Experiment rolling sterling silver through a rolling mill with embossed leaves to create unique designs like these patterned earrings.
Step 1
Before you make these earrings in sterling silver you may wish to practice on copper shapes first. This means you can set the rolling mill width for your ideal pattern impression.

Step 2
Place the leaf skeleton on a folded piece of paper and place the silver blanks on top of the leaf skeleton. Close the folded piece of paper.

Step 3
Roll the paper through the rolling mill.

Step 4
Open the paper and remove the silver disc.

Step 5
Mark the top of each silver disc where you want to drill a hole for your earring hook wire. Approximately 1-2 mm from the edge.

Step 6
Place the silver disc on a stable surface and put the pointed end of the centre punch on the pen mark. Hit the top of the silver disc with a hammer lightly this dot is to help guide your drill bit when drilling a hole. Repeat on the second disc.

Step 7
Use a table top drill or a pendant motor to drill a hole in each silver disc where the centre punch mark is.

Step 8
Using a burnisher rub around the edges of each disc to add shine.

Step 9
Use the polishing cloth on the surface of each silver discs to bring out the leaf pattern.

Step 10
Attach the earring hook wires by gripping either side of the hoop with flat nose pliers and chain nose pliers. Twist the pliers in opposite directions to open the hoop and thread the silver through the hoop.

Step 11
To close the earring hook wire hoop, grip the hoop either side with the chain nose and flat nose pliers and twist inwards until the hoop aligns flush.


Sian Brown
Sian has been hand making her award winning jewellery in the West Midlands for over 12 years. Sian spent 10 years in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter before relocating to a quiet Worcestershire village.