finally got to make another tutorial - it has been a while

You can always look into your community college ( USA) and most of them have beginners and medium metal/silversmithing courses that are not too expensive

18 gauge is 1 mm thick . I prefer that thickness as the flowers do not bend but are not too heavy either draw a circle ( use a template - its easier )

mine is a square block with 30 domed indentations and corresponding hammers - put your flower in a " bowl " and take the "hammer with the ball that fits " using a nylon hammer to pound on the end of that hammer if you do not have a dabbing block you can go with 20 gauge sterling which is thinner and bend your pedals with a pliers

I used twisted wire for the ring shank - twisted wire is easy to do or you can also buy it at riogrande or thunderirdsupply.com

try to get the ends as close as you can together

I prefer paste flux add some solder and...

heat until the solder flows , quench in water and clean in pickle solution

using a ring mandrel and a nylon hammer , shape you ring shank until its round

so I used a planishing hammer for flatten the ring

this is to make the little ball in the middle

here its red hot metal

heat with torch and solder together

heat again until solder flows - add your ball of molten sterling and again flux and heat

start polishing ( sand paper , steel wool )

hope you liked it