As promised, here’s the finished chain I’ve been working on! ⛓️ This may become my new favourite ‘go-to’ necklace for daily wear, as I haven’t take it off yet. It’s really comfortable, despite its weight, and it will go with absolutely anything outfit-wise. Which suits me well as I’m rather lazy when it comes to accessorising! 🙃 I didn’t record the entire making process because creating chains is actually very repetitive and not particularly exciting, but I loved doing it and find it to be a really relaxing process. For those who want to know, the round wire for the oval links was 1.8mm thick, and the smaller round links were 1.2mm square wire. Both of these I bought a few years ago and hadn’t found a need for, and it was a fun way to get them out of the drawer at long last. I’m keeping this particular necklace (I have to now, as I’ve stamped my family’s names on five of the main links to make it a bit more personal) but I could make more on request, although with the current cost of silver it would probably be in excess of £400… 🫣 Hope you love it as much as I do! Kelly x #jewellerymaker #silverchain #handmadejewelry #handmadejewellery #chainnecklace

This is the difference that just eight months can make; the first and final rings that I made on the Diploma In Silver Jewellery last year 💍⚒️ Yes, I know I had a few years of experience making jewellery before I started, but I was nowhere near capable of producing anything like the second ring, and I still wouldn’t be, had I not enrolled on that course. I don’t like to have regrets about anything in life, so I would never go as far as to say I regret not doing it sooner - BUT I do often wonder what standard or level I would be at today if I had learned those skills a year or two earlier. I’ll always be proud of being self-taught for so long, and I’m still teaching myself new things all the time. That won’t change. But I also know for a fact that I will learn a lot more, to a higher standard, and in far less time when I’m guided through structured training. And when I’m held accountable with schedules and deadlines! 😬 Enrolment on all the @jewellersacademy online Diplomas ends next month, and although I am not wholly unbiased anymore, having since become a tutor and mentor on their amazing team, I would absolutely and completely give this course my full recommendation - 100%. If you’re seriously thinking about it, go for it. Or join me on the Wax Diploma in September instead - where I plan to take my gemstone setting skills in particular to a whole new level! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewellery #handmadejewellery #jewellerymaking #jadiplomadiaries

Gift cards don’t have to be a ‘last minute’ option or a last resort! 💍📦 I’ve recently been working hard to make mine feel more intentional and considered, and you can now choose from two physical presentation options that can be physically handed over. I hope you’ll agree that they’re both a lot nicer than just an email with a code! And of course, the recipient will also later get the jewellery itself presented in equally beautiful packaging, once they have chosen it. Both of these options can either be sent to you to gift in person, or I can forward them directly to the recipient with a handwritten personal message if you prefer. If someone choses to invest in my work then the presentation and thought put into it really matters to me - and that goes as much for the promise of my jewellery, in the form of a gift card, as it does for the jewellery itself! The gorgeous green boxes I use are from @tinyboxcompany (and if you use the code WILLOWANDTWIGG10 you can get 10% off all orders with them). The seeded gift cards are from @littlegreenpapershop and the printed card wallets I bought from @betterprinting. I’m slowly working on updating some of my other packaging option too, and I’ll share those in due course. And don’t forget to save this for later, when you’re looking at gift options for unique, handmade jewellery! 🙂 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadebusiness #giftboxes #jewelleryboxes

This is my favourite way to start the day! 🌊 A walk along the seafront after taking my two youngest daughters to school. I will confess to giving it a hard pass if it’s windy and raining (‘cause that’s just miserable) but at this time of year it’s a lovely way to get going each morning. The view across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight is different every time; the water changes colour with the weather conditions and there’s always something to see or watch. I’m also very mindful of the fact that as a military family we won’t live here forever and could have to move at any point. So for now I remind myself to make the most of the opportunity to be beside the sea whenever I am able because I know how much I’ll miss it. What’s your preferred way to start the day? 🙃 Kelly x #besidethesea #vitaminsea #morningstroll #beachwalks

I have a desire to sit at my bench this week and create some jewellery, but am falling short of inspiration and motivation. I’ve wanted a chunky silver chain necklace for myself for ages; something I can wear every day, with every outfit, and which will last a lifetime. And since I have a bit of wire that isn’t earmarked for anything else, I reckon this is the perfect time! I find that chain-making is always a great way to rediscover that creative groove when I want to make, but struggle to get started ⛓️ I’ve no idea how this will look, or whether it will be round links or oval, hammered or plain. It will evolve as I go. But that’s part of the fun! 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #workinprogress #silverchainnecklace

✨NEW✨ I’ve just added a selection of sea glass rings to my website, in shades of grey and aqua, and a range of sizes from L to Q. I don’t make rings very often, so there may not be any more for a while. I am hoping to create some with open or adjustable bands over the summer if I can though, which should hopefully make things a bit more inclusive in terms of sizing. Sadly none of these fit me, so I can’t keep them. If you’d like to adopt one then I’ll add a link to my stories today. Custom orders are not yet open either, but if you’re interested in having a bespoke ring made for you and would like to pick your own glass then be sure to sign up to my mailing list. Those who have subscribed will be first to know when I start offering this again! 🙃 Have a fabulous Friday, Kelly x #jewellerymaker #seaglass #seaglassjewellery #seaglassring

A sneak peek at some of the images from my recent photoshoot with the wonderful Vicki Knights! (@iamvickiknights ) 📷 I enlisted Vicki’s help to get all the additional images for my book that I’m not able to capture myself, and I’m so thrilled with everything she has produced! Not only is Vicki a really lovely person to work with, but she immediately put me at ease and was brilliant in making sure we got everything I needed. She didn’t even mind when I dragged her around the village and down to the seafront for a walk to get a few images outside of the workshop… 🌊 I’m really excited to have these beautiful photos for the book, and will also be able to use them to update and refresh my website too, which is on my list of immediate projects. Not this week though, as I am currently in the process of going through the copy-edited text of said book as it moves through the next few stages towards publication. When I have more info on that I will of course let you all know, but there’s going to be a LOT in it. And I don’t just mean the pictures! 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #jewelleryworkshop #brandingphotoshoot

It’s been all about the love hearts lately! 💙⚒️ This pendant was a special commission for a lovely lady who celebrates her birthday today. The story behind it isn’t mine to tell, but being able to create jewellery pieces with meaning like this is something I will always find joy in and I’m always deeply honoured when asked. I have the best job! Kelly x #jewellerymaker #oneofakindjewellery #lovehearts #heartnecklace

Why I went for Vodex when it came to investing in an extractor for my jewellery workshop ⚒️ There is quite a lot of choice out there when it comes to filtration and extraction systems, but it’s worth doing some research and making sure you pick the one that best suits your needs. They don’t all work quite the same way and some are not as effective as you’d perhaps think. I wanted something compact and portable that could be re-positioned easily from one workstation to another, and which would protect me (and my family) against fumes and vapours as well as dust and debris. The fact that it has a remote control means I can turn it on and off as required too. This makes it really easy to use and allowed me to incorporate it into my working routine without effort. Safety is something I refuse to compromise on, and along with proper extraction I also have fire safety equipment on standby and wear protective glasses for pretty much everything too. The latter I’ve always had, the extraction unit I genuinely wish I’d bought sooner, but it’s here now. I’d also like to clarify that I wasn’t sent the unit for free and was not approached by @vodexextraction beforehand; I bought it myself through choice, after doing my own research on the topic. However, I have since been asked to become a brand ambassador for them and was quite happy to do so as it is something I feel strongly about. It also means I can share the code ‘WILLOW’ which will get you 5% off at checkout. I have the JewelXtract1 unit with a single hose, but Vodex also have other units and types of machine available if you have different requirements. If you have any questions then please feel free to ask in the comments or message the team at Vodex as they’re super helpful! 🙂 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #VodexBA

Another of my favourite bezel tips! ⚒️ This is a quick and easy method for trimming the excess metal from the backplate of settings. These are heavy-duty kitchen scissors by Joyce Chen but florist shears are also inexpensive and work equally well ✂️ Both are designed for cutting through tough materials like branches or bone, and they do a fine job on sheet metal as well. I’ve not tried them on anything above 0.8mm thick as I haven’t needed to and don’t want to ruin them by experimenting, but they are perfect for 0.5mm sheet (as shown in this reel) and are far more comfortable to use than traditional metal snips. I wouldn’t recommend using them on sheet BEFORE you’ve soldered the bezel surround on though, as they can warp the metal and you’ll lose the time you’ve saved from sawing by having to make it flat again for soldering. Definitely a time-saver; just be VERY careful of your fingers and don’t use them on anything else like paper as it can dull them! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #bezelsettings #jewellerytools #jewelrytools

I do love a love heart, and I’m rather fond of Imperial Jasper too. If you’re looking for unique handcrafted jewellery made with beautiful ‘one of a kind’ gemstones then I can help! This is the latest pendant to be added to my website but there are others in progress, and I’m also thinking about re-opening my commissions book too for anyone who wants one of my statement pieces but would prefer to pick their own rock from my (rather extensive) collection. Would you be interest in that? Let me know! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewellery #gemstonenecklace

