jewelry, relationships, the like...

hi!
i got some requests from readers to provide a list of jewelry tools. the tools are different depending on what type of jewelry you want to design. and i am by no means an expert. but some basic tools and supplies that you would need for making necklaces with beads or pendants or wire wrapping are:

pliers: needle nose, flat and round
wire cutters
beading wire
crimp beads
jump rings
clasps
silver wire

the type of jewelry design i am moving toward requires A LOT of tools and supplies and they are not cheap. so i've been putting a little money toward the list of supplies slowly. there are so many but here's a list of some basics. this is for metal smithing:

pliers
saw
saw blades
stick of Bur-Life®
assortment of files
hammer with rounded top
raw hide mallet
bench pin
variety of sandpaper
shears
hole punch for metal
sheet metal
liver of sulfer

you can buy materials at riogrande.com
if you have any questions regarding tools or supplies you can email at kelderkin@hotmail.com

there really are a ton of tools but with that list you can cut metal shapes out, hammer them, oxidize them with the liver of sulfer, sand them, file them down. use the hole punch to make a hole for a jump ring and throw it on a chain with your pliers! sounds easy! it is actually. and pretty fun.

for what i want to do, i need a torch and a tank so i can solder. i want to be able to do stone settings and more elaborate pieces. right now i can only do that at class. there are two big ticket items that equal around $700 and then a gagillion other smaller tools and supplies. it'll happen!

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on another note. valentines day is coming up! i have no clue what i am going to do for chris yet. something cute and inexpensive. gotta get creative! maybe a picnic if the weather is nice! this picture was taken at our first picnic. the unicorns you ask? click here!

i signed us up for this online relationship course by robert ohotto. it's only $15, very worth it to me. i really think relationships are extremely important. and i want mine to be as healthy and happy as it can be. i never had a healthy relationship to look up to as a kid, so i'm trying as an adult to learn and grow as much as possible. if i get married and have kids one day, i want to be able to show them the most amazing example of a loving relationship possible. here is a link to the website where the course is, in case you are interested.


i think sometime soon i'll do a post about how we met and our beginning. i love how we started out and i love where we are going!

hope you are having a great day! do you have anything planned for vday yet???