Diploma. It ended up being a bit more elaborate than you can see here, but this is only the first stage. I managed to get round in one go without breaking a blade (or cutting any fingers!) but this task alone took nine minutes. It then had to be filed, sanded, textured sweat soldered to a sheet of copper before it could be added to the lid of the box. Handmade isn’t fast, but it is always worth it! I’ll share the finished piece next week when it’s had the final polish. And to all those who helped me and offered tips and suggestions after some of the previous struggles encountered with my saw piercing - thank you! 🫶 My original @greenlionsawframe is still my absolute favourite saw, and following some expert advice I recently gave it a good clean and removed lots of dust from around the thumbscrews, which keeps the blades nice and taught and my lines straight. A new pack of saw blades also helped too, as the ones I had been using previously were old, and a bit rusty and warped from being stored in non-closed containers. And for anyone wanting the technical details, the silver here is 0.5mm thick and I’m using size 4/0 blades. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #greenlionsawframe #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #butterflies

The finished copper flower! ⚒️ I had so much fun making this and just playing around with my tools; forming and hammering metal to see what I could do. The finished piece was too big to go in the tumbler so had to be hand polished, and whilst it did come up beautifully bright and shiny once I’d finished all the metal work, I decided to add a patina and give it a brushed satin finish. I find that copper just doesn’t hold a shine for very long and tends to oxidise very quickly anyway when left out, so I gave it a head start. Even after a week it’s already continued to darken and I love the deeper warm tones that are developing. I’m not quite sure what to do with it, so I’m going to keep it on my bench for now as a reminder that I can create more ambitious designs if I want to. It will also help me remember that it’s good to keep practicing and experimenting, and just take time to enjoy the process now and again! 🙃 Have a wonderful weekend, Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #myworkspace #seekinspirecreate #mystudio #dowhatyoulove #whatsonyourbench #creativeminds #handmadejewellery #metalsmithlife #metalflower #metalart #metalartist

Filing or sanding; which would you rather do? ⚒️ You can vote in the poll on this one and let me know! Personally, for me it’s sanding - every time. I hate the filing stage. It may be faster and more efficient but it’s all scratchy and coarse and rough and literally grates on me… 😬 But sanding? That is gentler and slower and somehow I find it meditative and relaxing. That part of the process I could happily do for hours! 😁 Anyone else with me on this? 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #handmadebusiness #creativeminds #handmadejewellery #metalsmithlife #jewellerymakers #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #jewelrymaker #jewelrymaking #asmr

My project for this week… ⚒️ This little collection of silver sheet strips and squares is destined to be transformed into a little trinket box. At least it will if all goes to plan… 🫣😂 I’ve never made any kind of a box or container before, but I think the main test with this one will be the soldering and avoiding the dreaded firestain. I’ve also got to come up with a decorative element for the top of the lid, and can’t decide between a bezel-set gemstone or some sort of silver embellishment 🤔 If you have any thoughts towards one or the other, do let me know! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #workspacewednesday #silverjewelry #trinketbox #jadiplomadiaries

The next stage of creating my copper flower! This follows on from the reel I shared over the weekend, showing the petals being formed in the dapping block. I have since finished it off and given it a polish, but I wanted to show you a glimpse of this post-soldering part of the process too. Mainly because I’m still quite amazed I succeeded in getting this soldered at all using my handheld torches, but also as proof that I really did make the thing myself. I keep looking at it sitting on my bench and can’t quite believe I managed it. One day I might try and work out the equivalent cost of making one in silver, but I’m not quite ready for that sort of shock just yet… 🙃⚒️ #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #seekinspirecreate #whatsonyourbench #workinprogress #creativeminds #handmadejewellery #hampshirebusiness #metalsmithlife #jewellerymakers #metalsmith #metalart #metalflowers

Just something I felt needed saying. So many of you have now messaged me to ask my opinion on this whole ‘boost your visibility’ or ‘pay to be promoted’ thing that I wanted to share my thoughts on the matter. Whilst I don’t generally mind my content being shared or re-posted by other accounts (obviously so long as due credit is given) I also really don’t want anyone to be under the impression that I am paying for this sort of exposure. Because I am not. Never have, never will. If you choose to pursue such a route and it works for you then that’s great, but it’s simply not my style. I work hard at creating my content and engaging with you amazing people because I enjoy it, and I genuinely love helping others. I get an awful lot back from this community too in terms of encouragement, motivation and support and for that I am so, so grateful 🙏🏻 But I also pride myself on being authentic and honest, and if you are seeing this reel or reading this caption then it’s either because my posts resonated with you at some point, or the algorithm thought you’d be interested. Now I’m not against the idea of collaborations or paid partnerships, and if you’ve followed me for a while you’ll probably be aware that I have actively partaken in both. But I will always be open about it. What makes me uncomfortable is the idea of anyone potentially being misled into thinking I’m endorsing or encouraging something when I’m not. If you ever want help or advice or have a question about anything I share or the tools I use, then please feel free to reach out and ask me. I don’t pay for promotion, but I don’t charge for conversation either! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #seekinspirecreate #dowhatyoulove #handmadebusiness #creativeminds #handmadejewellery

Here are all the pieces I made during the first term of my Diploma In Silver Jewellery! 🤩⚒️ I’ve shared them already in various reels of course, but when they all returned from marking I took some photos too 📷 My own favourites from here are probably the flush setting and the riveted pendant, and the little silver book (hinges project) 📖 The copper cylinder from the soldering masterclass was the most satisfying thing to make, and the most challenging was the dreaded jigsaw project (I know most of my fellow students feel the same way about that one!). I also struggled a bit with the tube setting - not the setting itself, but trying to make it into a ring. Which is why it’s a pendant instead… 😂 Let me know which of these pieces you love most, or which techniques you’d most like to try. And also, which do you think I should take forward to include in my final project? 🤔 The very last thing we will be asked to make is a statement piece of jewellery using at least three different techniques that we were taught on the course. I’m still trying to decide (and still have a few more to learn) but I at least know which will NOT be repeated… 🪁🧩🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whatsonmybench #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #jadiplomadiaries #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #ladysmiths #silverjewellery

Forming a flower! ⚒️ I’ve been having 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. I’ll share the finished result next week! 🙃 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

I have a few ideas… 🤔 Do you ever make anything with scraps and leftover materials? It’s one of my favourite things to do, and just after a bench clean is the ideal time as all those odds and ends of silver conveniently end up in a pile. I’ve got a couple of spare hours this weekend to spend at the bench and the urge to create is currently strong, so I’m going to sit down in a bit and see what evolves from this! 🙃⚒️ #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #workspacewednesday #silverjewelry #reducereuserecycle #feelingcreative #makersgonnamake

Precision here is key! 🗝️ Understanding the sizing of closed bangles is so important, as even a couple of millimetres can make a huge difference to the fit. For a long time I’ve been reluctant to make these, due to the variety of sizes that are potentially needed. But with the price of silver being so high right now, I’m also at the stage where I can no longer afford to keep lots of designs in stock any more, and am having to start making to order instead. This means bangles are back on the menu again! ⚒️ The best way to find out what size is required is to measure the diameter of an existing bangle that fits well. Failing that, you can either measure the circumference of the hand or the diameter - with the two methods shown in this reel. If you’re opting for the circumference then you’ll need a flexible tape measure, or a bit of string or thin strip of paper you can check against a ruler. And for a closed bangle this goes around the widest part of the hand, not the wrist. To check for the diameter instead, you can measure between the two outermost knuckles. Every jeweller that makes bangles will very likely have a sizing guide available, and even if their definitions of ‘small, medium and large’ might differ, the diameter and/or circumference figures will usually be given too. And if you’re buying for someone else as a gift and aren’t sure of the size, please don’t just guess; opt for a clasp bangle, a cuff or a bracelet instead! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #silverbangle #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips #howtoreels