A little tour of my workspace whilst it’s still tidy! ⚒️ It’s not easy to include everything in less than three minutes but I’ve done my best to label the main things. If you have any questions about any of the tools or the setup I have for using them, then please just ask. Yes, I have a LOT of stuff; but it’s taken me over seven years of hard work to collect everything you see here, and I’ve re-invested pretty much all of my profits back into my business in order to do so. My daughters will soon all be in secondary school and I will hopefully have more time to up my production levels and start putting all these tools to more frequent use. At least that’s the plan. In the meantime I am enjoying making what I can when I can - and usually creating a terrible and chaotic mess in the process! If you’d like to know exactly where I got any of my tools or storage solutions from, do take a look at the ‘Tool Links’ highlights beneath my bio, as I already have shortcuts to most things I get asked about included there. Have a wonderful weekend! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whereiwork #mystudio #jewelryworkshop

A little green love-heart to celebrate the first of May! 🌿💚 This is the Imperial Jasper stone I have shared glimpses of recently - now all finished in its bespoke silver setting. I kept this one super simple with a plain setting and a soft matte finish. I don’t think it needs anything more, wouldn’t you agree? A perfect pendant for Spring! 🙃 It’s just been added to my website this evening if you’d like a closer look. Hope you’ve had a wonderful week, Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #oneofakind #loveheartnecklace

What I’m working on! 💚⚒️ An Imperial Jasper heart-shaped pendant. Happy to say I managed to get round in one without breaking a blade, but I do sometimes wish it was this quick in real life! For those wanting technical info, the silver sheet is 0.8mm thick and I used a 4/0 blade. Probably a little finer than I needed for this fuse of metal but that’s my favourite blade size and it was already in the saw frame… 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #sawpiercing #handmadejewellery #whatimworkingon

Full history lesson in the caption! ⬇️ And I promise no bottles were broken in the making of this reel… Where do sea glass marbles come from?! 🌊 Some of them were once children’s playthings, but others had a more practical purpose. These gorgeously large, plain seafoam-coloured marbles are usually from a Codd-neck bottle (more commonly known as a Codd bottle or a marble bottle) which was a type once used for carbonated drinks. The bottle was manufactured with thick glass to withstand internal pressure, and a chamber to enclose a marble and a rubber washer in the neck. The bottles were filled upside down, and pressure of the gas in the bottle forced the marble against the washer, sealing in the carbonation and forming a neat closure to prevent the drink going flat. The bottle is pinched into a special shape to provide a chamber into which the marble is pushed to open the bottle. This prevents the marble from blocking the neck as the drink is poured. The bottles were originally invented in the mid 1800s meaning sea glass marbles like these could potentially be over 150 years old. I don’t know the exact origins of this particular bottle (it was an antique shop find) but I think the profile of Queen Victoria on the front probably gives us a good idea of its age! Who doesn’t love a bit of history with their jewellery?! ⚒️🌊 Hope you’ve had a #Marbleous Monday! 🙃 Kelly x #seaglass #seaglassmarbles #seaglassjewellery #marbleous

As promised! 🫶 Here’s a brief guide to all the pendant motor attachments I use for polishing and finishing my jewellery ⚒️ There are SO many things available for jewellers to use in rotary tools now, and I know a lot of you have told me you find it overwhelming. I get asked all the time exactly what things I like to use, and I’ve done my best to include them all in this carousel. I’ve not been able to go into great detail about the specific grits or what each colour of compound is for, but all that info is listed on the manufacture or supplier websites. Sometimes I use just one type or range of attachments, but more often than not I will mix and match things up. The combinations I might use are endless and vary every single time depending on what a piece might need and what finish I’m going for, but the one thing that I always do is work my way up through the grits or levels and never skip stages. That’s super important! If you have any questions please drop them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them. And if I don’t know then I’m sure someone else will! Like I said, there’s a LOT of choice out there, so the best thing to do is keep trying different things until you find what works best for you. Hopefully this will give you some idea of where to start! 🙃 Have a wonderful weekend, Kelly x #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #polishingjewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools

Would you ever give someone a gift card for jewellery? I think they’re a great idea, as they allow you to buy from a particular designer or brand whilst still allowing the recipient to choose the exact item or size 💍 But I’m also aware that they can sometimes be seen as a ‘last-minute’ option or something you chose because you didn’t know what else to get… I’ve been on a mission to make them feel more intentional, and am now offering two optional add-ons to enhance the presentation of my gift cards with something that can be physically handed over. The cards themselves have been printed on recycled paper seeded with wildflowers, meaning that once you no longer need the card you can plant it and get flowers too. You can either have this presented in a gift box or in a printed wallet. The latter costs a little less, mainly due to postage charges. And of course, the recipient will also later get the jewellery itself presented in equally beautiful packaging, once they have chosen it. Both of these options can either be sent to you to gift in person, or I can forward them directly to the recipient with a handwritten personal message if you prefer. Whilst I know a lot of people may feel it’s unnecessary (in which case you can still just pay for the gift card and have a code emailed to you for no extra cost) my thoughts are that jewellery isn’t actually ‘necessary’ either. So if someone choses to invest in my work then the presentation and thought put into it really matters to me - and that goes as much for the promise of my jewellery (in the form of a gift card) as it does for the jewellery itself! The boxes I use are from @tinyboxcompany (and if you use the code WILLOWANDTWIGG10 you can get 10% off all orders with them). The seeded gift cards are from @littlegreenpapershop and the printed card wallets I bought from @betterprinting. All are UK-based businesses, and all are absolutely brilliant! 🙂 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadebusiness #giftboxes #jewelleryboxes #jewellerypackaging

Another useful gadget for the workshop! ⚒️ If you regularly make rings then these tweezers can be super-handy and save a lot of time trying to position the band and setting together for soldering. They’re called ‘head and shank locking tweezers’ and using them is pretty straightforward - but be warned, you should only close them far enough to hold your pieces together very gently, without any need for force. If they’re closed too tightly or with too much pressure then the silver will buckle once it softens with the heat of the torch, and your ring will likely move out of place somehow or end up mishapen. I found this out the hard way! 🫣 They’re great for bezels or anything where the setting part sits flush on top of the band, but as they are held in place by pressure they won’t work so well for anything like a collet or claw setting if you need the shank to go on either side. The pair I’ve got are no longer available so I don’t have a valid link to share, but a quick internet search for ‘head and shank locking tweezers’ should find you a pair wherever in the world you might be! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #soldering #jewellerytools #jewelrytools

A transformation challenge from two summers ago ⚒️ This was a little recycling side-quest I embarked on back in July ‘24, when silver wasn’t nearly so crazy expensive and I could still afford to play around with it! This pendant started with a patterned piece of silver sheet, a length of heavy D-shaped wire leftover from a bangle, and a heart-shaped blank that had a broken bail. All left lying on the bench. Not sure where the idea itself came from, but this song is one of my all-time favourites and repeats often on my workshop playlist, so perhaps that was the inspiration behind it. I also included a couple of tiny moulded silver accents and a trio of twisted wire rings to provide something to ‘fiddle’ with, and because three is a meaningful number to me. It’s since been hallmarked and is now in my personal jewellery box of special pieces, but I’m not sure I’ll ever make another piece like this. It is quite heavy and looking at it today that’s a LOT of silver, which at current prices makes this sort of playful and experimental project a thing of the past. Perhaps one day the cost will come back down and I can once again use up my spare silver in more creative ways… here’s hoping! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #howitsmade #silverarrow #processreels #handmadejewellery

It’s patiently waiting for you, whenever you’re ready… 🫶⚒️ This stone is a Crazy Lace Agate, in a handmade sterling silver setting and on an adjustable chain that can be worn up to 20”. Moss Agate might be my absolute favourite, but I love all the other varieties too! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #statementpendant #handmadejewellery

A quick update for those who have been asking about the book! 📖🌊 I was just going to share this to my stories but it’s a faff to cut things into one minute segments so I made it into a reel instead. We’re moving on to the design and editing stage now which is really exciting and I can’t wait to see it all come together. I will be adding a dedicated page about the book to my website this weekend, and will also start sharing any news via email once I get that up and running so do sign up to my mailing list if you’re interested in being the first to know about any progress updates! There’s a link to that in my bio and I’ll add it to my stories today too. Have a fab Friday! 🙃 Kelly x

The soothing sound of gentle waves… 🌊 Last time I shared a clip of the sea like this a few of you asked me if I could post the next one without any music. Happy to oblige! ☺️ Hope you’ve had a wonderful week so far, Kelly x #bytheseaside #oceansounds #gentlewaves #soundofthesea #thalassophile

A beautiful Plume Agate and silver brooch, made for a very special birthday gift ☺️⚒️ I am not normally drawn to bolder and brighter colours when it comes to gemstones, but this one is like fluffy clouds in a summer sky ☁️ And now it’s safely gone off to its forever home I can share it with you! I’d never actually made a clasp fitting quite like this before but was really pleased with how it came out. Huge thanks go to Paul from @theschoolofjewellery.ie for helping me out with that part - I couldn’t have done it without his expert technical advice! 🙏🏻 Paul is a full-time tutor and regularly shares jewellery tips and tricks on his own page, so if you also love learning and discovering new things (like I do) then definitely go give him a follow! 🫶 And let me know if you’d like to see more pins and brooches in future too, as I enjoyed the challenge of this one and might well make a few more! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #silverbrooch #plumeagate

What I’m working on this week! 💚 I felt in need of a break from all the sea glass, so I picked out a beautiful gemstone cabochon from my collection today instead. Can’t wait to see this one finished and set! ☺️ Hope you’ve had a lovely start to your week, Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadejewelleryuk #statementpendant #whatimworkingon #jasperjewelry

