Putting a Vintage Tool to New Use
This week, I received a very special vintage tool! My brother, who has been so supportive since even before the beginning of my jewelry career, sent me an amazing cast iron vise! I LOVE all of the new techniques I’m discovering with this vintage find! Polishing, filing, sanding, setting stones, shaping silver plates, and so…
Add Color to Your Silver Jewelry with Gilder’s Paste
Need to add a little pizzaz to your silver jewelry? I suggest you check out Gilder’s Paste! It’s a fantastic product newly out on the market, available in many beautiful hues, blues, greens, deep rich coral reds, even a knock you out orange among many others! Gilder’s Paste is an oil-based product that you can…
How to Mold Antique Buttons for Jewelry Components
A beautiful way to create unique components for your jewelry is to mold designs from antique buttons! Thanks to my husband’s mother and grandmother, I now have a stash of fabulous old buttons – some dating back to the early 1900’s! Lately I’ve been obsessed with making rings, earrings, and pendants by using the designs…
Create a Unique Dimpled Design in a Silver Ring
Want to spice up your stacking rings? This technique is simple, easy to do, and cheap to accomplish (which is always a plus!) In today’s vid, I go over how to drill little dimples and divots into a basic 8mm sterling silver stacking ring. [content_box_paper_white width=”80%”] [/content_box_paper_white] A dremel is a pretty inexpensive tool to…
How to Make a Simple Stacking Ring
I love stacking rings! And the most wonderful thing – with a few simple tools and a little know-how, they’re so simple to create! In this tutorial, I go through each step I take to create a simple silver stacking ring! Check it out here… You can download my ring sizing tool that I talk…
Tour My New Studio + Tips for Yours
After pulling off some Oscar-winning sweet talk to my husband, he came to the wonderful conclusion it’d be a great idea to move my studio from the spare room (now the baby nursery) into our living room. And so today – after all the re-arranging – I wanted to give you a quick tour of…
Reworking the Studio + My New Jeweler’s Bench
Check out my new jeweler’s bench! OK, so technically it’s not new, it’s old. Super cool old! From what research I’ve done so far, it’s very early 1900s… possibly late 1800s… I can’t verify that yet. But I’m trying! I’ll post more on my quick restoration of my new beauty as I go! Right now,…
How to Set a Stone Cabochon with a Bezel Roller
Working on setting some fabulous stone cabochons in sterling and fine silver! In this video I’m using my bezel roller (technically it’s called a bezel roller but I’ve been calling it a bezel pusher in this video haha) to help me set this beautiful rhodochrosite cabochon in a fine silver bezel with sterling silver wire…
Oxidizing Your Silver Jewelry
A quick and easy way to turn your sterling and fine silver jewelry into fantastic pieces with character and depth is to oxidize your silver! I love the rustic, organic look that oxidation gives my silver. It makes my jewelry stand out from the others and really brings out the unique, handmade qualities that I…
New Jewelry Making Supplies
I just got in a new shipment of jewelry making supplies today! I love opening up a new box of supplies that I practically tackle the poor postman when he comes to my door ;) Check out what I’m so excited to open today… If you don’t have a ring mandrel, I suggest you get…
How To Sand Your Dry PMC
I’m kiln prepping some darling little silver puppy nose prints I created out of PMC3! In this video, I share my top 3 key tips that you should know when you’re sanding down dried precious metal clays… easy as 1,2,3…go check em out! Have a sanding or prepping tip to share? Leave a comment below…
Soldering Silver Jump Rings
Check it out! Front row seat to watch me solder sterling silver jump rings onto my charms! Wow I’m such a piro ;) If you’re new to soldering, or you’ve never even tried it… you have GOT to give it a whirl! My jewelry sales jumped TREMENDOUSLY the moment I got brave enough to light…
Big Craft Stores
You don’t have to be a craft nut to enjoy the big retail craft stores. But if you’re a jewelry nut like me, you just may LOVE wandering the isles! I can find some awesome – and some unexpected- supplies at the big chains… What are your newest supplies you’re excited to try out? What…
How to Burnish Fired PMC3
If you are working with PMC – precious metal clay – you’ll need to burnish your piece after it’s cooled from your kiln. In this video, watch me burnish a cute little heart I created from PMC3 that I’ll turn into a darling little initial charm later on! To burnish your silver after it is…
Create Jump Rings with a Crochet Hook
There are many ways to create jump rings. You can purchase tools that will spin wire for you, which is wonderful! But if you’re just starting out and you need an inexpensive “mandrel” for your little jump rings… find yourself a crochet hook! Watch how I do it in this vid!
Toggle Clasps for Earrings
Find yourself with a few extra toggle clasps around? Or perhaps have a decorative set of toggle clasps you can’t find a design for yet? Create some earrings! Toggle clasps are excellent for use on necklaces. The weight of a necklace (and gravity) helps keep the necklace in place. But have you ever noticed that when toggle…
How to Solder Sterling Silver Earring Posts With Solder Paste (Tutorial Video)
If you’re brand new to soldering, maybe you haven’t even tried it out yet… that’s ok! There’s always time to start something new! Begin a new adventure by stepping into the world of soldering! I’ll help you get your toes wet with my FREE Book: Tools + Supplies for the Beginner. In this free book…
10 Tools You Need to Solder Sterling Silver
The Top 10 Tools You Need to Solder Sterling Silver! (updated) Soldering sterling silver is so much fun! Plus you’ll find you can create much more unique jewelry, which will make your handcrafted pieces stand out from the others! 1. Soldering Board Setting up for soldering requires a heat-safe surface. Safety is key… make sure…
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