Making - creating - jewellery is really tricky.
Not because it's hard to do once you understand the basic rules of heat control and the dark arts of soldering, polishing, etching designs using chemicals and heat onto silver, understanding how to use a contoured hammer, carving, engraving, wire wrapping, playing with patinas and setting stones.
It's because we (the people who can do it) make it look easy.
I started to make jewellery because I couldn't find rings (rings are my addiction) that I liked. They were either too twee or too traditional. I wanted to make and wear things that were unique, experimental and made me feel good when I was wearing them.
I understand that we've all gotten comfortable with beautiful things available to us at affordable prices, but what makes me happy when i'm creating is making beautiful odd things. I make jewellery that is comfortable to wear (I spend a lot of time refining and making jewellery super smooth) and it's my hope that you love what I make too.
I've a few things that I'm going to be phasing out...soldering a textured ring pendant onto a chain takes knowledge of heat control and how not to melt that delicate chain that was made by a machine.....but I won't be making something like this any more because it doesn't bring me joy to make it.
It should make me happy - creating a perfect circle, giving it a consistent texture with a polished hammer, soldering on the jump rings that attach it to the delicate machine made chain without melting anything...
But I have to stretch myself as a creator. I'll be working on making more intricate pieces like this.
I hope that you'll come with me as I work my way through.