My jewelry studio is down in the basement. Not much to look at, but that's ok, because it feels like a cave. A cave full of metal, gems, crystals, and moss! Pretty rad magik if you ask me. (Yes, it's properly vented.)
I got into making jewelry when I was about 11 or 12. I took a copper pipe and banged out some homemade bracelets and sold them to my mom's friends for $5.
For me, metalsmithing and alchemy, the esoteric art of transmutation, go hand in hand. I've studied alchemy since the late 90s when you'd send for lessons in the mail. You'd get a packet of images and a few practice exercises to awaken your inner alchemist.
In the years since, I've appreciated the alchemical lessons you get when you work with metal. Each metal corresponds to a planet and, over time, you begin to sense their unique "spirit". Copper is warm and easy to work with. Silver is reflective and lunar. It can tarnish, but is easily restored. Gold is amazingly pliable and strong. Nothing beats it's color or appeal.
In my studio, there's also strange things like "liver of sulfur", salt, vinegar, and a lot of steel and iron tools. There's a kiln (mini forge) and different torches for firing. It's a very cool art form that gives me a lot of joy. I hope you enjoy my creations and please let me know if you start to sense the spirit of the metals yourself!