How often do you tidy your bench? 🙃⚒️ I’d love to say I’m one of those people who clears up every time they finish something, but I’m not. Well, not here at least. I take a different approach to the rest of the house and can’t abide clutter and mess, but somehow I feel the opposite about my workbench. I frequently leave things wherever they land each time I put down my tools, in case somehow tidying everything away will remove the creativity along with it - especially if something isn’t quite complete! But then there are times when the bench surface itself disappears so much that I have to take action, and school holidays seem to be the best time for this. I don’t get as much opportunity to make jewellery when my girls are home during the day, and instead revert to the roles of peace-keeper and snack distributer. But it is a good time to have a spring clean. Every six weeks or so feels fair, and I have to admit that sitting down to a clean and tidy workspace IS always a nice change! #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whereiwork #mystudio #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #seekinspirecreate #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking #springclean #timelapsevideo

My new favourite tool… 🤩 A bangle forming die press; a simple and easy way to make a plain bangle into a rather fancy one! Lots of you wanted to know how I created this effect, and here is the answer 🙂 I’ve never been a big fan of regular plain bangles, but I’m loving the wavy results I’m getting with this tool. It couldn’t be easier to use either; just put your bangle into the lower part of the press, use the spacer to help centre it, replace the top half and whack it with a mallet. I’m using a piece of leather to protect my bench block, but the most important thing to remember is ANNEAL, anneal, anneal. The softer your metal, the more pronounced wave effect you will get. I’m still experimenting to see how it works on different thicknesses of wire (I’m using 1.5mm here) and you need to add on a couple of mm when making the bangle itself to allow for the shaping effect, but I’m so impressed by how this works. The press was sent to me by @maddisonsofdurham and if you’d like one too then they’ve also very generously created a discount offer for me to pass on; enter the code ‘KELLY10’ at checkout and get 10% off any wave press 💫 They come in a variety of styles (this one is a 14 wave pattern) Just search for product 1944 on their site and you should find them all. Let me know what you think of the result, and if you’d like a finished bangle they’re now available to order from my own website too 🙃 #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #silverbangle #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips #howtoreels

Should I make more of these wavy bangles, and would you like to see how it’s done? ⚒️ Let me know! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaker #silverbangles #whatsonyourbench #recycledmetals #silverbracelets #handmadeisbest #wavybangle #stackingbangle #slowmade

A few things to keep me busy this half term! 🤩⚒️ My latest @cooksongold order just got delivered. I decided that I actually really enjoyed making the collet setting last week and want to do more, but I only had a couple of stone setting burrs. Now I have all of them and a lot more options! 🙌 I also bought a lovely and super-sparkly 8mm CZ gemstone because the next ring I make is going to be BIG, and some burr and blade lubricant to help prolong the life of my tools because I don’t think beeswax is quite doing the job as well as I need it to. Have you ordered anything this week? Let me know what’s currently on your bench, and I promise to share the finished ring when it’s done! 💍💎 Kelly 🙃 xx #jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #stonesetting #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #mystudio #tooladdict #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools

Beautiful aqua sea glass in a bespoke silver setting! 🌊✨ I shared a quick reel of this necklace earlier today, and as promised here’s a closer look courtesy of the still images. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The weather was perfect for taking photos outside today as there was a lovely level of light without any glare or reflection. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I only managed to take pictures of this one pendant though as despite the wonderful lighting, the temperature was a balmy 5 degrees celsius, ‘feels like’ -5. And boy did it! 🥶 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I made this particular piece after making a large few gemstone pendants with the moving riveted bails. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Mr W&T commented that they reminded him of shackles on a boat, so I had to try a version in sea glass too! ⛵️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I am planning making more like this, and although I’m not quite sure yet how to incorporate that particular nautical reference to the titles, sea glass with silver shackles will be a thing! 🙃⚓️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Hope you’ve all had a lovely weekend too, despite the chilly weather, ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #oneofakindjewellery #seajewels #silverjewellery #upcycledjewelry

My newest sea glass necklace! 🌊🧜‍♀️ This pendant is slightly different to the ones I usually make. It’s been embellished with some tiny silver spheres and oxidised to add depth, but it’s the riveted hanging bail that I think really makes this one unique. I enjoyed the challenges it posed, and love the result. I’ll never stop making the classic versions with the simple setting and bright shine as I know how popular they are with everyone. But there’s something about the darker grungy vibe to this style that calls to me. Shall I create more like this one? Let me know what you think! I spent the morning taking photos so I could add it to the website, and I’ll share those later too so you can get a better look. Hope you’re having a lovely Sunday! Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #treasuresfromthesea #seaglasslove #seaglasslover #seaglasspendant #iloveseaglass #seaglasstreasures #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #oneofakindjewellery #silverjewellery #upcycledjewelry

Setting a stone in wax! ⚒️ 💎 This was the fourth project for term two of my Diploma, and not only did I have to make the setting for a faceted stone, I had to carve the ring band too. I’m really starting to love working with wax. It’s messy, but it’s also quiet and meditative and I find I can easily get absorbed in the process, which isn’t a bad thing. I used a piece of gold Wolf wax for this one, but for no real reason other than I had it to hand and didn’t have any blue wax in the offset shape at the time! It came free as a sample with some carving tools I bought and was already close to the width I needed, so I thought I’d try it out. I’ve not done nearly enough wax carving to be able to make any comparisons yet (this was literally the third thing I’ve ever made with wax) but it was nice to work with and I didn’t find it hard to get a nice smooth finish. The flush setting part was straightforward, and followed exactly the same process as you’d use in metal - just a lot faster! I had wanted to do some more intricate carving or add some detail to the band too when I started, but after several hours to get it to meet the marking criteria I decided to call it quits on this particular piece. I will have another go at doing that on a non-assessed example, or perhaps when this one returns from marking. For now, it can stay as it is! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #processreel #waxcarving #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

And it’s done! My first-ever collet setting 💍🤩 This project was certainly a challenge, and not helped by my poor application of maths during the planning stage! 🫣 But I persevered and got there in the end, and thankfully didn’t encounter any other dramas along the way. It made me think though, about how critical we are of our own efforts sometimes. My initial reaction to the finished ring was ‘it’s not quite perfect and I think I can do better…’ but then I reminded myself that yesterday morning this was nothing more than a piece of silver sheet metal, a strip of wire, and a stone. And whilst I would of course like to do better, I’m actually incredibly proud of this. I made it, all of it - from scratch. And that’s no mean feat. A year ago I would not have felt able to attempt something like this, which is why I’m six years into my jewellery-making journey and only now learning these more advanced stone setting techniques. In future I will try harder to remember how far I have come, and not just focus on how far I want to go! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #colletsetting #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #whatimadethisweek #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jadiplomadiaries

The difference that 2 millimetres can make! 😬 I’ve been making a collet setting for the first time today, or at least trying to! There are several different ways to do this, but the method on my Diploma course calls for a bit of geometry to create the setting itself. Now maths is NOT one of my strongest subjects and I wasn’t wholly surprised to have messed it up first time! 🤪😂 What did surprise me though was the error in my calculations was only 2mm off, and yet that completely changed the size of the entire thing. Precision is key when making jewellery, and although I did know this, I still get caught out by it from time to time. This project is fiddly. As in, REALLY fiddly. I’m using a 5.5mm stone and I can already say that I’m highly unlikely to ever attempt one of these settings with anything smaller than that! 🫣 It’s still not finished, but the second attempt IS looking more hopeful. I’ll have to pick it up again tomorrow, but as always I promise to share the finished piece with you when it’s done - however good or bad it ends up looking! 🙃 Wish me luck! 🍀🤞 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #colletsetting #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools

