Metalsmithing Class No. 3

This class didn't go as well as I had wanted it to. Our assignment for the evening was to create bezel settings for two different stones- a big (10mm) one and a smaller (4mm) one. I have set stones a few times before, but was looking forward to some extra insight from instructor Erin in class.

My stones sitting with their bezels, which are waiting to be soldered.

The jewellery school is brand new, and they don't have all their equipment in yet. So our class has to share 2 torches, which is fine. There's always something to be working on while waiting for your turn to solder. Last night, though, one of the torches stopped working. So we all had quite a bit of soldering to do, and only one torch. Not only that, but the soldering that we did need to do was very tricky and everyone struggled with it. Just about every person needed to cool & clean their pieces after an unsuccessful solder, then wait in line to try again, making matters worse.

So, while I was waiting for the torch, I used a hammer to texturize my ring. Remember the basic silver ring from last week? It looks a little different now.

Sooo many hammers! Love learning what each one does.

I had to come back twice to try to get a bezel soldered onto my ring and eventually rushed too much and ended up melting my bezel. By this point we had run out of class time. Our instructor was very apologetic and stayed an extra half hour while people scrambled to finish their pieces. I decided not to panic, since I have set a few stones before, allowing for the other students to get their bezels soldered and stones set. I will go in early next week and see if I can't get mine completed.

I finished hammering my ring band and polished it up nicely. Even if I don't end up adding a stone to it, it's still a lovely silver ring. The hammering for texture caused the metal to stretch a bit, so it now fits a different finger, depending on how warm I am. But I don't mind. Most of my rings change fingers depending on the seasons.

What do you think? Is it cool over the tattoo or is it silly to cover it up?

Next week, we are supposed to be creating our own projects using all the techniques we learned over the last 3 sessions. I am tempted to create a neat ring, as I looove rings. However I am also considering earrings, as I don't have many! What should I make?! Any ideas?

My new friend.

-- Thanks for following along on my journey learning metalsmithing! Once I've completed this course, I will have access to free time in the studio, so I will be able to create and experiment freely. Is anyone curious about how some things are made? I can look it up and see if I can do it! I want to learn as many techniques as I can, going forward.

Thanks for reading! Cheers!