Someone asked if I would write a tutorial on one of my latest bracelets, which I’m happy to do, but just for jollies I thought that this time I’d try to video my process.
I’ve never made a video of myself before and so I’ve never really heard my own voice other than on one or two voice mails so it was quite a shock really. I could definitely hear some american in my accent and it kind of surprised me. Perhaps not a lot of american, and some of you might not even notice it, but it was something I wasn’t expecting and it took a little while for me to realize that this is my voice now. Some of you may know that I come from England, but as I’ve been here for 28 years now I suppose it’s not surprising that the native tongue has mingled with my own. At times I think the cross contamination makes me sound a little Australian perhaps, but god knows I don’t want to offend any Australians out there. It’s bad enough to think I’ve messed up the whole American thing, let alone good old England’s thing.
Will they ever let me back…
Another thing I noticed and which I will warn you about now, is that I ramble. This shouldn’t really surprise anyone who’s ever read one of my blog posts, but it kind of surprised me listening back to it although I do seem to remember now that Peter and the kids have made it a long-suffering point to complete my thoughts.
And there I was just thinking they’d been brought up wrong.
I’m not proud of it. I tried several times whilst making this to get my head into straightforward explanation mode, but until I have some kind of remedial, how to talk in complete sentences, lessons I think I’m stuck with it for now.
Sorry.
It’s like I’m living in a dream land all on my own. All the possible words I could use and calls to action are just up there in my head bumping into each other. It’s like the sentences are completely unsure of whether they should even make the effort to get out of my mouth.
“Shall I go now? No, wait for it, wait for it… Now!
Nope too soon. Call it off. Abort. Abort…”
Really it’s not cool and so unless you think it’s not going to bother you, just save yourself now.
And lastly. What a nightmare!
Making this bracelet took me three times as long as it normally would, which I think is obviously because I was trying to explain my process along the way. (I use the term explain loosely). Also, and this is a huge, good grief!, moment, How clumsy can I possibly be? I think I dropped everything all of the time and the whole sawing using the vise fiasco really should have been my, walk away and do something completely different now! For heavens sake leave it!, clue.
But no. I slogged on and not only did I slog on, I decided to keep it all here, for you, so that those of you just beginning to make jewelry can see just how frustrating it can be even when you’ve been doing it for ages. Today I could probably make the same bracelet again and everything would go smoothly.
But yesterday was another story.
I don’t want to make excuses, but I do think I’ll have to practice if I ever decide to make another video because there has to be a way you can make and talk at the same time, and not only make and talk, but make sure that everything you do is actually in the line of the camera. Yes, I fell foul of that once or twice also. And why not? Everything else was hit and miss…
I also decided to leave everything in, minute by painful minute, because some of you might like to watch it that way. It’s broken up into snippets so that if, after reading this, you have decided to take your chances you can take frequent breaks.
…from which you may decide never to return.
You have been warned…
–
And so, without further ado, this is the piece I’m going to be working on.
It is also the piece which, from now on, shall be referred to as
The bracelet from hell.
–
Disclaimer.
Please remember that I am just a somebody muddling through. This is the way I do things. I am a wing it, try it, do it wrong, try again, sort of person. I do not maintain that I know what I am doing, only that I am trying to do it. Please feel free to enjoy my discoveries but follow your own research for professional advice and to perfect your skills. Above all, enjoy. Life is short.
Also.
The links to the tools used are only examples of the ones I use. There are many different types available of the same tools, some better than others. If you are beginning your jewelry adventure, please don’t just buy the ones in the links here. Research until you feel comfortable that you are purchasing the right tool for you.
–
You will need:
Medium sized cabochon. I got mine from HELGASHOP on Etsy – HERE
2 X 2″ lengths of sterling silver 5mm x 2mm rectangular wire – Rio Grande #100552
1.5″ piece of sterling silver extension chain – Rio Grande #632812B
Lobster claw – Rio Grande #613042
Bezel wire
Fine silver sheet
Small length of 16 gauge sterling silver round wire
Small length of 18 gauge sterling silver round wire.