Do you remember this one? 🪁 The jigsaw or ‘kite’ project was the most difficult of all the term one tasks on the @jewellersacademy Diploma in Silver Jewellery - and I know I’m not the only person to feel that way! It’s gained a sort of notoriety for being particularly challenging, and is almost like a rite of passage for students now. The aim of this project was to test our sawing, filing, soldering and sanding skills. It looks simple enough, but the precision required to make it work is not so easy to achieve! At the time of finishing it I joked about adding a motivational message when it came back from marking, and today I decided to actually go ahead and do just that. I pondered for a while over what sort of meaningful phrase might suit it best, and in the end went for something basic and straightforward… “You can do hard things” Because yes, yes I can. And now I have this little square of copper and brass to remind me of that, next time I come up against something difficult! 🙂⚒️ Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #motivationalmessages #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #jadiplomadiaries #youcandoit

I’ve not just been engraving jewellery - I’ve marked my tools as well! ⚒️ Of all the materials the xTool F1 Ultra can engrave into - and that’s literally hundreds, I find there’s something just really satisfying and tactile about the results you get with wood. I don’t actually make wooden jewellery (although I’m seriously considering having a go now) but I do have a lot of wooden-handled tools and last week I decided to put my name on those. I went for my own name and not the name or logo of my business because it’s more personal to me and highly unlikely to ever change in future. Have to say I’m really impressed with both the results of this, and the speed; just 24 seconds per hammer. *Settings for anyone interested: Engrave, Blue Light laser, Power 100, Speed 600, and three passes at 120 lines per cm. I’ve just done these for my own benefit but it would be really useful if you worked in a shared space or perhaps ran workshops and wanted a way to identify your own tools easily. There’s a link in my bio if you want to know more about the machine itself, and if you have any questions please just ask in the comments! 🙃 Kelly xx @xtool_uk @xtool.official #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #xTool #xToollasermachine #fiberlaser #laserengraving #XToolF1ultra

The making of the gemstone torque bangle! ⚒️ I shared quite a lot of posts about this project over the last couple of weeks, and here’s the full making process from start to end. I’ve included as much as I can, but as I’m sure you imagine it’s quite hard to condense three days of work into 90 seconds! ⏱️ This was the third project from term two of the Diploma In Silver Jewellery that I’m doing with @jewellersacademy and probably the most ambitious piece we’ve had to make on the course so far. It was complicated, with lots of stages, and for the first time I had to make a list beforehand so I didn’t lose track of what I was doing. I also had to go back and refer to the tutorials several times too, to make I kept to the brief and the given design. I knew it was going to be tricky so I took my time and made sure I didn’t rush any of the stages - a strategy that paid off! I’m really proud of this one. An awful lot of work went into it, and it was polished entirely by hand too. I usually put things in the tumbler for a few hours to get a fine shine, but I didn’t want to risk denting the bezel setting. And for all those who voted for the Aquamarine gemstone when I asked in the poll, thank you. That was definitely a good choice! As always, if you have any questions about anything I’m doing or using here, please just ask. And I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #processreel #silverbangle #torquebangle #bezelsettings #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

I get so many questions about my choice of pickle pot and why I keep a glass jar in it, that I thought this was the perfect opportunity to explain! For those 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 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, and surround these with water to help the heat transfer. Now, I still think that 1.5L is actually the perfect size for this task, but since I couldn’t get the same model again (and reeealllly wanted the green retro style) I opted for a 3.5L instead. And the bigger the dish, the more jars I can have. This means I can 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

I thought my grid needed a little more pink to balance out all the blues and aquas appearing on here recently, so I’m sharing these silver Rose Quartz flower pendants again! 🌸 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I love the pretty and delicate nature of these. Rose Quartz is also recognised as a universal symbol of love and friendship too, so they make a lovely gift for someone special. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ They’re quite fiddly to make, but are one of the few designs where I quite enjoy the repetition. I tend to make them in little batches, just a few at a time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This selection are all pendants, but I’m suddenly thinking I’d quite like some as drop earrings or perhaps even as a charm on a bracelet - what do you guys think? 🤔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Let me know if you think there’s scope for a wider range or perhaps even a whole collection of these! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #artisanjewellery #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaker #flowernecklace #flowerjewellery #contemporarystyle #jewellerylover #sterlingsilver #iloveflowers #silverjewellery #metalsmith #silversmith #handmadeintheuk #indiebiz

Waiting for a soldered bezel setting to cool! ⚒️ Do you do this too? When it comes to soldering silver, many jewellers will differ in opinion on the importance of allowing it to cool before quenching. I will happily quench a lot of my work straight after heating it and rarely encounter a problem. BUT when it comes to bezel settings and larger pieces which involve more silver or more work time, I’m a bit more risk-averse and will ALWAYS allow them to cool before quenching and pickling. Too sudden a change of temperature may cause hot silver to fracture or even crack, particularly if it’s the newer Argentium alloy which has a slightly different molecular composition to traditional 925. I often use Argentium for backplates so figured it’s a better habit to adopt for everything, just in case! Easiest way to judge this cooling process? Add one or two drops of cold water and wait for them to fizz and pop as they bounce around and eventually evaporate. For those who are fans of science, this particular phenomenon is called The Leidenfrost effect 💧 Sometimes it can take a while (this clip is x2 speed) so you can get on with the next task and wait for this sudden popping sound to tell you the metal is cool. Another advantage of doing this is that you’re less likely to get bits of soldering block stuck to your work if you let it cool before moving it. It’s also just really fun to do! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewelrymakingtips #makingjewelry #silverbezel #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #soldering #bezelsetting #silverjewellery #jewelrytips #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #uksmallbiz #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerytips #jewelrymaking

Ta daa! Just wanted to share a sneak peek at the new logo and colours for my sub-brand Seaborn Silver… 🤩🌊 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I first talked about my plans to branch out a little (pun intended) back in July, and I’ve been quietly working away on this plan in the background since then! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Over time my jewellery has naturally evolved into two distinctive themes; the sea glass and nautical designs, and then the botanical-influenced and gemstone pieces. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I love both of these equally and didn’t want to choose one over the other, but I also felt that they didn’t necessarily fit together so well anymore. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So I’ve created a sub-brand (@seabornsilverjewellery) for the ocean-inspired side of things, to run alongside Willow & Twigg and allow me to maintain a clearer distinction between styles. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My branding has all been done for me by the brilliant Alex @fith_creative and was finalised this week, and I’m now slowly building the website and putting together the stationary and packaging. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m not in a mad rush to get it done, as all the jewellery itself is still available on my current website and I’m also busy with my Diploma - but taking my time means I’m also really enjoying the process too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s like ‘starting again’ without actually beginning everything completely from scratch, and I’m excited to see it all coming together. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ll start posting more regularly on the other page once things evolve further, but I wanted to share this early glimpse with you all and I’d love to know what you think! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #ladysmith #seaglassjewellery #creativeentrepreneurs #jewellerybusiness #jewellerymaking #smallbizowner #empirebuilding #mumboss #indiebiz #hampshirebusiness

Some beautiful things that I’ve made recently! 🤩 Last weekend I went on a bit of a creative making spree, and ended up making four new statement pendants… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ All of these feature hanging bails made using my new-found riveting skills! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The one in the top left corner is a Crazy Lace Agate (the stone that didn’t make it into the torque bangle in the end) and the one top right is sea glass. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Bottom left is a gorgeous Moss Agate and the one in the bottom right is a green Imperial Jasper. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ All are available and will be looking for new homes, although I’ve yet to get as far as taking all the individual photos and the largest one needs hallmarking. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s all on that never-ending job list… 😂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Can you pick a favourite out of this line-up! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Let me know in the comments which one you’d choose! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #agate #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #ladysmith #mossagate #gemstonejewellery #jewelryaddict #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewellery #mossagatejewellery #seaglasspendant #seaglassjewellery

