Hi - I've recently returned to making jewlery after more than a decade away, due mostly to RSI. Exploring precious metal clay has drawn me back to the bench. I began silversmithing in the 1970's, learning the basics working for a guy named Willard, a hippie silversmith in Auckland NZ. The following year, I made silver jewelry to pay my rent thru university, (Waterloo Ontario) but I had a hard time finding info on more advanced techniques, & suffered a lack of design ideas. Now I find the amount of shared info overwhelming and totally exciting, and I can't keep up with my own flow of ideas. (Incidentally, my maternal grandmother's maiden name was Brain. From Ontario, with English origins, but I suppose it's possible that Charles & I are distant relations.) Looking forward to being part of this community! Susan; www.susanellenton.com