There’s something so satisfying about a good Spring Clean of the bench, even if it wasn’t planned! ⚒️ I only meant to get rid of some of the old and broken burrs, and put out some newer ones, then went off on a complete Side Quest and ended up re-arranging everything. I can testify that my bench often looks FAR worse than this, but whilst I am quite content with creative chaos when in the midst of making, I do prefer to have structured organisation of my tools and supplies to help me keep on top of things. I always know WHERE everything is, but without proper systems in place I often loose track of how MUCH of something I have, and the bench is one of the last areas of my workshop to be treated to a dedicated tidy up. Things just sort of got added over time and ended up staying wherever they were first put, and I’ve decided it’s time I fixed that. Whilst I’m busy finishing this off I’ll have a think about all the different polishing bits and attachments I use and how to best share a post about them, as I often get asked about what I choose to use and why. Let me know if that would be helpful! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #whatsonyourbench #jewellerytools #jewelrytools

Can’t get rid of a perfectly good jar! 🫙🫙🫙 Although I’m going to have to start putting them in the recycling soon I think. I’ve just counted 46 currently scattered around my jewellery workshop and some of them aren’t even being used for anything. Is it an age thing? Or am I just a weird glass jar hoarder? 😳 Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this… 🫣😂 Kelly x

Taking a little break from all the sea glass and sharing one of my favourite gemstones! 🌿 Moss Agate will always be right at the top of my list when it comes to cabochons. Each one is just so beautiful and unique, and I love the soft blend of lilacs, greens and greys in this one! I added a little extra detailing on the back too, courtesy of a patterned silver butterfly, and gave it a soft matte finish for a contemporary look. It’s attached to a 20” Navette chain that fastens with a hook and can be easily shortened by a couple of inches too if you need to adjust it to fit a neckline. It’s fully Hallmarked, and still available. You can find it in the @britishcrafthouse if you’d like to take a closer look. There’s also a couple of other statement pieces on my own website too. Looking forward to getting back to making more chunky gemstone jewellery again soon! Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #statementnecklace #ooakjewelry #handmadejewellery #mossagatejewellery

Not everyone can have a ‘professional’ jeweller’s torch, myself included! ⚒️🔥🧯 But that doesn’t mean you can’t be a jeweller or still make a wide variety of designs. I keep getting comments asking about the torches I use, and questioning why I don’t have a ‘real’ torch, so I’m re-sharing this again in response. [Short answer = I can’t have one, and don’t currently need one] Whilst propane or oxygen tank-fed hose torches may have more power, more variable flame sizes and the ability to heat larger pieces, they’re not always an option for everyone. I genuinely don’t have the space for gas tanks. We are also renting, and the lease terms and insurance don’t cover this. In addition, my workshop is in my home and I have children and pets so wouldn’t be comfortable with anything more than a hand-held torch. And in all honestly I have never needed anything more. Everything I’ve ever made has been soldered using this trio. Here are the details for anyone who wants them; 🔥 The Clarke Weld Micro Torch came from @kernowcraft. It has a small, easily controlled flame up to 1300°C and I use this for most of my work. 🔥 For larger pieces and annealing, I have a bigger one by @durstontools that is a similar temp but has a larger flame. 🔥 If you’re in the USA then the Tsunami XL blow torch by @pepetools_usa is an awesome all-rounder and sits somewhere between these two in size. 🔥 And the ‘Dremel Versatip’ gives a finer flame for more precise tasks where a larger torch would be hard to control and likely melt stuff. That was from Amazon. I’ll pop some links to each of them in my stories today, and if you’re watching this at a later date, they’ll be under the ‘tool links’ highlight below my bio 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #soldering #jewellerytools #jewelrytools

Hope you’re having a Marbleous Monday! 🌊 It’s beautifully sunny down here on the south coast at the moment, although still rather windy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Took some sea glass for a walk to get some pictures, and was quite impressed I managed to make a stack yesterday given there was 25mph of breeze coming right at it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I also had to pay quite a high ice cream tax in exchange for the company of my daughters, but it was worth it to get them out the house and enjoy some fresh air. We were even treated to a fly-past by a Spitfire, although my camera lens wasn’t quite strong enough to capture it in any detail. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The sunshine really is a tonic for the soul and I can’t wait for the spring weather to really make that upturn we’ve all been waiting for! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly x ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #marblemonday #seaglass #beachcombers #bytheseaside

Do you ever use solder in paste form? ⚒️🔥 I’ve been using it for years for the smaller and fiddly tasks like jump rings and earring posts and it’s a staple in my workshop. Solder paste already has flux incorporated so it’s quick, convenient and easy to apply precisely and accurately. Plus it stays where you want it and doesn’t fly off when the torch is brought in like traditional pallions can. I personally wouldn’t choose it for larger tasks or jewellery pieces where there is a lot of metal to heat, as I find in these circumstances that the flux and binder in the paste can burn off before the whole thing reaches soldering temperature and then it won’t flow. But for the more intricate and delicate jobs I find paste solder can really help speed up the process and take the stress out of things. There are a few different types available, but I like the Nano Paste version from the @pepetools_usa Bench Basics range. And yes, the fact you can get two different sized tips AND a dedicated organiser stand might be one of the reasons I converted! Seriously though, the whole of the Pepe Tools Bench Basics range is fantastic and there are a lot of really useful products at great value. And if you’re also in the UK and only want a couple of things then @armitage_tools and @thecuriousgem are stockists. Have a wonderful weekend! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips

My favourite make of the year so far! 🌊 I’m going to be keeping these sea glass earrings because they’re calling to me sooo loudly, but many of you have commented on them and I think making more needs to be a priority once I return to the bench properly later this month. Small and simple, and with the lever-back wires too I reckon. What say you? 🤔 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #seaglassearrings

Which of these sea glass jewellery pieces catches your attention most, and which should I make more of? 🌊⚒️ I took a total of 1,277 photos yesterday and my eyes have only just recovered to the point where I can focus properly again… 😵‍💫 I now have to cut that total number of images right down and edit the best ones. It’s a long old process but I’m pleased to say the sunshine has returned, so the door to the garden is wide open and I’m currently listening to some enthusiastic birdsong. Not quite such a bad way to spend the afternoon! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #seaglass #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery

It’s a photography kind of a day! 📷 Much as I’ve been longing for some spring sunshine I have to confess I’ve also been waiting for a day like today to get this task done. Cloudy skies and no wind are my preferred conditions for taking photos of jewellery in natural daylight, and I need to get some ‘finished’ images of all the pieces I’ve made for my book. The recording of the making processes was a bit of a challenge, but this stage is something I’m far more familiar with so hopefully I’ll get it all done this afternoon. I promise I’ll then start manifesting some brighter days for the rest of the month! 🙃 Kelly x And for anyone wanting technical info, I use a Canon EOSR8 digital camera and the backdrops are from the brilliant Margarita at @blueberrybackdrops. The other props are bits and pieces I’ve collected over the years! #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #photographyprocess #canonEOsR8

My favourite kind of tools are the ones that have properly considered design; where the makers have really thought about what it’s used for and how! ⚒️ This is an example. I bought this extractor for my workshop back in February and am really pleased with it so far. Not only does it do the job well in eliminating both the dust and the vapours from all the dirty jewellery tasks but it now comes with two different attachments on the hose. There’s a narrower nozzle which has stronger suction for bigger particles and dust, meaning the dodgy residue from the silicone and rubber burrs is not an issue any more. And there’s a wider funnel for whenever you need to cover a wider area. Perfect for me as I use a turntable and like to move my pieces around whilst soldering. As I’ve mentioned before, I bought the unit myself as a safety investment for myself and anyone else who comes in my workshop, but I’m also happy to be a brand ambassador for @vodexextraction who manufacture these. Now I have a deeper understanding of the risks posed by the processes I’ve been using (having gone down a research rabbit-hole) I genuinely believe it’s an important message worth spreading. Protect your lungs, as well as your eyes and fingers. I have been given a code to share with you for 5% off if you want to purchase a unit for your own workshop. Just enter ‘WILLOW’ on checkout. I have the JewelXtract1 with a single hose. And if you have any questions then feel free to ask in the comments or message the team at Vodex as they’re super helpful. As an aside, the 5th April is not far away and if you’re looking to invest in any tool or equipment purchases before that date then I’d say this would be one well worth considering… 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #VodexBA

Just a few of my favourite polishing attachments! ⚒️ I often get asked what I use to get a shiny or satin finish on my jewellery, and thought this was a good opportunity to share a few of the things I like most. I use my pendant motor for pretty much all my polishing now, and only ever use the tumbler or barrel polisher for chains or very simple pieces. I totally understand it’s difficult to know what attachments to opt for though when there is SO much available! In truth I’ve really just been conducting a long-term experiment over the years and tend to pick a few different things to try whenever I’m placing a new order with my suppliers. I’m still doing that now; the emery flap wheels shown here are new and I’ve not tried them before. Will let you know how that goes! My advice is to try everything until you settle on what works best for you, and I tend to mix and match what I use each time depending on the piece I’m making and the finish I want. Always remember to work your way up through the different grits and don’t skip stages, but be careful of starting on too low a grit and adding in more scratches than were there to begin with. And there may be a plethora of tools and attachments available now to help speed up the process and make it much easier, but you will always need to apply a little patience and attention to detail. My favourite compounds are the Luxi range, and Orange Luxor for a fine shine. I don’t use Tripoli or Rouge because they make such a terrible mess. There are a multitude of different ways and alternative methods for finishing and polishing handmade jewellery. This is just what I choose to use for mine. If you have any questions please just ask! 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #polishingjewellery