Setting an irregular cabochon stone! ⚒️ This was the second project from term two of the Diploma In Silver Jewellery that I’m doing with @jewellersacademy and something that’s far more within my comfort zone! If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know this kind of large gemstone jewellery is something I make quite often, so I felt less under pressure and able to really enjoy this one. It wasn’t without difficulty though; the soldering of the setting to the backplate took longer than I expected as it was 0.8mm thick silver (I usually use 0.7 or 0.5mm) and I think the room was a little cold, but I managed to do it without incurring any firestain so that was a win! I kept the design pretty simple too, and added just a little bit of character to it by way of cutting a few notches in the sides and blending a satin and a shiny finish. I’m still not sure what the stone is. When I asked in my stories the majority of you seemed to think it could be a natural blue opal or maybe chalcedony, but despite lots of searching online I can’t be absolutely certain so it may have to remain a mystery! As always, if you have any questions about anything I’m doing or using here, please just ask. And I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #bezelsettings #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

My second ever attempt at wax carving! ⚒️ This week’s project was making a ring band in wax for a faceted stone. I’m really coming round to the idea of using this material to create jewellery. It’s messy, but it’s also quiet and meditative and I find I can easily get absorbed in the process, which isn’t a bad thing. This ring isn’t quite finished yet. It still needs some refining and sanding, and I *might* have a go at carving some sort of design into it… I’ll see how it goes, and see how brave I’m feeling later! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #waxcarving #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

Another use for the steel blocks! ⚒️ This is one of those tips that will likely seem totally obvious if you already do it, but I’m sharing it anyway for all those who may not have come across the idea yet. These blocks are probably THE most level surface available to me in the workshop, so it makes sense to use them for checking that bezel wire is level after sanding. I used to put the bezels onto the silver sheet to check them, as the actual bench surface is wood and has marks and dents on it now, but using the block to elevate things, and having a larger surface area, also makes it much easier to see. For those who don’t make jewellery and want to know why I’m doing this, I’m checking for ‘light leaks’ under the silver I’ve been sanding. It needs to be completely flat to get a good solder join on the silver base plate. If there’s no visible gaps, we’re good to go. Other uses for the steel block I’ve discovered recently; • Use it to cool hot metal faster if you don’t want to quench it. • Use it when punching marks in metal before drilling, to avoid any warping or bending. • Use two blocks together to straighten and work-harden wire and earring posts by rolling them (that’s also the subject of another reel) Hope this is useful! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #silverring #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking

Who else loves rainbows? 🌈☔️🌧️ The weather this week has been awful here, so I cheered myself up by making a rainbow pendant! ☺️ The cabochon is made of glass, and whilst it’s not actually sea glass, it has the same lovely frosty surface and diffused glow. I kept the setting bright and shiny too, because I wanted to maximise the impact of the colours. I discovered a forgotten bag of these little treasures hidden away in a drawer recently, and still have a few more - would anyone like to see a bigger collection of jewellery featuring them? Let me know and I’ll see if I can find some for matching earrings too! #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #bezelsettings #rainbows #uniquejewellery #rainbownecklace

If you like to set sea glass in bezels but find it frustrating when they keep rocking, then this might help! 🌊 I know a lot of people have strong feelings about interfering with the natural state or form of sea glass, whilst others are quite happy to cut it up and shape it to make it fit with their designs. I don’t usually trim or cut my sea glass, but I do find it annoying when I want to use a rounder pebble-shaped piece and it rocks in the setting or won’t sit flat! This is a quick and easy solution for sanding down just enough of the bottom to make the glass lie still, which in turn makes for an easier time of setting it and a more secure result. To do this I use these credit-card sized diamond sharpening stones. The ones shown here are double-sided in 360 and 600 grit, and I find that gives a smooth result in a pretty short amount of time. All you have to do is grind the glass against the stone in a figure-of-eight motion to keep it even, and make sure you keep everything wet to stop it getting hot and prevent glass dust from going everywhere. It’s as easy as that. If you’re also in the UK and would like to see exactly how I go on to set sea glass like this into silver, then why not come along to @jewellersacademybrighton where I will be teaching classes this year 🤩 I promise to share as many tips, tricks and techniques as I can! And if you’re not able to come meet me in person, you’re always welcome to ask any questions in the comments! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #seaglass #seaglassjewellery #seaglassjewelry #makingjewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking

Making a silver wishbone ring; the extended version for those who want to see more of the process! ⚒️ I already shared a 30 second version of this project, but that doesn’t really give much time to include all the stages. So here’s a slightly more chilled out and less clipped edit for anyone interested in the technical aspects of what goes into creating one of these! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #silverring #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

If only it were this easy in real life! ⚒️ Here’s a sneak peek at the finished bangle I was working on last week. It was a complicated project and took longer than I’d anticipated, but the results were worth it and I’m proud of this piece. I also polished it completed by hand too, without using the tumbler at all as I didn’t want to risk denting the bezel wire. A labour of love but a joy to finally finish! I’ll share some photos and more of the making process soon too. Have a lovely Sunday, and I hope everyone stays safe and dry in this awful weather 🫶 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #silverjewelry #silverbangle #jadiplomadiaries #transformation

Putting some of my new skills to good use! 🤩⚒️ Yesterday afternoon I had one of those sudden creative urges to go and make something; a design popped into my head and I just needed to act on it. You know those moments - we all get them, and I have learned from experience to harness that feeling whenever it happens! I had my @jewellersacademy Diploma term-one marking session with my lovely mentor Sally on Thursday evening, and I think that must have really given me a confidence boost because yesterday afternoon ALL I wanted to do was make stuff, and I genuinely haven’t felt that strongly about being at the bench for a while. Not only have I consolidated and improved my existing skills, like soldering, but I’m able to go further with my techniques and designs now too and that feels quite empowering. We’re not even halfway through the second term and I’m loving the experience and the potential it’s giving me. If you’re considering this course too then I honestly can’t recommend it highly enough - for lots and lots of reasons! Nobody has asked me to share this, by the way. I just get excited by things I’m passionate about! 🙃 Have a wonderful weekend, and keep an eye on my stories to see what else I create this afternoon, Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #whatimade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #mycreativebiz #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #mystudio #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #statementpendant

Gotta save every last bit! 💸 🙃 After the dramas of trying to make a ring using 9ct gold recently, I told myself I didn’t like working with this metal. Now, I don’t know if the memory is just fading quickly or if wearing the ring since then is starting to have an effect on me, but I keep finding myself thinking about it and wondering how I can incorporate gold into my designs… 🤔 The crazy prices would still prevent me from making anything in solid gold, or even considering a higher carat at the moment, but I’m leaning towards incorporating things like bezel wire, granulation accents or even jump rings. I even went as far as to look up the cost, and just 4cm of 9ct gold thin bezel strip would set me back almost £30 so it’s certainly not something to try on a whim, but is it worth the gamble? If you’re a jeweller and have used gold in this way do let me know if it really does add value to your pieces, or if it simply stops them from selling. And if you don’t make jewellery but love wearing it, do you like the mixed-metal style? I know 9ct is hard to work with BUT I do have a hammer hand piece that has yet to be put to good use. I’m not sure about it, but I’m definitely tempted! 🫣 #jewellerymaker #whatsonmybench #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #reducereuserecycle #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #ladysmiths

It’s hammer time! ⚒️ I’m into the final stages of making this bangle now, and I’ve just shaped the frame. I’ve not shown this tool in use much before, so thought I’d quickly share the process. It also makes a really satisfying noise when sped up… 🙃 The mandrel is a stepped round one, and has a tang on one end that can be secured in a vice. I love this because it allows me to hold both the mallet and silver bangle more securely as I’m working, and I find the top-down view easier to see what I’m doing. It just feels much more secure to use than the free-standing ones I also have, especially with a chunkier piece like this one. My top tip: use a scrap piece of leather in the vice. This helps add grip and stops the mandrel from slipping, and also protects both tools from getting any dents or marks. I also rotate the piece I’m working on frequently to make sure it’s evenly shaped, and to make sure I don’t go too far - this is going to be an oval shaped torque bangle with a gemstone setting in the centre, so I don’t actually want it to end up circular. Hammering and shaping metal is always one of my favourite jewellery making processes! 🤩 And for those who wish to know, I bought both the bench vice and the mandrel from @durstontools 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #silverbangle #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #tooladdict #jewelrytools #jewellerytools #jewelrymaking

