Back to basics: What silversmithing taught me about how my clients feel

Recently, I spent a few hours at a 1-1 silversmithing workshop with Alf (The Soldersmith) whose passion lies not just in creating beautiful pieces, but in teaching others how to do the same.

As I sat, pretty nervous and definitely out of my comfort zone), I realised I wasn’t just learning how to shape silver, I was being reminded of how learning anything creative really works.

Including social media.

At first glance, silversmithing and social media strategies don’t have much in common. One involves fire, metal and tools, whilst the other, algorithms, content and captions. But strip them both back, and the parallels are hard to ignore.

You have to start with the basics.
There are so many words and techniques that go with silversmithing, and right from the start I found myself comparing my nerves and slight confusion with how my clients feel when they start working with me. Alf was a brilliant teacher, making sure I created the groundwork before moving on to the next stage.

It’s the same when I work with creatives on their social media. Everyone wants the beautifully curated grid, the viral reel, the seamless brand presence. But without understanding the groundwork - who you’re talking to, what you want to say, and how to show up consistently - it’s very difficult to build something that lasts.

Patience isn’t optional.
There were moments in my experience where things didn’t go quite right. Elements wouldn’t attach with solder, I got frustrated when I forgot something, the process took longer than I thought it would. And yet, the answer wasn’t to rush - it was to pause, reflect and try again. Social media is exactly the same. Not every post will land. Not every idea will work. But the magic happens in the willingness to keep going, keep refining and trust that progress is happening even when it feels slow.

Trying and “failing” is part of the process.
One of the most reassuring things I was told today was that if something doesn’t work, you can have another go. And that mindset is something I wish more creatives carried into their online presence. A post that flops isn’t a failure: it’s feedback. It’s information you can use to do things differently next time.

There is no real “finished”.
Even once a piece of jewellery is complete, there’s always something you could tweak, refine or do differently next time. Social media is never finished either. It evolves as you do. Your tone of voice changes, your business grows, your audience shifts. And that’s not a problem, it’s a good thing.

And at the end of it all, there’s pride.
Holding something you’ve made feels good. It’s tangible proof that you showed up, you tried and you learned. The same goes for building a digital presence. When you look back at how far you’ve come, at the confidence you’ve built, at the connections you’ve made, there’s a real sense of achievement in that.

My workshop wasn’t just about silversmithing. It was a reminder that creative processes, whether offline or online, ask the same things of us: patience, curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to begin.

And perhaps most importantly, a reminder that we’re all learning as we go.