Kate Ferrant Richbourg - Metalsmithing Made Easy: A Practical Guide to Cold Connections, Simple Soldering, Stone Setting, and More!

In order to make the trickier bits easier, this icon appears at points needing a little more explanation, clarification, or just a nudge about the project or technique youre learning.

Certain projects require more specialized or advanced tools. I will introduce these as they are needed throughout the book with the icon at left.

When I was little, I was charmed by the idea of creating samplers. I read stories of little girls in days gone by exercising their nimble fingers on crazy-quilt blocks or cross-stitch samplers. Even at an early age I was attracted to this idea of repetitions and variations, and I practiced my motor skills making doll clothes and building villages with Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys on the living room floor.

Enter the Sampler part of this book. These are your warmups and practice pieces. They offer a chance to learn basic techniques and try your hand at different methods. If you screw up or things dont quite turn out the way you planned, who cares? Its all part of the learning process. No one is judging you, and no grades are given. Keep working away, and I promise the next attempt will look better.

One of the roadblocks that I encounter with students (from beginner to intermediate) is the fear of messing up their piece simply due to the fact that they have not practiced the skill theyre using to make a finished piece of jewelry. One wrong move with the saw or lingering too long with the torch can ruin a piece. Thats no fun. Its like going out to the pitchers mound without a warmup. No one throws a perfect game without getting a few wild practice pitches out of the way in the bullpen.

The samplers intentionally use inexpensive materials, so all you invest is your time and a small cost. Once youve worked your way through them and are happy with your results, youll be ready to tackle the jewelry projects at the end of the book with confidence and gusto. Each project refers to the Sampler skills used, so you can check back to the exact one if needed.

Ive said it before and Ill say it again: Whether you have a large studio or a cozy corner in which to practice your craft, you have enough room to proudly proclaim your metalworking space. I hear students say all the time that they "just need to find a place to work" or "just need a little more space." But viewing tight space as a shortage can be limiting; instead, view it as a challenge. Youre creative; look at the fantastic jewelry that you make already! So get creative about your space.

Its time to strike while the iron is hot (pun intended). Look up from this page and check out your surroundings. Do you have an extra bedroom where you could work? A closet? A coffee table in front of you in the living room? If your dream space needs refurbishing, make a date with yourself and mark it on the calendar. Title it "My Studio Redo" and get busy. Tidy up a corner of that bedroom and add a desk and shelf and some special inspirational items. Ditch half the stuff you dont use in that closet, then pack your tools in a rolling suitcase so they are all together and ready to travel out to the dining table for a work session. Coffee table? You could replace it with a chest or a version with drawers, so your tools can fit right in there and pop out when youre ready to create. Whatever you come up with, make it yours and be proud of it!