You voted for the Aquamarine, so that’s what I’m going for! Hopefully by the end of the day all this silver will become a beautiful torque bangle… Follow along if you’re not already and want to see the results. And do wish me luck - this project looks complicated! 🫣🙃 #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #silverjewellery #workinprogress #workspacewednesday #silverjewelry #silverbangle #jadiplomadiaries

Vote below in the poll! ⬇️ This week I’m making a silver torque bangle with a bezel-set cabochon stone as the central feature. I wasn’t particularly enamoured with the Labradorite that came with the material pack this time, so I’ve picked out two alternatives from my own collection. An Aquamarine and a Crazy Lace Agate. Let me know which one you’d pick and I’ll go with the majority! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #stonesetting

Making a silver wishbone ring! 💫 This was the second project from the first week of my Diploma and I have to say that coming back to silver after my mis-adventures with gold was like a dream. Loved this project, and the resulting ring. I’m seriously thinking about making more of these - perhaps with a gemstone or two included somehow? 🤔 Let me know what you think! I’ve also got a longer version of this reel too which shows more of the individual stages. 30 seconds doesn’t really give much away so keep a lookout for that over the coming week or so if you’re interested in the technical side of things too! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #silverring #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

A talisman for mermaids! 🧜‍♀️🌊 This enormous Aquamarine pendant is now available, having returned from hallmarking. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It actually arrived back last month, but I hadn’t had a chance to list it until now, and this weekend was the perfect weather for taking photographs! ☁️☁️☁️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I always find the cloudy and overcast days much better when trying to capture gemstones like this. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The glossy surface will reflect a bright sky too much, and it’s really hard to get the details of the stone in focus without getting my own reflection in there too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I also decided to embrace the new 4:3 portrait ratio for some of the shots too, which are the ones you see here. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Have you gotten the new Insta grid upgrade to rectangles yet? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Honestly not sure what I think of it. In truth portrait mode actually works better for a lot of my jewellery, especially necklaces. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ However it’s also annoying to have to manage multiple orientations for different platforms, and then another on here too! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My website images are all landscape 4:5 (as that used to be the preferred size for Et$y, who now seem to prefer square… 🙄) and I don’t think I can face changing everything over. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Or is this perhaps a sign to update everything and give it a fresh new look? 🤔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ For now I think I’ll just try and remember to zoom out a little with each shot I take so I’ve got the option when editing to literally cover all angles! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you’d like to know more about the pendant it’s on my website homepage, and tagged here and in my stories today. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #statementpendant #silverjewelry #seahorse #seahorsenecklace #handmadejewellery #hampshirebusiness #aquamarine #ooak #jewellerymaking #aquamarinejewellery #marchbirthstone

Setting the stone! ⚒️ This pendant was the project from week two of the second Diploma term, and I’m happy to say this one went a lot more smoothly than the gold ring did! If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know I make a lot of statement pieces like this, and the difference that experience and practice can make really showed up here! I’ll share some close-ups and the full making process of this in a week or so once I’ve edited the footage. But if you want to see a more technical account of my endeavours on this course then do follow @jewellersacademy as I am documenting the journey there and each project will be shared in more detail on their page every Sunday. And if you want to know what tool I’m using here, it’s a curved burnisher, held securely in the same way I guess you’d use a vegetable peeler! I’ve tried bezel rockers and square pushers and even have a hammer handpiece - but this thing just feels so natural in my hand now that I keep coming back to it. Sometimes the best tool for the job is simply the one you are most comfortable using, wouldn’t you agree? 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #mycreativebiz #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #mystudio #jewellerymaking #tooladdict #jewelrymaking #jewelrymaker #statementpendant #processreel #stonesetting

It didn’t go well. I will put my hand up and admit that my first ever attempt at working with gold wasn’t quite as I’d hoped! Why exactly? Well, probably due to several different factors. This was 9ct gold (I can’t afford anything higher quality for practice) which was HARD to work with. The value of the metal made me nervous, and I wasn’t feeling 100% after a cold. My workshop was also rather chilly which I think has affected my soldering all week. I did use the mitre jig to get the ends of the ring band flush and I believed the join was good. It may not have been. It appeared to solder okay too, but perhaps I didn’t heat it evenly on each side of the join - when I put it on the mandrel to shape it the seam bust open. In hindsight a big mistake I made was probably to try and clean this up and rejoin it with the pliers, rather than just use the mallet to tap it back together and have another go with the torch. As a result of this I ended up spending the next THREE hours annealing, bending and wrangling it about. I did eventually manage to solder it on the third attempt, but after all this effort the band was rather misshapen, uneven in size and had tool marks on the inside where I got angry at it. I decided I didn’t like gold at this point, although it polished up so beautifully that I’m slowly coming back around… and I’ve now had a second (much more successful) go with some thinner wire. I’m glad I’ve done it, but I don’t think I’ll be working with gold on a regular basis for a while yet! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #goldring #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #jadiplomadiaries #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #ladysmiths

Putting the xTool F1 Ultra to the test on silver! 🤩⚒️ For those of you who have been asking if this machine can engrave on silver, yes - yes it can! I’ve spent a lot of time experimenting with the settings to find a way to get a deep result that will withstand daily wear on jewellery, and decided to really see how durable it can be by making the ring AFTER engraving it. I also tested out the software to see if I could incorporate my own handwriting as the design, and have to say I’m really impressed with the results. What I did; • Wrote my message clearly on white card with a fine black pen • Scanned it into my computer and cleaned up the image by increasing contrast and sharpness • Used the xTool XCS software to turn it from a PNG to a vector • Used the IR fibre laser to engrave it onto the silver (high power, low speed, multiple passes to take the layers off gradually) which only took a few minutes • Made that silver into a ring And how do I know the results will last? After the engraving was done the silver was annealed, bent, soldered, hammered, sanded, polished and then thrown in a tumbler of ceramic media for four hours to get a satin finish. That message isn’t going anywhere! There’s a link in my bio if you want to know more about the machine itself, and if you have any questions please just ask in the comments! 🙃 @xtool_uk @xtool.official #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #processreel #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #silverjewelry #silverjewellery #jewelrymaking #silverring #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #ladysmiths #xTool #xToollasermachine #fiberlaser #laserengraving #XToolF1ultra

My first ‘upcycled’ make of 2025! 💫 A pair of earrings created from a silver ring that was too big for its original purpose. I had a creative itch that needed scratching this weekend, and find one of the best ways to remedy that is to take something discarded from the back of the bench and give it a new lease of life. Which is how this once plain ring band became a pair of textured silver earrings. Two questions though; shall I give them a bright and shiny finish or a darkened/oxidised satin one… …and do I keep them for myself or list them for someone else to love? 🤔 You can vote for the finish in the poll! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #silverearrings #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #ladysmiths #silverjewellery

Making things super shiny! 🤩✨ You all know how much I love to share when I get excited by something new in the jewellery-making world; well this stuff is my latest discovery! It’s Luxor Polishing Compound, in Orange ‘Super Finishing’ 🍊 It was used in one of the recent tutorials from my Diploma course, and I decided to give it a go. Previously I was using white Luxi (they all have similar names it seems) as a final stage polish, but this could well be my new favourite. Not only did it do a fantastic job on the silver wishbone ring I shared yesterday, but it brought back the shine on Mr W&T and my own wedding bands too. They seemed to offer a pretty tough test and I wanted to see how good it was! Given that both rings had gone quite dull after twelve years of daily wear, I was really impressed with the result. It’s not so easy to see in this clip, but after just a few minutes of buffing with a wool mop their original bright platinum shine returned, and even the scuffs and scratches were far less noticeable. I’m sold on it, anyway. Have you used this polish before? Let me know what you thought, or if there’s anything else you’d recommend! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #weddingrings #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #polishing #ladysmith #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #jewelrytips

