Back to the Bench

Well, it seems for each easy day I have in the studio, I have one frustrating day. When my back started feeling better last week I spent a little time working on a pair of earrings (current torch situation=small items only) and I was utterly encouraged when I quickly and easily bezel set my first cabochon. Well, last night I sat down to finish the other earring and just could not get my torch to cooperate. Thankfully, I placed my order for my "real" jeweler's torch this morning. I should have my Smith little torch set up and ready to use by Wednesday. Can't. Wait.

Here's what I did accomplish during my few hours at the bench this week:

Obviously, I still have some finishing work to do on them (sanding, finishing, and oxidizing; not to mention the obvious missing "leaf").

And here's the problem child:

Hopefully by the end of the week I'll get these finished. And with my new torch I'll hopefully be able to finish the ring I started a couple of weeks ago too. I'm much more excited about that than the earrings. Watch this space!

Simple Things

Well here I am. Blogging. The ultimate act of egotism. I guess that settles it; I'm officially a narcissist. That's okay, I can still live with myself.

I decided to start this blog as a chronicle of my latest venture. My new year's resolution this year, which was actually made a few months ago, is to devote more time to being creative. Last year was filled to the brim with parenting, work-stress, and illness (both kids were hospitalized on separate occasions and we lost count of the colds and flus--can "flu" be pluralized?-- that invaded our big old drafty house). It seemed like there was no time for creativity. I felt myself, my self, drifting away. So while those last-year things are certainly not going anywhere (though I could do without the illness!), this year I need to also prioritize time to nourish my creative side, so I can be a better wife, mother, and employee.

So... thanks to my lovely wife (affectionately known around here as Foxy!), who for Christmas supplied me with the tools and space I needed to furnish my studio, I am taking back up a hobby I dabbled in years ago and then let fall by the wayside when "life" got in the way: silversmithing.

I am so very excited! I've already found that on days when I spend time in the studio, I am a better person. Even when my studio time is frustrating (like when I can't get my solder to flow!), I'm happier and bouncier when I emerge.

So far I've only completed one thing. I'm having some torch issues. And I fell down the stairs last week and hurt my back so I can't even sit at my bench (oops!). So, for now, this is all I've done. Basically just a soldering experiment. With the function of keeping my too-big wedding band in place (I can't bear to part with it long enough to get it sized). So here it is. A simple sterling band with a matte finish:

And here it is with my wedding ring (which I did
not make!)

Now I'm just waiting for the pain in my back to subside enough that I can return to my studio. I've been sketching and am eager to translate my drawings into metal. I'm also excitedly looking forward to a soldering workshop I've signed up for on the 20th of this month. They'll be using the same torch I'm thinking of investing in (my big one is too big and my tiny one is too tiny), so it will give me a chance to try it out first.

And hopefully I'll be able to finish soldering the necklace I'm making for Foxy's birthday on the 22nd. Shhh...

This is where I'd promise not to be so wordy in future posts. But I know I can't promise that. I don't talk much. But I write a lot.