–
NOTE: If you watch the videos here and not click over to youtube you will be able to see all of my notes and links. I don’t have any descriptions etc., on youtube.
Making the bezel collar.
Narrow bezel wire – Rio Grande #101003
Medium bezel wire – Rio Grande #101051
Wide bezel wire – Rio Grande #101076
–
Working out the design.
Straight lining tool from 2moontools – HERE
–
Coming together for soldering.
–
Initial soldering.
Contenti soldering chips – HERE
Contenti siver solder wire – HERE
–
Continuing working out the design.
This is a very short one because Peter phoned me half way through. That man. I tell you.
–
Taking it back to solder.
This is the one where I like to use the word burn instead of melt. It’s just a thing I do…
Note: When I’m soldering the first leaf onto the stem I mention that the key to soldering is that all of the pieces of silver need to be at the same temperature for it to work. In this case I meant only the stem and the leaf because those were the only two pieces to be soldered together at that time. Had I wanted to solder down the tip of the leaf to the back plate, I would have made sure that the tip was in place and touching the back plate and I would have brought the back plate up to the same temperature also. This would have probably involved concentrating my flame more on the back plate in the beginning as that would have taken longer to reach the soldering temperature than the leaf and stem would. In this way, by paying attention to the temperature of all the pieces around the area you’re working on, you can also avoid undoing previously soldered pieces. If you keep an eye on it you can tell when a piece of solder is about to flow or when a piece of silver is about to melt. There are products that you can buy to coat previously soldered areas that can help prevent solder from reflowing, but it’s not needed in this piece if you’re careful.
–
Cutting out the back plate.
–
Cleaning up.
Contenti snap on sanding discs and mandrel – HERE – I tend to only use the coarse discs because I’m really impatient. Not necessarily a good thing.
Contenti abrasive discs – HERE
–
Finishing up the setting.
Sticky wax – Rio Grande #700187 – Warning. This is a lot of sticky wax. You won’t need to buy any ever again.
–
Finishing up the setting – continued.
–
Cutting down the bezel collar.
NOTE: It’s not a dapping punch thing it’s from my hole punch making Pepe thing. Also it’s not a ball bur, it’s a cup bur.
–
As this part of the bracelet is complete I’m going to stop here. I don’t want to push my luck as there are loads of videos in this post and I don’t know if WordPress has a limit. I’ll show you the next part of the bracelet in the next post.
I hope it hasn’t been too boring. I can assure you that it gets a lot more painful…
–
MORE NOTES:
The two types of shears I use are both from Rio Grande – #111244 – #111289
–
CLICK for part two HERE
-.
Your videos aren’t playing! I love your jewelry and your process, frustrations, detours and all sound exactly like mine!
Cool, thanks. I thought I could just upload them to my blog without publishing them on youtube, but I guess not. I didn’t want people other than my blog people seeing them in case I get laughed out of the internet 😉 I’ll try again. Thanks. Let me know will you?
Is it working now Karin?
Yup, works, watched the first one! Didn’t expect you to sound so girly… charming, English accent! 🙂 Couldn’t stop watching just because of that… Didn’t have time to watch the rest (yet) but I love the bracelet!
I know. I’ve always hated my voice. I’d only heard it once or twice, as I mentioned, but always thought it was a bit high pitched and flakey. The whole stern parenting thing never worked out well because of it either lol
Let me just say, Thank you! This type of video is such an amazing learning tool! Most people have no idea how much time, energy, planning, tools, money, emotion and love that goes into making any piece of jewelry let alone one as complex as this. I know I didn’t and I have been making jewelry for a while. I love how you have taken us from start to finish and explained the how’s and why’s of the design process. I have been a huge fan of your designs for a long time and I feel like I’ve just gotten the chance to know you a little better. You rock!!!
Angi Mullis
[email protected]
Thanks Angela 🙂
I have been watching them on YouTube. Thank you for taking the time to do them and for making them so entertaining in the process!
Thanks 🙂 I tried to keep them off youtube because I wasn’t sure that the whole world could take my fumbling, but turned out I had to. I’ve just finished numbering them all so I hop you were able to watch them in order.