What I made this weekend! 🤩💫 This silver wishbone ring was one of two wedding bands I had to make for my Diploma this week. The gold one was a total nightmare (I’ll share more about that when I’ve recovered from the experience) but I really enjoyed making this silver version yesterday. Maybe it was the relief of returning to a metal I know well, or just the fact I was happily sitting at the bench in the sunshine, but this project could not have gone more smoothly and I love the result. I’ve recorded the full making process so I’ll share that soon too, but in the meantime I just wanted to take a moment to show off that shine! ✨ Hope you’re having a lovely Sunday, 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #silverring #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #jadiplomadiaries #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #ladysmiths

Making jewellery is an expensive gig, no doubt about it. I’ve posted before about how metal prices have gone up in the few years since I started metalsmithing, but this week I came to use gold for the first time, and was shocked by the huge differences in metal types too. Silver is costly enough, but 9ct gold is 28 times as much as the equivalent weight in sterling silver. And 18ct gold is 88 times more. To put that in numerical terms; 100g of silver today = £80 ($98) 100g of 9ct gold = £4,000 ($4,883) 100g of 18ct gold = £7,700 ($9,400) For those who prefer imperial measurements, 100g is roughly 3.5ozs. The prices are taken from the current market here in the UK, and the dollars shown in the brackets are USD at today’s exchange rate. And that little gold strip of wire shown in the reel would have been £465 rather than £175, had it been 18ct gold instead of 9ct. Exact prices fluctuate daily but the averages now are almost twice what they were just five years ago, and are unlikely to ever come back down. So if you’re not paying the current market price for solid silver or gold, then chances are you won’t be getting it. This means that if you are buying jewellery and the price seems too good to be true, it may not be made of what you think it is. And if you’re making jewellery - don’t forget to regularly check and update your prices! #sterlingsilver #jewellerymakers #ladysmith #silverjewellery #metalsmith #metalsmithlife #silver #artisanjewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaker #silversmith #preciousmetals #jewelrymaking #jewellerymaking #madewithsilver #silverjewelry #handmadeandwellpaid

Would you like to come and make sea glass jewellery with me? 🤩🌊⚒️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I am beyond excited to share the news that I am going to be a tutor at @jewellersacademybrighton this year! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This brand new in-person training centre is opening in February, and I’m going to be teaching the sea glass jewellery class! 🧜‍♀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It will be a day-long course, and I’ll be showing my students how to make a classic bezel setting, a claw setting (perfect for awkward shaped pieces) and how to drill sea glass. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ll also be sharing as many of the techniques, tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years as I can too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The initial three dates are 11 March, 10 May and 23 July 🗓️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ You can find all the details on the Jewellers Academy Brighton website under the ‘stone setting’ page, and if you book before Friday 24 Jan you can get 20% off too with the code JAB2025. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve been asked so many times in the past if I offer classes or workshops, and I’m so thrilled to now say that I can! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you want to come along and be shown everything I know about sea glass, then do go check out the website today. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Hopefully I’ll see some of you there very soon! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly 🙃 xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #seaglasspendant #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #oneofakindjewellery #upcycledjewelry #jewelleryclass

This week I’m going for gold! 🫣😬🏅 I’m about to begin the second term of my Diploma in Silver Jewellery with @jewellersacademy and the first project is making wedding bands; one of which is going to be made with this strip of 9ct gold wire. I’ve never worked with gold before, and although not having to worry about firescale and it being supposedly easier to handle is appealing to me - the cost is not! This 8cm length of wire is worth £175. To put that into context the same equivalent in sterling silver would be just £6.25. Scary stuff. I will be sharing the results of each project on the course, just as I did before, so stay tuned to see how it goes. And if you have any tips or advice on working with gold, please let me know in the comments. This is potentially the most expensive jewellery-making adventure I’ve been on so far! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #goldjewellery #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #silverjewellery #makingjewellery #seekinspirecreate #ladysmith #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaking #creativeentrepreneurs #indiebizowner #jadiplomadiaries

I can now engrave in metal! 🤩⚒️ This weekend I made a new version of the motivational thumb ring I often wear to help myself focus, and for all those who have been asking about the new xTool laser engraver - yes, I finally managed to get it to work on silver! It’s been a LOT of trial and error and hours of reading and experimenting, but I got there in the end. Complicated things, lasers, as it turns out. This project seemed like the perfect way to test out my new found skills, so not only does this ring hold a personal message for me, it’s written in my own handwriting too. And it’s engraved rather than etched so it’s not coming off. I know this because I did the text before making the ring itself, so it’s been annealed, soldered and thrown in a tumbler of ceramic media for four hours to get a satin finish. That message isn’t going anywhere. I’m only just beginning to grasp the potential I’m unlocking here in terms of jewellery designs and what I can create, but I’d love to know if this is something you’d be interested in too. Keepsake jewellery with handwritten details - yey or nay? 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whatsonmybench #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelrymaking #silverring #handmadejewellery #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #ladysmiths #laserengraving

Getting ready to go back to work! ⚒️ I snuck down to the workshop today for a couple of hours, initially just to tidy up and get things shipshape ready for tomorrow, but then I got distracted and ended up making a silver ring… 😂 I’ve missed being at the bench over the last couple of weeks, but I needed a break and time with my family and it’s been lovely to slow right down for a while. School starts for my children again tomorrow, and so does the second term of my Diploma, so it will be all systems go again in the morning. I am looking forward to getting back into a routine, and have lots of new things on the way for 2025 - some of which I’m not able to share with you just yet, but which I promise are super exciting! 🤩 For now though I shall be enjoying one last quiet evening with Mr W&T before Christmas leave is officially over, he returns to his ship, and life gets back to normal. Hope you’re having a peaceful and relaxing Sunday too, whatever you’re up to! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths

Some gorgeously frosty sea glass to match the icy weather here in the UK at the moment! ❄️🌨️ We’re not expecting any snow down here on the south coast, but I believe there’s quite a bit forecast to fall further north this evening. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Hope you stay warm, safe and dry this weekend, wherever you are! xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #treasuresfromthesea #seaglasslove #seaglasslover #iloveseaglass #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #oneofakindjewellery #bohojewellery #silverjewellery

Another storage solution! 🙃 I didn’t actually know I needed this one until after I’d done it, but now I love it and wish I’d thought of it sooner. I don’t like throwing anything away if it’s not broken, but I had no use for this jewellery stand as it was, and nowhere for it to go. Then a moment of inspiration struck, and five minutes later with the help of some old flux brushes, a copper bangle blank and some duct tape, I had a stand for the rolls of ribbon and string I keep on my packaging bench. Now I know it’s not up there with my most clever discoveries, but it’s functional and it even looks sort of pretty. The cats haven’t noticed it yet though. I might change my opinion on its usefulness when they do… 🤔 #jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #storagesolutions #ribbons #whatsonyourbench #mystudio #seekinspirecreate #creativecommunity #storagetips #reducereuserecycle

My first ever attempt at wax carving! ⚒️ This was the 10th and final project from the first term of my Diploma course, and introduced yet another technique I’d never tried before. We had to make two pieces for this week; the ring shown in this reel, and a pendant which I carved in the shape of a flower. My main takeaways from this project were; • It’s messy. I found an old muslin cloth and draped that above my bench apron to catch the shavings. • I have gathered a dedicated set of tools for wax, including files, so I don’t have to clean them before switching back to silver. • It’s quiet. I’m used to the noise of the pendant motor and torches, so this was quite a change - but it also made it relaxing and meditative to do! • I didn’t like the wax cutting blade for the saw. It’s spiral-shaped to stop it getting clogged, but I found it awkward and hard to use so I’ll stick to regular blades in future. I haven’t had a chance to have another go with wax yet (busy time of year) but I already know I will, and have lots of ideas already on how to incorporate it in my jewellery designs. If you’d like to see the extended cuts of these Diploma reels then head over to the @jewellersacademy page where there’s a longer version for each project I’ve done. And as always, if you have any questions please just ask in the comments! The second term of the course begins on the 6th of Jan and I can’t wait to get started again! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #waxcarving #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