Sweet like candies! 🤩🌊🍬 I’ve been drilling sea glass again today whilst enjoying the spring sunshine in the workshop. If you’d like to know how I do this and what tools I use, I’ve pinned the carousel guide I shared recently to the top of my main feed and all the details are there. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #seaglassjewelry #seaglassjewellery #seaglass #iloveseaglass

How do you oxidise your silver jewellery to get an aged patina effect? I used to use Liver Of Sulphur for this process, but the smell of rotten eggs became too much, and I got fed up of having to go out in the garden each time because the family complained about it… 🫣 So I switched to a liquid called Platinol. It doesn’t need to be heated to work, and doesn’t smell anywhere near as bad. I also find it gives a quicker and more even result. For large pieces or chains where I want to get a total covering I add a few drops to water in a jar like I’ve done here, which gives the gunmetal-grey shade I like on my jewellery. This makes the solution go a bit further but it will usually only last a couple of days in the container before turning clear. If you want a darker result you can use it in a more concentrated form and/or warm the metal itself a little first. I also keep watercolour brush pens filled with neat Platinol solution to paint finer details in specific areas or add to stamped lettering. Once the metal has been oxidised you can intensify or reduce the effect by polishing to remove the ‘high spots’ and apply whichever finish you prefer. I will opt for either a shiny or a matte finish depending on the piece in question, but I do have different polishing barrels and keep a separate set of steel shot for anything with a patina. This way any jewellery I make that I want to have a bright and shiny finish doesn’t get accidentally darkened! Have a fab Friday, 🙃 Kelly xx *As with all things like this, please read and heed the safety warnings and advice before use. I avoid directly touching the liquid itself and always wear eye protection!* #jewellerymaker #jewelrytips #jewellerytools #jewellerytips #makingjewelry

It’s always real! 🌊 When it comes to finding sea glass different beaches will often yield different very grades, qualities and quantities of glass. The stuff I find locally on the beach where I live, like the piece in this ring, is usually flatter and more irregular in shape. Pretty colours like blues are very rare here and not washed up so often. If you go further north in the UK to beaches located close to the old glass factories or near Victorian rubbish dumps then you are more likely to find rounder, larger and thicker pieces of sea glass in a wider array of colours. It’s all beautiful and it all makes lovely jewellery. I only ever use authentic glass in my work, but the reason I tend to use the rounder and smoother pieces more often is partly because they’re easier to set, but also because they’re more popular and sell better. Oh, and if you’re wondering why this ring has a twisted band it’s because it’s been deliberately made to be ‘adjustable’ in size. Which do you prefer? The rounder pieces of sea glass or the wonky ones? If there’s enough demand for the latter I can look to include more designs with the irregular pieces too. I’ve got jars of the stuff! 🙃 Kelly x #seaglass #seaglassring #handmadejewellery #seaglassjewellery #jewellerymaker

Taking a little look back over all the things I made during my Diploma last year! 🤩 There’s not just a collection of handmade jewellery pieces here but also a whole load of skills - many of which were brand new to me. I’ve been asked many times which were my favourites and which I enjoyed most, and it’s hard to narrow that down, but I would say that if I HAD to title the projects, it would be as follows… ⚒️ Most challenging: Probably working with gold. I found it really difficult physically (since it was 9ct) but also mentally tough, knowing how much it was worth. It was so satisfying when it worked though and I’ve worn the first gold ring I made almost every day since. ⚒️ Most worthwhile: The stone setting. So many new techniques I’d been wanting to learn that will really help me up my game professionally. ⚒️ Most enjoyable: The cold connections; hinges and rivets. Was not expecting to love this as much as I did but I’ve used the skills I learned here several times since. ⚒️ Most rewarding: The trinket box. That took days and was not without its frustrations (I’m talking about you, firestain…) but I was so chuffed with this when it was done. ⚒️ Most useful: The soldering. I already knew HOW to solder, but over the months and across all the different projects my soldering skills improved massively, as did my confidence. I had to step out of my existing comfort zone and try new things and will be forever grateful for the difference this has had on everything I’ve made since! If you’ve done the Diploma too, then do share which of these projects you loved most. And if you’re thinking about doing it this September and have any questions, then I’m always happy to help. Feel free to ask anything, either openly in the comments or privately via DM. I’ll be doing the Diploma in Wax Jewellery this time around and can’t wait! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #jewellerycourse #JADiplomaDiaries

I spend hours making a piece of sea glass jewellery in anticipation of that ‘click’ 🙃 Kelly x #seaglass #seaglassring #handmadejewellery #seaglassjewellery #jewellerymaker

Hot off the bench today; jewel green sea glass and silver clasp bangle. I’ve been trying to incorporate some more colours along with all the seafoams and aquas I’ve been making recently. Green may not be one of the rarest shades but this one glows so beautifully in the sunshine! Hope you’ve had a fab start to the week, Kelly x #seaglass #seaglassbracelet #handmadejewellery #seaglassjewellery #jewellerymaker

When it comes to sea glass do you prefer the surface frosted or smooth? 🌊❄️ The whitish, crystallised-looking film that coats natural sea glass is usually the normal state of it when it’s dry, but many people think it looks nicer and the colours appear more vibrant when it’s wet. If you want to get that wet and polished look permanently, then you just need to oil it. This will often happen to sea glass slowly over time as it’s handled, but you can speed up the process by adding a little oil. I prefer baby or mineral oil because it smells better; food-based options like olive or coconut oil can sometimes go a bit rancid over time. To oil the glass I just apply a few drops with my fingertips or some cotton wool, and then rub the glass in kitchen paper to remove any excess and get an even coverage. If you want to reverse the look and get the frostiness back then just wash it thoroughly in warm soapy water and leave it to dry. An old toothbrush is useful to help get into the grooves and indentations of the glass. I also often clean it with surgical spirit (rubbing alcohol) as I find water alone isn’t always enough to remove all the oily residue. An ultrasonic cleaner also works well if you have one of those, but be aware it can potentially cause breakages if there are any cracks or weak spots in the glass. *Note: this is for glass which has not yet been set in jewellery. Hope this is useful, and let me know which look you prefer! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewelrytips #seaglassjewellery #jewellerytips #makingjewelry

Enjoying the spring sunshine today! ☀️ No making at the bench for me though, as I’m still in the midst of my photography quest. Super busy, but on the home straight now with the book. Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful weekend! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewellerytools #jewelersbench

What do you think of these?! 📦 I received a lovely surprise gift with some packaging samples yesterday by @tinyboxcompany and I’d love to known what you think too! You already know I’ve been using their range of recycled Kraft card jewellery boxes for years now, but I have to say I’m incredibly tempted by some of the other things here, now I’ve seen (and felt) them… 🤔 I think most people agree that when it comes to packaging you don’t want to have a LOT of stuff wrapping your products, especially if it isn’t necessary or doesn’t serve a purpose. But I do believe that the quality of the packaging you choose matters. It is a direct representative of your brand and first impressions count. Luxury versions like these may not be the right choice for every item of jewellery I make, but for the higher-cost or limited edition pieces they may be a really lovely way to present it. Let me know if you’re interested in any of these items too and I’ll find the product codes for you. And don’t forget you can use the code WILLOWANDTWIGG10 to get 10% off each order you place on the Tiny Box Company website as well. Have a wonderful weekend! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #handmadebusiness #giftboxes #jewelleryboxes #jewellerypackaging

There’s just something about sea glass and silver. A magical combination, not least because every piece is unique! 🌊💙 An unusually short caption from me today, as I’m currently buried deep in writing about HOW I made this bracelet and my brain is lacking the capacity to say much more about it. Other than it’s super pretty and I wanted to share it with you! 🙃 Kelly x #seaglass #seaglassbracelet #handmadejewellery #seaglassjewellery #jewellerymaker

Adhesive magnetic tape is brilliant! 🙌 If you look closely you can spot it around my workshop holding my burrs, files, tweezers and drill bits. And now it is stopping me from losing the remote for the extractor too. Which I inevitably would otherwise… 🫣 I’ve only had this unit for around three weeks now but I’m so happy with it. And discovering it has a remote was a real bonus, as it takes seconds to switch on and off. I’ve had lots of questions about it, and am always happy to answer more. Please just ask! It’s the JewelExtract1 from @vodexextraction Vodex have given me a code to share with you to get 5% off; just enter WILLOW on checkout (you’ll need to set up an account with them to enable the discount). And if you want to know where the magnetic tape came from, that was from Amazon and there should be a link in the ‘Tool Links’ highlight below my bio. One final tip; if you are holding heavier things with the tape and find the sticky part starts to peel off your bench with the weight, just add a small screw in each end. I had to do that with the one that holds my larger files. It’s going nowhere now! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewellerytools #VodexBA #jewellerytips #jewelrytips

