The Art of Metalsmithing

Hi! There's a MASSIVE SALE in my shop!! 😍 www.stardustmine.art/collections/all If you've been eyeing something, this is the best moment to snag it! The silver prices keep rising, so with this sale you can grab an investment piece for a very special price. I’m making room for new designs and stocking up on silver for upcoming pieces.
This is the biggest sale I ever had, so it's a perfect time to take advantage of these offers🤩

Like many other jewellers, I rarely run sales. My prices are set thoughtfully from the start, rather than marked up for the sake of future discounts. So when a sale does happen, you can be sure that it’s something truly special from me to you. Enjoy! 🥰

Shipping reminder - I ship via FedEx courier now, including the US. This is the safest and fastest shipping option I tested. The packages are insured and tracked, and the delivery time is much quicker.
For the US, I ship DDP, which means I handle duty fees on my end, so you won’t be asked to pay anything extra on delivery. (The parcels may still be checked by customs upon arrival).

Don't miss out! The sale runs until Friday, so make sure you check out these special offers!

Love, Basia 🌸

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2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 84

The Art of Metalsmithing

Hi friends! I wanted to give you a little update ☺️
I haven’t been very active on YouTube over the past few months, because I needed to step back for a while and focus on my health.
Everything is okay :) but for a long time I’d been feeling tired and exhausted every day, even on days when I should have been well rested. Going to bed tired and waking up tired. Existing with mental fog. I noticed that simple tasks felt overwhelming, that it was taking me a long time to recover my energy between projects, and that social interactions could be more difficult for me than I understood before. I started to worry that I had entered some kind of permanent burnout, because I didn't understand why it felt like things are getting worse.

Combined with constant anxiety, stress, and other physical symptoms, it finally pushed me to seek professional help. And just recently, as a 36 year old gal, I was finally diagnosed with AuDHD 😅

That diagnosis was life changing for me. I’m now learning how to be myself as a neurodivergent person, when for all of my life I was trying to function as a neurotypical person, believing that there was something wrong with me, constantly struggling, and feeling exhausted and guilty.

It explained so many things and helped me make sense of years of difficulties and confusion. I’m slowly getting back on track now, and it’s becoming easier to work, create, and understand my own brain :)

I wanted to share this not only to explain my absence and irregular content, but also because I want to be open about it. I also want to help normalize ADHD and ASD, especially in women, because for many people these diagnoses can still feel taboo or be widely misunderstood. Often, the image people have in mind is based on how these conditions present in young boys, and not in the many different ways they can show up in adults and in women. I know that was true for me too.

And maybe, for some of you who have been feeling similar things, this might be a reminder that it’s worth looking into and seeking help, because understanding what’s really going on can really make a massive difference.

Thank you so much for watching my videos, for your comments, and for sticking around. It means a lot to me. I’ll see you in the next one 🥰

Love, Basia x

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 361

The Art of Metalsmithing

Let's have a little quiz! What is asterism in gemstones?

4 months ago | [YT] | 10

The Art of Metalsmithing

Have you ever wondered why your sterling silver looks white and matte after you take it out of the pickle acid after soldering? It’s easy to assume something is still on the surface, like flux, residue or some sort of oxidation, but in reality the surface itself has changed.

Sterling silver contains copper, and copper oxidizes much faster than silver when heated. During pickling, those copper oxides are dissolved, while silver is left behind. After heating and cleaning (especially over several soldering stages), a very thin silver-rich layer forms on the surface. Because that layer is porous and hasn’t been compacted yet, it scatters light instead of reflecting it, which is why the silver looks white and “frosty” straight out of the pickle.

You can bring back the shine by brushing, burnishing, or even light polishing. But what's interesting to note is that this doesn’t remove this layer - it compresses and densifies it, turning that soft, matte surface into a reflective one 😀

This effect is called depletion gilding. It’s not a flaw, bad pickle, or over cleaning, it’s a completely normal part of working with sterling silver. That white silver fresh from the pickle is essentially a very thin skin of near pure silver.

It’s also worth noting that silver doesn’t have to turn white to be clean. Some pieces barely show this effect at all, depending on how much heat they’ve seen, the alloy, or even the condition of the pickle.

Remember, that the white surface isn’t a cleanliness test, but one of the side effects that only shows up under certain conditions. It is really pretty though, isn't it 😍

Love,
Basia ❤️

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4 months ago | [YT] | 126

The Art of Metalsmithing

Hi Friends! I have a question for you! Where do you check out YouTube the most??

4 months ago | [YT] | 12

The Art of Metalsmithing

Thank you so much for your views and comments on my latest video! https://youtu.be/e69yqciGMtQ Today is a very gloomy day, so I thought it was a perfect day to spend some time in a cozy café and catch up on your comments 🥰
The collection launch went super well, there are still many lovely pieces in the shop if you're interested in checking them out!
www.stardustmine.art/collections/rings

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9 months ago | [YT] | 101

The Art of Metalsmithing

New video on Tuesday! Advice on finding repeat customers, when to start selling after getting started with jewelry, how to start with a low budget, procrastination and more!

Several questions touched on very interesting subjects, so I've decided to turn them into a separate video with tips, I think a lot of you would benefit from that info, so stay tuned!

10 months ago | [YT] | 50

The Art of Metalsmithing

Ask me your questions and I will share my responses in the video! Metalsmithing, jewelry making, running a small business, creativity or even something personal. If there's anything you're curious about, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer :)

11 months ago | [YT] | 71

The Art of Metalsmithing

When do you think Ethiopian opal was discovered?? 😁

1 year ago | [YT] | 22

The Art of Metalsmithing

Sorry Friends, no new video today! It's almost finished, but the collection kept me so busy, I had to push the video to Monday. It shows the process of creating this latest collection of jewelry pieces inspired by Monet's art 🩷 I'm also sharing some tips, how my process is changing, new patina etc. Also, there's still several jewelry pieces left in the shop! 🥰 www.stardustmine.art/collections/necklaces

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1 year ago | [YT] | 234