It’s no surprise to me that tools, tips and techniques are top of the list here! ⚒️ I’m always pleased to know that my posts are helpful to others, and that in some way I’m able to give something back in return for all the amazing support, encouragement and motivation I find here. Thanks so much for following along with my journey in 2024 and for being such a brilliant community to be a part of. Here’s to an even better and brighter 2025 ☺️🫶 Happy New Year! With love, Kelly xxx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #seekinspirecreate #mystudio #tooladdict #dowhatyoulove #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #handmadebusiness #creativeminds #handmadejewellery #hampshirebusiness #metalsmithlife #jewellerymakers #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #jewelrymaker #jewelrymaking

My plan to preserve every happy moment in 2025! 💫 I’ve never been a fan of traditional New Year resolutions, but I saw this idea somewhere recently and just loved it. Instead of making promises to do (or not do) certain things, I’m going to help my family keep a record of all the little happy and positive things that happen naturally. The idea is that beginning on the first of January you record all such occurrences on a little piece of paper before folding it up and placing it in the jar. Then at the end of 2025, on New Year’s Eve, we can collectively tip out the contents and read the notes to remind us of all the amazing things that happened over the previous twelve months. Only time will tell if this plan really works, but I’ve committed to it enough to engrave a jar and buy some notelets and everyone in my family seems to like the concept! Let me know if you love this idea too, or if you already do something similar! 🙃 #positivethinking #happythoughts #newyearahead #happiness💕 #gratitudedaily #thelittlethingsmatter

Making a riveted pendant! ⚒️ Week 9 of my Diploma course was all about learning how to do cold connections (joining pieces together without the use of soldering). I decided to make a mixed-metal design, featuring a larger brass flower beneath a smaller silver one. They have been riveted together to create a movable pendant that holds the stamped initials of my immediate family. It was a challenge to do, and very fiddly in places, but incredibly satisfying when it worked! I used silver tube to make the rivet itself, but only because that was what came with the material pack. You can use wire, but the tube adds a decorative element and can look really neat with a jump ring threaded through. My pendant didn’t quite fit with that concept so I instead soldered a hanging ring to the reverse of the larger flower, which allowed the silver one to move freely all the way around. I really loved this week of the course, and for the first time we were awarded points for our design too, which allowed us a little more creative freedom. The second project I made was a hinged book. You can see the finished piece in another of my reels, but it was a really complex process so I didn’t want the added pressure of filming that one! If you have any questions about this or anything else on the Diploma, feel free to ask in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer. And please remember - this is a learning project from a training course and the whole point of it is to practice and try out new things! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #riveting #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

Turquoise; a beautiful birthstone for anyone born in December! ❄️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The 25th may have passed now but just in case anyone is on the lookout for jewellery gifts (or browsing for yourself) then my webstores are all open again 💫 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m not going to be making any new pieces for another week or two, but I still have lots of things available ready to ship and I do rather enjoy the short stroll to the Post Office in the village! 📦 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I hope you’ve all had a relaxing week so far. My family and I are making the most of some downtime together with lots of reading, lego building and crafting stuff. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And you know it’s also been an indulgent few days food-wise when your children unanimously ask for fruit for their breakfast… 😳😂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s been so lovely to just slow right down, and I actually cherish this peculiar ‘twixmas’ stage before New Year. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Things will pick up the pace again soon enough, and life will get back to its busy norm, but until then I’m going to continue to appreciate every quiet moment! 🙃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Wishing you a wonderful weekend, ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #artisanjewelry #artisanmade #sterlingsilver #turquoise #ooakjewelry #jewelrymaker #ladysmith #gemstonejewellery #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewellery

Engraving my jewellery boxes with the xTool F1 Ultra! 📦💍 I know a lot of you asked to see how these turned out, so here are the results! The logo is not just burned onto the card with the laser, but deeply engraved INTO it, which gives a really classy and tactile finish that you can actively feel as well as see. And not only can you easily engrave card (and wooden) jewellery boxes in this way, but you can do batch productions of multiple items at once. I have to say I’m really impressed with this and I love the professional-looking finish! I’m now actively testing out the effects on various metals including brass, copper and silver, as I know many of you are keen to see how that works too. Lots of engraved and embossed jewellery to come in the new year so keep a look out for those posts soon! 💫 And if you’d like more info on the machine or are curious to see what else it can do then there’s a link in my bio 🙂 @xtool_uk @xtool.official #jewellerymaker #xTool #xToollasermachine #fiberlaser #laserbusiness #metallasercuttingmachine #fiberlaser #laserengraving #jewelrymaker #XToolF1ultra #lasermachine #metalengraving #lasercutter #businesslaser #jewelleryboxes #jewellerypackaging

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄🌊⭐️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ However you are spending this week, and whether you actively celebrate the festive season or not, I hope you have a wonderful time doing whatever you love best with those you love most! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly 🙃 xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassaddict #seaglassing #seaglass #christmastree #christmasgreetings #seaglasslove #beachfinds #seaglasslover #seaglassart #iloveseaglass

Did anyone else have a winter wedding?! ❄️💕 Today is our twelfth anniversary. Mr W&T and I were married just before Christmas in 2012, surrounded by our closest family, and one year later we had became a trio with the arrival of our first daughter. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As we were married locally, my mother suggested we go back to the spot where our favourite wedding photo was taken and recreate it, with me swapping out the bouquet for the baby. That idea started a family tradition that we have maintained ever since, and each year we take another photo to add to the collection. The locations have changed a few times and two more daughters were added to the line-up, but I’m so glad we’ve done this. And yes, I have kept that same green coat all this time! Scroll through to see how The Family Twigg has grown over the years! 😊💕 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #winterwedding #winterbride #christmaswedding #anniversary #twelveyearsago #weddingcape #militarywedding #veteranownedbusiness #militaryspousebusiness #imarriedmybestfriend #armedforcescommunity #smallbusinessowner #navywife #navywifelife #aviationfamily #militarylife #pilotswife #motherofgirls #familytraditions #familyportrait #mytribe

The 8th week of my Diploma with @jewellersacademy was all about polishing and finishing, and one of the tasks was to get a mirror finish on one of the pieces we had already made. I chose to do this with the letter K pendant I made in week two, and in the spirit of learning chose to do one side using 3M radial discs, and the other side with micromesh papers (a sort of flexible cloth sandpaper). The discs I used were in this order; Yellow (Coarse grit) Blue (Medium) Pink (Fine) Green (Ultra Fine) And the micromesh papers were 3600, 6000, 8000 and 12,000 grits. I then finished both sides using a soft mop and some White Luxi, followed by Glanol metal polish applied with a cloth. And the verdict? I got a mirror shine with both, but the papers seemed to work faster and were actually quite relaxing to use. I’ve used the discs many times before and whilst they’re great for getting into intricate details and covering awkward shapes, I think I’m definitely going to stick with the papers for anything flat from now on! If you have any questions about this or anything else on the Diploma, feel free to ask in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer. And please remember - this is a learning project from a training course and the whole point of it is to practice and try out new things! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #polishing #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

Another brilliant addition to my workshop! 🤩 Not exactly a tool or storage solution this time, but something I’ve been in search of for ages… Trying to find high quality photography backdrops is a challenge already, but when you are working on a smaller scale it’s really difficult to find something that has the right amount of detail and isn’t physically awkward to manage (or store). I was so pleased when the lovely Margarita of @blueberrybackdrops told me she’d introduced a ‘mini’ size of 1 by 1.5ft for ALL her amazing designs, that I got carried away and ordered loads… 😂 This isn’t a promotional or sponsored post, but a genuine recommendation of a brilliant small business! 🫶 You all know me by now, and how much I love anything that will make my life easier or improve the way I work. And I get so excited by things like this that I want to share my discoveries, so here we are. The backdrops are soft and flexible, amazing quality and the detail and colours on offer are amazing. And being just a smidge over A3 paper size makes these so easy to use - they’re just perfect for things like jewellery photography. So if you’ve been searching for smaller scale backdrops for your smaller scale product photography, do go take a look! 📷 Kelly 🙃 xx #jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #productphotography #jewelleryphotography #photographybackdrops #jewellerybusiness #mystudio #supportsmall #smallbizowner #jewelrybiz #jewellerybusiness