Any ideas as to what this pretty piece of sea glass might once have been? 🤔🌊✨ I do often wish I could know more about the history of the glass I use, but I also appreciate that the mystery is part of the magical appeal of this material. This piece has been set aside on my bench for a long time, and I finally found the perfect use for it, to demo the cutting out of the setting backplate. It works for this piece because it’s flat, and it helps the etched pattern to really show itself off. No clue what it might have been though, and I can’t even remember when or where I found it. If you have any suggestions for a true (or even romantically imagined) origin story, I’d love to know! 🙃 Kelly x #seaglass #jewellerymaker #seaglassjewellery #artisanmade #slowmade

Melting little silver scraps into tiny, shiny balls never gets boring! 🙃 Tip: when melting silver spheres to use for granulation, lift the flame up and away vertically to help them keep a more rounded shape. Hope you’ve had a wonderful start to your week! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips

So much goes into making jewellery by hand, and it’s not always easy to get that message across if you can’t visibly ‘see it’ ⚒️ This pendant took me a good few hours to make from start to finish, and whilst I was polishing it I was suddenly struck by how little silver was left to show for all that time. I don’t usually cut out backplates for sea glass because of the increased risk of tarnish appearing under the glass, and it actually takes a lot longer to make a setting like this than it does to leave the backplate intact. It’s part of the design, which is deliberately as simple and minimalistic as possible, but it did make me wonder. I know you guys get it, and I guess I just have to hope that others do too. Handmade is slow-made, but it’s made with so much love! 🫶 Kelly x #seaglass #jewellerymaker #seaglassjewellery #artisanmade #slowmade

How does my new logo look on my jewellery boxes?! 🎁 I actually finalised my new logo design before testing it out and checking it looked okay when lasered on to my packaging boxes, so I was very relieved that the detail still came out okay - after a little tweaking with the settings! The boxes I use are from @tinyboxcompany and I prefer their Kraft card range. They are available in a wide selection of colours but I went for natural so I could change my branding at any point and they will always work with it. As proven here! One of the things I love most about this range is they’re really adaptable and budget friendly. I have been lasering mine recently, since I have the machine to do it, but I used to use stickers or pop a business card on top, tied with ribbon. You can also use stamps or even write on them and the ink doesn’t run, and there is also now an option to have them foiled with your branding for a little extra too. This reel shows the two sizes I use most and the codes are below; Earring Box - KCKR06 Medium Jewellery Box - KCKR07 They are also; 🌱 Biodegeadable ♻️ Recyclable & made of recycled materials 🫶 Sustainably sourced Use the code WILLOWANDTWIGG10 to get 10% off each order you place on the Tiny Box Company website - and that’s for all items, not just the boxes I choose to use. Have a wonderful weekend! Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #handmadebusiness #giftboxes #jewelleryboxes #jewellerypackaging

Best. Photography. Backdrops. Ever. 🙌📸 I have tried sooo many different kinds of backdrops for my product photography over the years, but the ones by Margarita from @blueberrybackdrops are by far the best of them! This isn’t an ad or a sponsored post but a genuine recommendation because I always champion fellow small businesses who create products that I love 🫶 And also because I know how hard it is to take good photos and I always like to share anything I find useful or helpful! Not only are the image details of these amazing and super realistic, but they are made of a high quality, soft and flexible material, and are non-reflective too. The come in a wide range of sizes and the prints are unique; Margarita personally travels the globe with her camera to capture them, so there are no stock images or AI. The mini ones in particular are around A3 size (or two sheets of US letter paper side by side, for my friends across the Pond) which makes them ideal and really convenient for jewellery and small item photography. Finding these was a game-changer and I won’t get mine from anywhere else now! If you’re looking for backdrops for your business pics too, go check them out 🙃 Happy Friday! Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewellerymaking #productphotography #processphotography

A little more sea glass love for you this week, with an aqua heart-shaped pendant 💙🌊 This piece of glass was naturally formed by the ocean, but they’re not a shape I come across often. Should I try carving some too? 🤔 I’ve been thinking about it for a while and it could be a more creative way to use up the bits that have otherwise scrappy edges! Let me know what you think! Kelly x #seaglass #jewellerymaker #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #loveheart

How I make jump rings! ⚒️ I had a lot of interest in my tip for wrapping a jump ring coil in masking tape before sawing through it, so here’s the rest of the process again! The coil former I use is called ‘The Beadsmith EZ Coiler Pro’ (bought on Amazon) and for less than £30 I still think it’s a great buy. It’s easy to use, comes with a range of mandrels in different sizes, and the coils it produces are much tighter and neater than I have ever managed to get by manually wrapping wire around a dapping post or dowel. This means the rings I get are a far more even and rounder shape, as well as more equal in size. I know lots of people use a drill to get a similar result and feel a tool like this is unnecessary, but I tend not to mix our household tools with my jewellery ones or I get told off… 😬 This thing is sturdy and compact enough to fit in my bench vice which makes it feel secure, and it’s easy to control the speed. Whatever method you use for making the coil, I will always recommend wrapping it in tape to keep it together, and then thread it onto the blade and saw from the inside out. This is much easier - and less risky for the fingers. It also stops the rings from disappearing off around the room once they’ve been cut through. Been there, and it’s annoying. Hope this helps! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #jewelrytips #jewellerytools #jewellerytips #makingjewelry

Another project finished this week; backless bezel-set sea glass earrings 🌊 I don’t often make sea glass jewellery in this style as it’s super fiddly and can be frustrating to do, but the results are always worth it and I love this pair. It’s a particularly good option for earrings when the added weight of a backplate can make them uncomfortable to wear. Might have to keep these… but let me know if I should make more! 🙃 And do excuse the lovely white kitchen paper; I’d just taken them out the ultrasonic after polishing, but it made the colour pop! Kelly x #seaglass #jewellerymaker #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass

Granulation is a fiddly business! 🫣 Do you ever use it in your designs? ⚒️ This is the process of adding metal spheres to jewellery pieces for decoration. I made a sea glass pendant this weekend and added a LOT of granulation… I usually go for a ‘less is more’ approach but decided to properly maximalise this one. Pretty chuffed (and quite surprised) that out of all these tiny balls only ONE fell off. It’s not always apparent that they’ve not fully soldered until you get further into the process, which in this case was during the polishing stage. Thankfully I was able to solder it back on easily without any more coming off as I did it. Granulation is something that I’ve gotten much better at over time, and as with most things it really is a matter of practice. If you’d like some of the top tips I’ve learned, tap on the linked reel image to see a previous post on the topic (this reel will need to be opened to full screen first to work). Have a wonderful start to the week! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #makingjewellery #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips

How I drill sea glass! ⚒️🌊 I have been asked about this a lot this week, after sharing a couple of tip reels on the subject, so I’ve updated the carousel I made last year and added all the details so you can save it for easy reference. For those who wish to know, I buy the 1mm drill bits cheap in bulk on Amazon, but get larger sizes and higher quality ones from @eternal.tools They have a lot of glass drilling tools and info on their website if this is something you want to explore further, and their customer service is just fab if you ever need help. And for the drilling I use the cordless Dremel 8240 rotary tool by @dremel. If you have any questions about my process please just ask, and remember that as with anything like this there is more than one way to drill sea glass. This is just the way that works best for me! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #jewelrytips #seaglassjewellery #jewellerytips #seaglass

Have you ever made a claw setting for sea glass? 🌊 This week I discovered a way to help secure the glass more effectively. Making a little indentation where each of the claws will sit using a diamond-coated burr will help keep the wire in place and stop any annoying rattles. Once the glass is set the grooves should not be visible either. I know some of you might come at me aghast for messing with the glass, but it’s no different to drilling a hole in it, and after the surprisingly positive response I got to my reel about cutting glass with a saw, I’m no longer so afraid to share ‘modification’ tips like this… 😂 The diamond point burr is from @eternal.tools and they come in sizes from 0.6mm to 3mm - the one I’m using here is 1.5mm. They’re also useful for engraving (though I’ve not tried that) on glass, stone, shells porcelain, ceramic and hardwoods. And they can be used as a bead reamer for enlarging holes in beads and pearls too. A super useful little tool! Tips: • mark the position of the claws with a pencil first • keep the glass wet and drill speed below 12,000rpm • wash the glass and add a little baby oil or mineral oil to the engraved areas afterwards to blend them in and remove any dust residue And for those concerned about my safety; YES I am fully aware of Silicosis, I wear safety goggles at all times, I have a respirator AND a powered extraction unit, and no children or pets were in the immediate vicinity whilst I did this. It’s all about the sea glass tips for me at the moment as that’s what I’m currently immersed in. Hope this one is helpful too! 🙃 Have a wonderful weekend, Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewelrytips #seaglassjewellery #jewellerytips #makingjewelry

One of the best investments I’ve made, hands down. For those who have been asking - this is exactly what the extractor unit I recently bought cost me. I shared a post about this new addition to the workshop last week and lots of questions and comments came in about the cost and how ‘expensive’ it is. No, it’s not ‘cheap’. But I wouldn’t trust it if it were cheap. I do believe in the saying ‘you get what you pay for’, and this is a high quality bit of kit that performs extremely well. In truth, I hadn’t actually been planning to buy one (until I did the research and understood the risks of NOT having it) and couldn’t afford to pay for it in full, so chose to spread the cost in monthly instalments. I agree that spending £1k in one go can make your palms sweat, but £92 a month feels less scary. I’m also well aware that I’ve spent considerably more on tools and materials in the past, so to baulk at paying out for something that protects my health and that of my family would be a hard prioritisation to justify. And when you break the full cost right down over the course of a year it works out at just £3 a day. As I said in my last post, this isn’t an ad, but something I’ve chosen to buy into. It is a subject I genuinely feel strongly about though, so I also agreed to be a brand ambassador for @vodexextraction and help spread awareness about air safety precautions in the workplace. And I know from comments I’ve had in the past how many of you feel strongly about it too! Vodex have given me a code to share with you to get 5% off; just enter WILLOW on checkout (you’ll need to set up an account with them to enable the discount). And as always, if you have any questions, please just ask! Have a fab Friday 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewellerytools #VodexBA

