First Metal Jewelry Class

I just got home from my first metal jewelry class and it was awesome. The teacher's name is Susan and not only is she knowledgeable, but also very cool: apparently, food and adult beverages are welcome. Which actually sounds a little bit like a scary combination considering we're working with torches and pickle (an acid solution that can burn holes in your clothes, not to mention what it can do to your skin).

Tonight, we went through the basics: identifying tools, safety, physics. Yes, physics. I don't think everyone that signed up for the class knew that there'd be science involved. We even eventually got to start soldering. The soldering we did was not really a project per se. We used half round sterling silver wire to make what resembles a ring. Susan didn't want us to call it that though, because it was simply a lesson to learn how to solder one end of a piece of metal to another. Mine came out nice and round, but I ran out of time to finish polishing and buffing the mars out. Then again, maybe I'll make the mars "artistic" by taking a hammer to it. I really think that the strength I've gained in my hands from doing chain maille benefited me tonight.



I know this isn't a fantastic picture, but I'm very proud of my first soldering project! I used a torch for the first time! Woohoo! I just hope that I don't forget everything I learned by next week.