What you’ll learn in this episode:   Why even jewelry novices can learn to make silver jewelry at home with affordable tools How Machi and her co-author Janet turned their in-person jewelry making classes into a book What safety concerns to consider when making DIY jewelry How working with silver compares to working with other metals, and where beginner makers should start What mistakes beginner makers commonly make and how to fix them    About Machi de Waard Machi de Waard is a designer-jeweller and jewellery tutor. Jewellery has been her full-time pursuit since early 2007, and Machi’s work has been shown at galleries, fairs and exhibitions. Machi combines her studio practice with teaching, having taught jewellery making for over ten years in various locations throughout the UK. Her interests in modern art, particularly in sculpture and minimalism, influence her work.   Additional Resources: -www.machidewaard.co.uk  -insta: @machi_jewellery  -www.janetrichardson.co.uk  -insta: @janrichardsonjewellery Book links: Amazon UK Waterstones Blackwells Search Press Guardian Bookstore Amazon USA Penguin Random House Bol.com in the Netherlands Amazon Germany   Photos Available on TheJewelryJourney,com   Transcript:   Working with metal might seem like something best left to the pros, but Machi de Waard’s new book smashes that misconception. Written with Machi’s friend and co-author Janet Richardson, “Silver Jewelry Making: A Complete Step-By-Step Course,” includes seven projects that help beginner makers build on their skills and make real jewelry at home with simple tools. Machi joined the Jewelry Journey Podcast to talk about the serendipitous way the book got published; why silver is the best metal for beginners to start with; and which common mistakes DIY makers should watch out for. Read the episode transcript here.    Sharon: Hello, everyone, welcome to the Jewelry Journey Podcast. This is the second part of a two-part episode. If you haven’t heard part one, please head to TheJewelryJourney.com.    Today, my guest is Machi de Waard. She, along with Janet Richardson, is the coauthor of the book “Silver Jewelry Making.” They are both jewelers and teachers in Great Britain, and that’s where she’s speaking to me from. Welcome back.    That’s what I wanted to ask you. Do people say to you, “Why do you work in silver and not gold?”    Machi: I’m happy to do any commission in gold. We both do commissions in gold. It’s just harder to afford to do large pieces in gold unless somebody’s already paying you to do it. It’s just very, very expensive.   Sharon: Do you ever rhodium plate your silver with Argentium, or whatever that brand name is?   Machi: Argentium. I use a lot of Argentium in my own work, almost exclusively but not quite, because it doesn’t tarnish as much as sterling silver. Janet uses some Argentium silver and sterling silver. I do not rhodium plate partly because rhodium has actually become very expensive as well, and I prefer not to plate things because if there’s a plate, it can come off. You don’t want the customer to have a piece that looks great and then you have to replate it over a few years. So, I don’t really like to plate my pieces unless absolutely necessary. I don’t think Janet does much plating either.    Sharon: What’s your favorite kind of thing to make? Is it a bracelet, a ring, a necklace?   Machi: Oh, I like all of it. I think Janet and I are both—what’s the word—I was going to say obsessed, but maybe passionate sounds better. We are both never bored of jewelry. We like to make pretty much everything. I would say at the moment, my favorite thing is brooches, but I’m happy to make anything.   Sharon: I’m not any kind of maker, but it seems like a brooch would be easier because you only have to make one of those, as opposed to an earring or something where they have to match.   Machi: Yeah, I suppose so, although earrings don’t have to match.   Sharon: Today they don’t. That’s true.   Machi: In t