Will you realize I’m not posting a new piece?
I’m working on a riveted bangle which I’m quite excited about as riveting is new to me but it does involve using power tools which I’m reluctant to do when I’m solely responsible for my young ‘uns – all that noise and silver dust about, you know. So, basically, it’s not finished.
But I haven’t forgotten that I’m overdue on a post here! So, if you’re looking for eye candy, try my last post – I’m still very happy with my little topaz necklace! But, if you’d like something new, let’s talk a little bit about classes and lessons and learning new things.
I’m kind of a contradiction. In many ways, I’m a plunge right in and see what happens kind of person. And, often, that works really well for me. But, for some things, I’d really prefer some official education. Like these rivets, for example, I really have the feeling that I’m making this harder than it needs to be – reinventing the wheel, to use a rather cliched but apt phrase – and that there’s a trick to it that I have not yet discovered. In this sort of case, an instructor would be invaluable.
At this point? I’ve learned to make beautiful things on my own. And, you know, if the piece of jewelry that emerges is functional and beautiful, it’s my belief that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! I’ve read a bunch of books, looked at a bunch of pictures. I don’t much like just copying someone else’s patterns so I’ve tried to implement what I liked and leave what I didn’t – leaving designs that are my own.
What I really want to learn right now, though, is soldering. I have so many ideas in my head that need to become reality but flame scares the bejeebers out of me. (Sorry, Elizabeth!!) And this is why: from the time I was a small child, I’ve had this fear of my house burning down. Other kids worried about the bogeyman under the bed? Me, I was asking my parents to check for oily rags in the basement. Now, I have no problems with campfires; I like campfires. No problems with candles; I like candles – though I’m obsessive about keeping them away from flammable stuff. Fires in home fireplaces I tolerate as long as I don’t think about it too much (though I once made my father ripsh*t because I crept back down at night to pour water on the coals – which made his job of starting the fire the next evening rather, er, difficult – I was an adult by then). But a torch? Still, the draw is so high…. Man, there’s just SO much I want to do!! I figure I’ll start with a butane torch, refills with, you guessed it, lighter fluid. It just seems to me that how much trouble could I get into with an overgrown lighter? (Ok, probably lots – fire is fire, after all.) But, at any rate, I wish I had the time to actually take a class in it – even beyond the fire fear, I just get the feeling that it would be a lot easier to know what the heck I’m doing if someone who knew showed me. (Being a visual learner and all.)
So, in the meantime, I’m learning to rivet. Now, these aren’t the machine-applied rivets like you’d find in an aircraft or boat hull; they’re done by hand. I’m doing tube rivets (wouldn’t work at all on a boat hull – LOL!) and I can’t wait to show you the project.
But for now, please go drool at the topaz – it didn’t garner any comments and it’s feeling quite green with envy (heh) – or the fall bracelet and earrings now on my website Have a great week everyone!