Making jewellery is a challenge, and taking photographs of finished jewellery is also a challenge. But taking photographs of the process whilst making said jewellery? That’s a whole other level! I’m getting into my stride though and starting to speed up, and with just a few weeks to go until my initial submission deadline it’s fair to say this is where my focus is at. I’m including everything I can possibly think of in this book, and can’t wait to share it with you! ☺️ Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewellerymaking #photographyprocess #canonEOsR8

Blue, blue, electric blue… that’s the colour of this sea glass marble! 💙🌊 As beautiful as it is rare, and safely held in a bespoke sterling silver cage. I haven’t made one of these for a while and they never hang around for long so you’ll need to be quick if you’ve been waiting for one to pop up in this gorgeous colour. It went up on the website today, although I’ll try and take a few more pics tomorrow as the light wasn’t working so well and really doesn’t do that lovely glow justice! 🙃 Kelly xx *Now Sold - thank you!* #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewellery #seamarble seaglass

A little close-up look at the most recent Moss Agate pendant I’ve made! 🌿💕 These are always a favourite, with you guys as well as with me. Every single stone is unique and I’ve yet to find one I didn’t like! This necklace is still available and up on the website now if you’d like more details. Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewellery #statementpendant #mossagatenecklace

What do you think of these? 🤔 They’re going in the book as one of the tutorial projects, but they came out better than I expected and now I’m rather in love with them. Not as heavy as you’d imagine either, but I might switch the earring hooks for continental wires so they’re more secure. Let me know if these are something you’d wear, and if I should make more of them! 🙃 Kelly x #seaglass #jewellerymaker #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #seaglassearrings

I actually use this stuff for holding most of my sea glass whilst drilling now, not just the smaller pieces! Thermo-loc is a reusable and mouldable polymer putty that is often used to secure jewellery pieces during stone setting. It’s also brilliant for holding sea glass during drilling too, as it allows you to keep your fingers well out of the way and get a better view of what you’re doing. I also use blu-tack for larger pieces but find I still need to hold the actual glass to keep it from moving, so this is my preference for the tiny pieces. You just add hot water to soften it up before putting the glass in and out, making sure it comes up enough around the edges to hold it securely. I like to use a piece of baking parchment or greaseproof paper under it too. It’s unlikely to stick to wood or cork, but this just keeps it clean and prevents any splinters of material from getting mixed in with it. You can get Thermo-loc from lots of places and most jewellery suppliers - just search online for the best price in your location. And if you’d like more info on the drilling process itself, I recently did a detailed carousel on that topic. I’ll share it to my stories again today. Hope this is helpful! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewelrytips #seaglassjewellery #jewellerytips #makingjewelry

I’ve updated my business branding! 🌿💕💍 It’s actually something I’ve been slowly working on over the last year or two, but this month I finalised my ideas and committed to the changes. It’s not so much a full re-brand as a ‘refresh’ and a simplification of what I had before. I first came up with my original branding seven years ago, and to be honest I’m surprised I haven’t tweaked it sooner, but I I’m glad I waited and didn’t rush into it. My logo is now simpler, the fonts have been narrowed down and although I still have nine colours (which is four or five more than I need) but this is down from around nineteen or twenty, so I consider that progress! I’ve also decided to remove the tag line on my business stationary now and there’s no mention of the type of jewellery I make or the materials I use. Partly because I couldn’t think of a new one, but also because I don’t want to restrict or limit myself in future. I do have aspirations to one day work with gold and precious gemstones and now I feel I have the brand that will allow me to grow into that. I am still very much creating jewellery with sea glass and won’t stop doing so, but those who have been following me for a while may remember I’m in the process of creating a sub-brand for the nautical-themed designs called @seabornsilverjewellery. That is still happening - just very slowly! I have lots more things I want to implement in my business and many new skills I still want to learn, and this is just one more step on the evolutionary ladder. I love my new logo, and hope you all like it too! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #jewellerybrand

I love seeing sea glass in the sunshine! 🌊☀️ I’ve been drilling a selection of pieces today, and whilst there were a few casualties in the process I managed to get what I needed. Tip: After you’ve drilled sea glass, leave it to one side for a day or two before adding anything else to it. Stress fractures can still spontaneously occur hours later. If it’s still intact after 48 hours you should be okay. Hope it’s sunny where you are too! Kelly x #seaglass #jewellerymaker #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass

Okay, I’ve heeded your warnings! ⚒️🫶 I have been questioned about how I handle dust and fumes when making jewellery in my workshop SO many times, and have finally bought an extraction system. And yes, bought it. It wasn’t gifted, but a considered purchase and I’m posting about it because I know I’ll get asked which unit I’ve chosen and why. I started looking into extraction systems a while ago but got overwhelmed. I’m limited for space and can’t have anything that needs to vent outside. Then I saw the @vodexextraction JewelXtract unit being used by a few other jewellers and it caught my attention, being smaller and easily movable. However, it was after reading all the info on their website that I realised this was something I needed sooner rather than later. In truth, I really don’t spend as much time at the bench as I’d like. Certainly not hours each day, although I am hoping to increase that soon. But even if that theoretically reduces my exposure to toxic fumes and particles, they’re still there and it’s not just the dust we can SEE that’s the issue, but everything we can’t. What’s worse, much of it remains in the air long after we vacate the bench. I have ‘made do’ with a respirator for myself until now, but I’m not taking risks with the health of my family and pets. This unit has a HEPA-grade filtration system that removes smoke and dust particles down to 0.3 microns with 99.95% efficiency, and a carbon filter to collect chemical vapours. It’s also small enough to fit between my two benches AND I can easily move the nozzle from one to the other. Disclaimer; I chose to buy this, but I have since signed up to be a brand ambassador because I know it’s a topic that will keep coming up. You can use the code WILLOW for 5% off if you’d like to invest in one too (you’ll need to set up an account with Vodex to enable the discount). Any questions, please just ask! Have a fab Friday 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewellerytools #VodexBA

I find this is visually a lot easier to use as a guide than a ruler - plus it doesn’t move! 📏 A couple of you asked why I had masking tape stuck to my bench in the last reel I posted, so I thought I’d share that as a tip too. Whenever I’m making chain link bracelets I like to have the centre piece (if there is one) in the middle, and space the other links or components out evenly on each side. A strip of masking tape on the bench is easy to mark the length and halfway point on, and doesn’t move when I’m playing around with the design. I have so many uses for masking tape in my studio. Maybe that’s another reel in future! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewelrytips #jewellerytools #jewellerytips #makingjewelry

Whenever you’re making jump rings by hand, wrap the coil in masking tape before sawing through it, and tuck it in over both ends ⚒️ This holds it together and makes the task easier as well as resulting in more even-sized rings. Other things that can help: • use the tape to make a handle on one side to hold on to • thread the coil onto the blade and cut from the inside out • use the right size blade for the thickness of the wire If you want to see the whole process I’ve got another longer reel that shows it from start to finish. I was just making some more jump rings today for a bracelet and thought I’d share this bit again. And for those who I know will ask, the silver wire I’m using here is 1.8mm, which I think is roughly 13 gauge. 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewelrytips #jewellerytools #jewellerytips #makingjewelry

If you love the relaxing sound of the waves but can’t get to the beach right now, this is for you. 🫶🌊 Have a lovely Tuesday! Kelly x #seasounds #vitaminsea #thallasophile #waveafterwave

A little crystal ball, in a handcrafted silver cage - off to its new home today. I always think these look like bubbles, and they’re great for fiddling with if you like tactile jewellery 🫧 I also made these cages for sea glass marbles too, if you love the style but would prefer something a little more unique 🌊 Just please don’t ask me to share exactly how I make them, as there are some things I would like to keep secret 🤐 I’ll just tell you it’s magic… 🪄 Have a marvellous Monday! Kelly x #jewellerymaker #crystalball #crystalpendant #handmadejewellery

I think I have now tried pretty much every tool, gadget or trick there is for soldering jewellery; and this is my personal favourite! ⚒️🔥 I recently put together a carousel post on ALL the soldering aids I’ve tried, and several of you asked which I rated most. This stuff will probably always be my top choice. Have you ever used it? It’s a non-toxic mouldable putty that can be used to hold your metal components together while you solder them. I find it so quick and easy to use, and it’s ideal for the fiddly and intricate tasks. Although it can provide some heat protection, it’s not so much of a heat-sink as tweezers or metal clamps which I also find helpful as it means I’m less likely to melt smaller parts while waiting for them to reach flow temperature. It can also be re-used several times (apart from any really crispy and charred pieces) and I tend to pull out a small chunk at a time and keep it in a plastic tub, adding a little water after I’ve finished with it to stop it from drying out. It’s not the cheapest option for sure, but I find the ease and convenience of this well worth the cost, and one tub lasts me a long time. Over two years in fact, and I’ve still got plenty left. There are two different versions available but they both work the same way. I got the Wolf Clay from @cooksongold and the ‘Hold-It’ is from @pepetools_usa. The ‘Hold-it’ is the less expensive of the two, and if you’re in the UK then @armitage_tools are also a stockist for Pepetools products and you can find it there. Hope this is helpful! The carousel on soldering aids is a little further down my page if you want to know what else I use. 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewelrytips #jewellerytools #jewellerytips #pepetools

