Jewelry News with Corkie Bolton is apparently now a thing… at least for this one episode 😂 Truly not sponsored by anyone mentioned in this video. I just spend too much time lurking jewelry websites and thought some of you might find this... more
Tips for sand casting prong settings from @materialmaya. “For those who want to improve their sand casting and be able to cast more complex designs: start with a core kit. I 3D‑printed mine, but really recommend the one from Craig Dabler (easy to... more
You CAN be kind and respectful on the internet. ☺️ I know probably not a lot of people are even going to see this video because it’s not a jewelry-making tip and it probably won’t get a lot of likes, but I think for me I just have to put it out... more
Here’s a soldering tip from @alexmalexdesigns for heating a piece from below: Cut a small piece of steel mesh and place it on the end of your charcoal block. She uses a heavy coin to weigh down the mesh — this is key, as the last thing you want is... more
I’m so grateful for comments like this because they help make these tips more useful for everyone. A community member correctly pointed out that this jig is not exactly left-handed friendly, and as a lefty mom, my daughter immediately came to mind.... more
Two charcoal blocks = a simple way to get heat underneath your work. 🔥 I’m soldering a thin bezel onto a large back plate with castings — and propping the piece between two charcoal blocks lets me direct heat from below so I’m not risking melting... more
Love this twisted wire tip from @Beadstoflame 🔥 If you want to make twisted wire to use as a decorative rim around a bezel, start by twisting the end of your wire just enough so your drill chuck has something to grip. Secure the other end, either... more
Sponsored educational post with @halsteadjewelrysupplies ✨ Today I’m showing a tube bezel setting tool, which is one of those super specific bench tools that can be really helpful in the right situation. You can absolutely set a tube setting with a... more
Mail Time Monday recap 💌 this week I covered: The limited edition Metalsmith Society Panther Retro Ringer shirts are only available through Thursday, April 30th. I also talked about @liz_kantner Stay Gold Collective, a great community for... more
Tube settings + curved bands = tiny gaps when soldering. Here’s what’s actually working for me: When you place a tube setting on a rounded band, it rarely sits flush, especially a decorative band like this. That gap makes getting a clean solder... more
STOP SCROLLING for a sec 👀 I brought this design back… but this time it’s on a ringer tee. Same panther you loved from 2020 (thank you Buttery Studio), but finally on a quality ringer shirt. I’ve been wearing mine for months, washing it constantly... more
Today’s tube setting tip: the miter cutting vise jig. This tool holds wire, small pieces of sheet up to 11mm wide, and tubing at both 45° and 90° angles so you can file edges flat and flush. Some people use it to cut too. My tube setting tip is... more
Yesterday I shared a tube cutting jig for metal tubing and @hooleydooleyjools asked if there was a similar@tool for cutting wax ring tubes and there totally is! This is the Matt™️ Matter Miter Box, I got mine awhile ago from @gesswein.jewelry and it... more
Hey friends! 👋 As I mentioned in my newsletter this month, I’m diving into tube setting tips — and I’m kicking things off by talking about one of my favorite bench tools: the tube cutting jig. I’ve had mine since college and it has seen A LOT of use.... more
Mail Time Monday- a custom pillow I made of my dog Winnie. 🤣 Yes I’m ridiculous! My solution to removing broken drill bits. NEW half round pliers from @lindstromtools Amber with a bug 🐜 in it from @newcabochons Tube setting tool from... more
Oldie but goodie from @maxwellharrisonjewellery: use a wooden clothespin as a gentle clamp to hold a pearl earring in place while the epoxy cures. A hole was drilled to insert the earring post into one side of the clothes pin, it's soft wood and light... more
Monday mail time ✨ I’m chatting about physical jewelry inventory, how I currently store bins in my safe, and showing some new ones I just picked up. I would genuinely love to hear and see how you all handle inventory too, so leave a comment and share... more
I wrote this blog article because I know a lot of jewelers are not making a ton of sales yet, but still want packaging that feels thoughtful and on brand. I can definitely relate because my business, @corkieboltonjewelry, only makes a handful of sales... more
How and why to attach a wooden handle to a jeweler’s file 👀 shared by @theforgespace “Ever wondered why jewellers heat the tang before fitting a file handle? 🤔👇 In the jewellery workshop, fitting a handle to a file is a small but essential job. The... more
Prevent solder from flowing into areas you don’t want it to — with this studio tip from @kaypeajewelry. “If you use yellow ochre to control solder flow on tricky joins, this is a clever way to make it a lot easier to work with. Kristin had a large... more