Making Christmas gifts for my children’s teachers last weekend using the xTool F1 Ultra. I’ve moved on from experimenting with card to seeing what it can do on wood and other materials! These are just simple coasters but the lasered designs were done using my daughters’ own drawings and handwriting, which opens up a lot of exciting possibilities for my jewellery too. Who’d be interested in this kind of ultra-personal personalisation on some silver? Let me know in the comments!👇 #jewellerymaker #xTool #xToollasermachine #fiberlaser #laserbusiness #metallasercuttingmachine #fiberlaser #laserengraving #jewelrymaker #XToolF1utra #lasermachine #metalengraving #lasercutter #businesslaser

Some sea glass loveliness for you this evening! 🌊 This is a selection of last few pieces of handcrafted silver and sea glass jewellery I currently have available. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There are one or two things left on Et$¥ as well but I’m not able to tag those, so these are the ones from my own web$ite. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you are searching for the perfect gift for a mermaid, sailor or ocean lover then maybe one of these will be just what you are looking for… 🙃🧜‍♀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Hope you’ve had a good start to the week! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seaglassnecklace #jewellerymaker #seaglass #handcraftedjewellery #treasuresfromthesea #oceangifts #seaglasslove #beachtreasures #seaglasslover #washedup #seaglasspendant #seaglassobsessed #saltysoul #iloveseaglass #seaglasstreasures #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #beachglass #oneofakindjewellery #seajewels #bohojewellery #silverjewellery #upcycledjewelry

My first ever attempt at a flush setting! ⚒️ This project was from the 7th week of my Diploma with @jewellersacademy and was completed at the end of October, which feels like a lifetime ago already! I loved this one, both in terms of technique and the finished piece. It’s currently away for marking along with the rest of my creations from the first term, but I know I’ll be wearing this one often when it comes back! It’s just so tactile and such a lovely weight. I’ve actually already got the silver and stones I need to make a second pendant over the Christmas break (with green gems this time) and I can wait to have another go at this! For those wanting the technical details; • The silver is 2mm thick and the stones are 2mm brilliant cut. • I drilled the holes with a 0.7mm, 1.5mm and then a 2mm drill bit. • I used a stone setting burr in a pin vice to enlarge the setting. • I loved using the pin vice as it gave me more control, and I would have used a ball burr first to cut out most of the metal but I didn’t have one the right size. • My red pick-up stick is made of wax from a Babybel cheese. • Yes, I used the curved burnisher to set the stone and I know this wasn’t the best choice - I have since made a setting burr from an old drill bit but didn’t have it at the time. • This is one of the things I was most looking forward to learning on the course and I will absolutely be doing more in future! If you have any more questions, please just ask in the comments! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #howitsmade #flushsetting #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #tooladdict #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewelleratwork #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jadiplomadiaries

Allll the pretty things! 🤩 Sharing a few of my favourite silver and gemstone designs this evening 💕 Just in case anyone is in need of some gift inspiration, and because that’s also a great excuse to put them together in a montage! All these pieces are available on my website now and ready to ship, but you’ve got less than a week to order now as I’ll be taking a break from next weekend. Which of these would you like to find under the tree on. Christmas morning? Let me know in the comments and tag anyone who might need a hint! 🙃 Have a fabulous Friday, Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaker #silverjewellery #giftideasforher #recycledmetals #slowmade #shopsmall #SmallBusinessUK #supportsmall #uksmallbiz #slowmade #hampshirebiz #artisanmaker

Are you ready for Christmas yet? 🎄🎁 I’m certainly getting there! This autumn term has been quite a long one for me, and I’m not afraid to admit I’m starting to feel the fatigue a bit now. Whilst the temptation is always strong for small business owners to keep going for as long as possible during this busy shopping season, over the years I’ve learned the importance of having an end date in sight too! So with that in mind I’m now calling it; I’ll be closing all my online shops from midnight next Thursday (19th Dec). This will give me time to get any last orders out on the Friday, before putting down my tools and taking some time out with my family 💕 Everything currently listed is ready to ship, but most things won’t be replaced for a while now if they sell out. And if you would like anything gift wrapped and sent direct to the recipient then I can do that too. Just add a gift note and make sure the postage address is correct ☺️ Hope your own festive preparations are going smoothly too! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #silverjewelry #uksmallbiz #silverjewellery #handmadebusiness #designermaker #handmadejewellery #hampshirebusiness #seekinspirecreate #shopsmall #shopindependently #dowhatyoulove #slowmade #supportsmall #opthandmade

A place for everything, and everything in its place… 😁⚒️ I’m always on the lookout for more efficient storage solutions and better ways of managing my workshop, and this is my latest idea. I’ve been using this old butcher’s block as a heavy duty bench for years now, and until recently it had lots of bead boxes stacked underneath it. Since I haven’t made any beaded jewellery for years either, they’ve now been relocated to the garage (much to Mr W&T’s annoyance) so I could use the space for tools instead. As is where I do all my hammering it made sense to keep all my hammers, mallets and mandrels here too, alongside the metal stamps and my dapping block. But rather than just chuck everything onto the shelves I wanted it to be secure, so I ordered a pack of mixed-size tool clips (they’re actually called ‘Terry Clips’ if you want the best search term) and by luck had the exact amount I needed to mount everything directly onto the bench itself. Super simple and easy to do, and so much better than keeping them all in a drawer! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #jewellersworkshop #makingjewelry #storagesolutions #toolstorage #whatsonyourbench #silversmith #metalsmith #makingjewellery #whatsonmybench #myworkspace #ladysmith #mystudio #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrymaking #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools

Still working! ⚒️ Do you ever struggle with repetitive tasks like this?! I’m making some more of my hammered silver earrings today. I’m not going to be creating any more new designs this side of Christmas now, but these are a consistent best-seller for me so are a regular item on the bench. I’ve made so many pairs of these over the last few years that I’m pretty quick at it now. But I can only do them in stages, or in small batches of around three to five pairs at a time, else the monotony sets in quickly and I find it hard to stay motivated! 🫠 And for those of you interested in the technical aspects here, I’m using paste solder (because my pick soldering skills are non-existent) and the torch is a Dremel Versatip; still a handheld butane torch but with a finer flame - perfect for this size of task! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #silverearrings #whatsonmybench #silverjewelry #whatsonyourbench #handmadejewellery #jewellerymakers #jewellerymaking #jewellerymakingtools #ladysmiths #jewelrymaker #jewelrymaking

Adding a touch of class to my packaging! 🤩 For all those of you who wanted to see this machine in action, here’s the first thing I made! Up until now I would personalise these earring cards with branded logo stickers, but now I can laser engrave them instead and they turned out soooo well! The machine used here is the F1 Ultra by xTool and it’s still pretty new to me so I’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of what it’s capable of doing. I thought I’d take it slowly and get used to the software and operation of it using card first, but it can work with metal, wood, slate, leather, glass… pretty much anything! It did take me a while to get the settings just right for this without the image being too faint to see or cutting right through the card (🫣) but I’m genuinely blown away by how good it looks. You can’t see the result as well in the clip as you can in real life, but my logo isn’t just laser marked on these - it’s 3D engraved INTO the card. It can also do batch production too, so I’ll show how that looks in another clip using some of my jewellery boxes. If you want more info on the machine or are curious to see what else it can do then there’s a link in my bio. And let me know in the comments what you think I should try out with it next! 🙃 #jewellerymaker #xTool #xToollasermachine #fiberlaser #laserbusiness #metallasercuttingmachine #fiberlaser #laserengraving #jewelrymaker #XToolF1ultra #lasermachine #metalengraving #lasercutter #businesslaser