Amethysts for a February birthday 💜 A special pair of silver stud earrings, made for one of my daughter’s best friends. My eldest daughter isn’t into jewellery at all, and doesn’t even want to get her ears pierced. But many of her friends are, and I was only too pleased to create these for one of them. They’re super simple and made with pre-formed bezel cups (because at 5mm I honestly don’t think I could fabricate my own without the help of a microscope now) But they are made, and will be gifted, with love. And that’s what jewellery is all about for me! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #processreel #howitsmade #gemstoneearrings

Hello! I’ve recently updated my profile pic, so thought I’d take the opportunity to share a quick re-introduction on the main grid too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My name is Kelly, and I create handcrafted jewellery from my home studio in Hampshire, on the south coast of the UK. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I also love learning new skills and sharing all the tools, tips and techniques I discover along the way. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If there’s a shorter, quicker, easier or less stressful way of doing anything jewellery-related, then I will seek it out and share it with you! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There’s already a pinned post on both my main feed and my reels tab if you’d like to know a little more about my journey so far and how I started metalsmithing, so I won’t repeat all the details here. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But if you’re new here, welcome! 🙂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And if you’ve been here a while, thank you again for the continued motivation, encouragement and support! 🤗 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The community here is an amazing one and it means the world to me that you’re all interested enough in what I do to follow along and keep me company here. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Wishing you all a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend! ☺️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Kelly x ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #meetthemaker #handmadejewellery

A charm necklace for mermaids! 🌊🧜‍♀️ Sterling silver choker-style chain, with a pebble of aqua-coloured sea glass, a silver cutout heart and an Aqua Chalcedony rose-cut gemstone. 16” and fully hallmarked, fastens with a toggle and loop clasp. It’s available not but not yet in the website so please DM if interested! £220 including tracked postage. I can also ship overseas, but additional costs may apply depending on where you are and the customs rules in place. This particular necklace is one-of-a-kind and I don’t often combine gems and sea glass together, but these two just complimented each other so perfectly! Do you like the style? Let me know if you think I should make more! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #seaglassjewellery #seaglassjewelry #charmnecklace

Should I add a physical gift card option to my website? 🤔 I found these magnetic boxes on the @tinyboxcompany website and ordered a couple to see what they were like, and whether I could engrave my logo on them. If I were to add a physical gift card option to my website (additional cost would potentially be around £8 including the postage) would you like that idea? Would you be more inclined to buy someone a gift card if you had something beautifully wrapped to present to them? Let me know in the comments and if it’s a popular idea I’ll look to order more and make it happen! 🙂 If you want to check out the boxes for yourself they can be found under product code SSFGGC on the Tiny Box website and they have lots of colour options, not just green. You can also get 10% off all your orders with the code WILLOWANDTWIGG10 📦 Kelly xx Ad #jewellerymaker #handmadebusiness #giftboxes #jewelleryboxes #jewellerypackaging

Just bringing your attention to some close-ups of this gorgeous Horse Canyon Moss Agate pendant! 🌿 One of a kind, wrapped in a handcrafted sterling silver setting and paired with an 18/20” adjustable chain. I do love working with these large gemstone cabochons so much, mainly I think because each one is always so unique and I don’t struggle with the tedium of repetition that can come with ‘repeatable’ designs. I’ve been pondering the subject of ‘signature style’ recently, as that’s an upcoming topic for the Business Academy programme I’m following and mentoring on. I have never really felt I have one of my own, possibly because I make so many one-off pieces like this one and my other designs are such an eclectic mix. But then, perhaps that IS my signature style? Standout statement jewellery, showcasing the beautiful tapestries that nature itself forms in rocks and stones. I am strongly drawn to them, that’s for sure. Let me know if you think I have a signature style, and how you’d describe it! Pendant available now, listed on my website 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #statementpendant #handmadejewelleryuk #oneofakindjewellery #uniquejewelry

Some of my favourite ever tips to share are the simplest ones - like this! ⚒️ A few of you asked what I put over my bench peg when setting stones, after seeing me do it in other reels. I keep a piece of soft chamois leather to one side, and use it to cover the peg whenever I’m setting a stone or some sea glass. It not only helps stop the metal from slipping, but prevents the backplate getting any marks or scratches on it. It’s just a regular car-cleaning chamois cloth that I picked up from Halfords, and is held together at the back with a binder clip. Every so often I flip or rotate it so the surface I’m working on is always soft and unmarked, and so far it’s lasted over six years (never washed.) I do also have a ball vice now for more intricate stone setting, but I still prefer to set my bezels by hand like this, with just a curved burnisher. And for anyone wondering, the bezel strip on this piece is 0.3mm fine silver; which is malleable enough to set by hand and still strong enough to secure even the largest cabochons in my collection. I rarely use anything thicker or of a heavier gauge than that, but if I did I’d probably use my LX pendant motor with hammer handpiece to set it! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #jewelrytips #jewellerytips #jewellerytools

Little droplets of sea glass, wrapped in fine silver - to match the current weather outside! 💧☔️🌧️ Is it raining where you are too? It’s really dark and drizzly here on the south coast of the UK, and apparently it’s now rained every single day of the year so far. Don’t think I’ve ever felt such longing for Spring! This trio of pendants are available now, featuring beautifully frosted pebbles of aqua sea glass wrapped in a band of fine silver and paired with an 18” chain. They’re not on the website yet as it’s too dull to take photos today, so DM me if you’d like one. £68 each including P&P. Hope you’re having a super Sunday, whatever the weather! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #seaglass #seaglassjewellery #iloveseaglass #handmadeintheuk

What’s your go-to soldering flux for jewellery? 🔥 I’ve tried a fair few different types over the years and this is my new favourite! It’s Smart Flux by @pepetools_usa and you can use it for soldering gold, silver, and all non-ferrous metals. It provides excellent firecoat and firescale protection, but also helps prevent firestain - which is my nemesis! 😬 I used to use Firescoff to try and save my silver from this; it’s a ceramic coating that you spray on, but it’s REALLY expensive. This stuff works in pretty much the same way and is much better value for money. You can get a whole litre for less than half the price of a 120ml bottle of Firescoff. I’ve been using it for a while now and think it’s brilliant. It can be applied to specific areas with a brush just like any other liquid flux, but works even better when you use it in a fine-mist spray bottle as a full coating. To use it this way; • Ensure the piece to be soldered is clean from debris. • Heat the metal briefly with your torch and apply Smart Flux until a fine layer is achieved and all water dissolves. • A coat over the entire workpiece is necessary for optimum performance, no bare metal should be visible. • Heat until the flux dries evenly, taking care not overheat the flux and turn it brown. • You’re aiming for an even white coating on the entire piece. • Add your solder if you haven’t already, and continue working until it flows. Then after you pickle your piece it will come out beautifully clean and shiny! 🤩 You can buy this flux direct from @pepetools_usa but if you’re in the UK then @armitage_tools and @thecuriousgem also stock it. Hope this is helpful! Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewelrytips #jewellerytools #jewellerytips #pepetools

New mallets, sent to me by the super-lovely Laura from @tideandthistlestudio 🤩⚒️ Laura and I met in person last year on the first Jewellers’ Retreat at @jewellersacademybrighton and hit it off right away. It was such a wonderful week and I absolutely loved being in the company of so many other amazing artists; talking about jewellery, sharing ideas and generally just supporting and motivating each other. Running a small business on your own can be isolating at times, but finding your community makes such a massive difference. Whether it’s in person or simply online, connecting with people who will help and encourage you means so much, and this kind gesture of Laura’s will serve as a reminder of that for me for many years to come. ☺️ Have a fabulous Friday, Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadejewelleryuk #jewellerytools #communityovercompetition

Do you love a love-heart? 🩷 I’ve never really been a fan of the bright red variety, especially in jewellery, but I do like a pink and sparkly one! ✨ Here’s the finished pendant I was making yesterday, now set and polished. It’s a Lepidolite stone, which is a rare lithium-rich mica mineral. I’ve given the setting a soft satin finish, as that’s what’s the majority of you had voted for by the time I reached that stage yesterday, but I’ve added a bright shine to the bezel border for contrast. If you’re looking for a last-minute Valentine’s gift and want something truly unique, then this could be perfect choice. It’s already up on the website if you’d like more details, and all ready to post; but if you do need it on or by the 14th Feb you’ll need to be quick! 🙃📦💕 Kelly x *NOW SOLD* thank you so much! 🫶 #jewellerymaker #handmadejewelleryuk #gemstonependant #heartnecklace

Let me know if you’d like to snag this for your Valentine. There’s still time. Just… 🩷🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #handmadejewelleryuk #gemstonependant #heartnecklace

