Your place with free jewelry metalsmithing tutorials. Hi! My name is Basia, I'm a self-taught jewelry metalsmith. Here you'll find videos teaching you how to get started with jewelry metalsmithing, lots of tips & tricks videos, studio vlogs and more! Whether you're a hobbyist or someone interested in turning this into a creative career, I hope you'll find something for yourself here, that will motivate and inspire you on your own artistic journey.
You can contribute to creation of the regular content by becoming a Channel Patron. Every pledge, single or monthly, means the world to me and supports the channel!
www.patreon.com/stardustmine
Let's connect!
My website & shop: www.stardustmine.art/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/basia.stardustmine/
Pinterest: pinterest.com/stardustminejewellery
Love, Basia x
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⚒ Stardust Mine, artisan jewellery handcrafted by Barbara Adamiec ⚒
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
3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 358
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The Art of Metalsmithing
Let's have a little quiz! What is asterism in gemstones?
3 months ago | [YT] | 10
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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 ❤️
3 months ago | [YT] | 126
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The Art of Metalsmithing
Hi Friends! I have a question for you! Where do you check out YouTube the most??
3 months ago | [YT] | 12
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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
8 months ago | [YT] | 101
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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!
9 months ago | [YT] | 50
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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 :)
10 months ago | [YT] | 71
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The Art of Metalsmithing
When do you think Ethiopian opal was discovered?? 😁
11 months ago | [YT] | 22
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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
1 year ago | [YT] | 234
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The Art of Metalsmithing
First look at Monday's offerings! 💐 Still need to attach chains, but the first batch of new collection, Colours of Monet is ready!
I revisited some older designs and mixed them with brand new ones for this collection. The main theme is, of course, colours of Monet's artworks, but I couldn't resist following another one, which is of my favourites - florals! Perfect to welcome the new season.
The shop will be updated on Monday, March 24th at 10am PST - 1pm EST
This time it's necklaces, but rings and earrings will be included in the second part of this collection 💐
I hope you love these pieces as much as I do!
This week I'll post a vlog that shows the process of creating this collection.
Love, Basia x
1 year ago | [YT] | 366
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