Thank you so much for making these videos! I love your work and seeing your thought process and methods are so beneficial. I appreciate you giving your time to make these.
Thank you Phyllis. I can’t believe how much I messed up at the end, but I think that’s beneficial sometimes also 😉
Oh my goodness, thank you so much! I’m on #6, and I’m going to watch them all because they are amazingly genuine and thoughtful, and you don’t leave anything out. It is lovely to hear your thought process out loud, and to watch you make a bezel (so quickly!) and make decisions on the fly. I truly appreciate the time it took for you to film and upload all of these. They are treasures, especially to a beginner like me who has just a few things under her belt. Your pieces are lovely, and I just wanted to give you a big THANK YOU! All the best to you 🙂
Thank you Janice, that means a lot to me. I had people just like you in mind when I made them. They do get a bit messy in the second lot though 😉
Love your videos! Love your jewelry! I have learned a lot from you. Thank you for making them. You make the soldering process look so easy. I have the same soldering torch set up but I can’t seem to get past the fear of using it. Hope to see more from you.
Thanks Wendy. You just have to dive in, but not with a large torch head because if you’re like me that will scare the life out of you. Start with your #0 and ease yourself up 🙂
What a lot of work you have put into posting these wonderful detailed videos, instructions and product links–thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience, and in such a helpful way. There are many ways to do virtually everything–the more input, the better! (LOVE the bracelet by the way–that heavy-gauge flat wire band is a great addition.)
Thanks Keirsten
I recall a professor saying once in one of my courses that no novelist ever focused on people actually working. That must be because depicting—and following—work is WORK. Who wants to be subjected to that? Well, I, for one (among many others, I see) thank you for letting me come along and follow how you think and solve problems while you’re working. So much the better, of course, that you get to do creative work; but even before having seen you in action, I just knew how much work is involved, so I truly appreciate that you took on the added chore of trying to address an audience while you tackled the bracelet.
My kind of bracelet, too! I really don’t plan to ever take up using a “real” torch in my unsuitable quarters, but I’m in awe of how dextrous you are, flame in one hand and all the fiddly bits managed with the other. (Let alone a camera!) And I always learn something anyway from you about tools or just “minor” details, which are never that minor to us novices.
Incidentally, I’ll be d*’d if there’s even an ounce of American in your accent.
🙂 The more I listened to it the more I unheard it.
Thanks for that Gale. I enjoyed making it, I just wasn’t sure that it wouldn’t bore the hell out of everyone. Didn’t want to do that lol That’s the way I learn though. By working it through and practicing through sheer bloody mindedness.
Hello 🙂 Top marks to you for these; they are brilliant. Thank you. I pm’d you this evening, because when I tried to leave a comment this morning I wasn’t able to. I think that may have been the fault of my rubbish internet connection. Anyway, I think you have an enviably beautiful speaking voice. Admittedly *slightly* more Nicole Kidman than Isabelle Rossellinni, but not American in accent at all, Hearing ‘Darn’ in an English accent is delightful!!
I have wanted to know how you managed to keep the embellishments from soldering to the bezels for a very long time, and now I understand. Thank you, sweetie. x
ps. This girl has used those titanium strips – https://cinnamonjewellery.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=titanium and I spent almost an entire day fighting with my new mitre jig trying to make equilateral triangles. I bolted it into my clamp in the end, and only do one piece of wire at a time, and haven’t braved SAWING with it yet.
Thank you! What pressure do you set for the regulator?
Hi Wendy. I turn mine to 5.
Okay, thanks again. I just can’t get enough of watching your videos, Today I used the sanding disc on my Foredom to make the bezel shorter to fit the stone better, and it works great, even though you said you might want to turn away LOL 🙂 I hope to see more of your videos..
Thank you so much Wendy 🙂 I wasn’t completely convinced that I should put all that out there 😉 Saying that, however, I enjoyed it also and am just now writing another post including some more (not quite as many lol) videos of my latest necklace. Again, I’m not sure if they’ll help anyone, but I’ve done it anyway… oh well.
You are an angel! Thank you so much!
😉