Have you ever used these before? Are they any good? 🤔 You know I love any excuse to try out new tools in the workshop and these arrived today… 📦 This is not an Ad, I’ve chosen to buy these because I was trying to find something to replace sanding sticks in my finishing process. Some of you will probably not believe me when I say I’ve never tried them before, but I’ve always been a fan of more manual methods when it comes to sanding! But I’ve seen lots of other jewellers using them and thought it was time I had a go too. They look pretty simple and if they speed up the process, that’s always a big win. Serious question though - do I just use them straight as they are or do they need to be prepped first, and what’s the best way to remove the paper from the roll once worn? 😳 Any advice welcome, and I’ll come back and share my thoughts when I’ve tried them out! 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #jewellerytools #jewelrytools #polishingjewellery

A little something special for your Sunday afternoon! 🌊 I don’t often add a patina or a satin finish to my sea glass pieces, but perhaps I should do it more often as I love the shadows it creates. This pendant features a large pebble of frosty aqua-coloured sea glass, in a handcrafted bezel with a little granulation for interest. It’s up on the website now if you’d like a closer look, as is the lovely Horse Canyon Moss Agate pendant I shared last week. Cloudy days are great for taking photos, so I made the most of the break in the rain today to finally get a few pieces listed! 🙃 Hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend, Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #seaglassjewellery #seaglasspendant #handmadejewellery #seaglass

This is officially the first piece of sea glass jewellery that I’ve made for my book! ⚒️🌊 It’s such a surreal feeling, watching something come to life in slow stages, knowing the process will be forever preserved in print. I’ve also come to the conclusion that being self-taught for most of my jewellery-making journey is an asset here. I have learned so much through trial and error over the years, and I don’t think there’s a tool, tip, trick or technique I haven’t tried when it comes to sea glass. This means I can include a wider variety of different approaches; sharing what works well, and what does not, what to try and what to avoid. It’s certainly not easy, trying to categorise this knowledge and commit it to paragraphs in ways that make sense, but I’m enjoying the challenge. Question is, what shall I do with the jewellery I create along the way? Do I keep it all, or perhaps sell it as a collection once the book is published? 🤔 Let me know what you think! Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #seaglassjewellery #jewellerymaking #jewellerytools #whatsonmybench

My absolute favourite polish for that final shine is the orange ‘super-finishing’ compound by Luxor ✨ I use it with a variety of different cotton or felt mops, depending on what it is I’m polishing, and it never fails to surprise me with the difference it makes at the very end. For those who are interested, prior to reaching this stage I will also use a variety of 3M radial discs, rubber and silicone burrs and sanding sticks. The exact combination or order will depend on what I’m making, what happens to be in reach and maybe even what mood I’m in at the time - but I always end with the Luxor. This is not a sponsored post, I just genuinely really love the stuff! 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #jewelerytips #jewellerymakingtips #jewellerytools #jwelrypolishing

Busy at the bench in a different kind of way this week! 📷⚒️ Turns out taking still photographs of your making process is WAY harder than editing video footage of it… But I’m getting there, thanks to the wonders of smart phones and Bluetooth! 🙌 The challenge for me is not making the jewellery or taking the photos, but trying to do both together at the same time. I know exactly what shots I need and the angles I want to capture them from, and can see it all so clearly in my head… But having only one pair of hands means I’m relying on a timer, which slows everything down somewhat. If I could master the Siri voice control on my iPhone that might be the answer, but so far it’s not listening properly and doesn’t want to work with the Canon Connect app. If anyone knows how to do that, please let me know! 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #whatsonyourbench #canoncamera #stillphotography

A beautiful Horse Canyon Moss Agate and Sterling silver pendant ✨ Available now 🌿 This stone has the most amazing swirly green banding so I took out as much of the backplate as possible to show it off, as the underside is every bit as lovely as the front. I love making pendants from these stones, and every time I do I find myself in awe of the fact they are formed from natural rocks. Mother Nature is amazing. It’s up on the website now if you’d like a closer look, or are perhaps searching for a Valentine’s gift. It’s ‘almost’ heart shaped… 🙃 Kelly xx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jewellerymaker #artisanjewellery #statementpendant #oneofakindjewellery #mossagatejewellery

I’ve made my first few pieces in bronze! I thought I’d begin by replicating a few of my existing designs or things I’ve done before so I can compare. It’s still very early days and there’s a lot of learning and experimenting to do yet, but I absolutely loved the process. Being able to create freely without the nagging stress about cost that I have recently come to feel when working with silver, was joyful. Bronze is definitely a lot harder and less malleable, and requires more annealing and a stronger pickle solution to remove the inevitable copper blush that forms when it’s heated, but oh my what a colour. It has a really beautiful golden glow with pinkish undertones not unlike rose gold - I’ve often heard it likened to 14k and I can see why. It sits somewhere between copper and brass in colour and I adore it already! The leaf pendant has a soft satin finish that is as tactile as it is pretty, and I’m thinking of experimenting further with patinas; I’d love to see a green verdigris on this. I can’t deep-dive into this new project for a few weeks now as I have other things that take priority and need to be finished first, but I will keep tinkering in the background. For now I just wanted to give you all a little preview into the future of what may come! 🙃 Have a wonderful weekend, Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #basemetals #bronze #handmadejewellery

Silver prices are still skyrocketing, and gold is even further out of reach, so I’m trying something new. There are so many beautiful metals out there, and the value of jewellery should also be attributed to the skill of the maker and not just the value of the material it’s made from. It’s too early for me to know if this will work out or not, but the idea of being able to experiment and try out some new designs again is exciting. I just want to keep actively smithing because I really love sawing, hammering and forging metals. There will always be challenges when you run your own business, and this is how I’m choosing to face this one. I’m not going to stop working with silver, but I’m also going back to the Bronze Age for a while… I’ll keep you posted on how it goes! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #basemetals #bronze #handmadejewellery

One of the loveliest sea glass bracelets I’ve ever made! 🌊 I have only ever made three of these, and this one is now likely to be the third and final. The amount of silver involved and the time it takes to create means I won’t keep them in stock anymore. I could of course make one to order in future, but when I checked the price alongside the current cost of silver it came out much higher than it’s currently listed for and that is likely to rise weekly from now on. So I’m going to leave her as she is, and stop checking. She’s up on my website again if you love the idea of owning a jingly jangly charm bracelet with calm and cool sea glass tones and strong mermaid vibes! 🧜‍♀️ Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #handmadejewelleryuk #seaglassbracelet #seaglassjewellery

Why I keep glass jars in my pickle pot! ⚒️ For those of you who aren’t jewellers, pickle solution is used to clean up metal and remove any firescale (discolouring) from pieces after they have been heated or soldered. It works best when warm, so it’s often kept in a slow cooker or crock pot. I use glass jars in mine to contain the actual pickle solution itself so it doesn’t eat through the glaze of the main ceramic dish and damage the metal underneath. I then surround these jars with water to help the heat transfer. And the reason I have two jars, is simply because there was space for two! This 3.5L pot was an upgrade last year after my trusty old 1:5L one burned out through regular use. As it’s bigger I can fit a second jar in there, so I separate out different types of metal or different sized components if I want to - especially since copper and brass tend to turn the pickle blue or green much faster. Another advantage of the glass jars is it means the pickle solution itself is less likely to get contaminated with any bits of rust or debris that often come off the metal rim around the lid as it corrodes over time. It’s a system that works really well; just be careful to always allow the liquids to heat up and cool down gradually as any sudden temp changes can cause the glass to crack. Hope that answers the main questions on this topic, but if you have any more please just ask! 🙃 Kelly x #jewellerymaker #makingjewelry #jewellerymakingtips #jewelrymakingtips #jewelrytips

A beautiful Garden Moss Agate for you this evening! 🌿💕 This stunning stone has the most gorgeous pale lilac hues, with fleckles of green and gold. It’s just gone up on my website now, and is looking for a new home. Please forgive the slightly shadowy photos; I had to make do with a window spot this afternoon as the weather has been awful and I couldn’t get outside. I do have a light box, but there’s something about natural light that just showcases these stones better I think. Even on the dullest of rainy days! 🙃 Hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend, Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #handmadejewellery #oneofakindjewellery #statementpendant #mossagatenecklace

An updated tour of my workspace whilst it’s still tidy! ⚒️ Several of you said you’d like to see a full tour of my workspace so I recorded a new one this afternoon, before everything gets all cluttered up again. Which it will! I tried to keep it under three minutes, which doesn’t leave much time to go into detail so I apologise if it seems rather swift or I talk too quickly. If you have any questions about any of my tools or the setup I have for using them, then please just ask. And if you’d like to see any of these sections in a bit more detail let me know in the comments and I can make some more detailed reels of those areas individually. Lastly, for anyone wanting to know exactly where I got any of my tools or storage solutions from, do take a look at the ‘Tool Links’ highlights beneath my bio, as I already have shortcuts to most things included there! 🙃 Kelly xx #jewellerymaker #behindthescenes #whereiwork #mystudio #jewelryworkshop

Be careful when storing solder. Even though I’d labeled mine, I somehow put the wrong strip back in the wrong bag and ended up adding a load of extra-easy solder pallions in with my ready-cut hard solder. Thankfully the hard solder only had a relatively small number left in it, and I don’t use extra-easy anymore anyway, but I still have a load of pallions that I now can’t use because I can’t tell what they are. Not recommended! 😬 How do you label yours? Me thinks I might need a better system! 🫣 [For any non-jewellers wondering what I’m on about, different solder types flow at different temperatures so you can have multiple joins on one piece. You don’t want to be mixing them up.] Kelly x #jewellerymaker #jewellerymaking #jewellerytips #jewelrytips