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*This is me grinning*
The first day of my silversmithing course was just awesome! I’ve learnt so many new skills already  I don’t know where to begin… and, of course, I now have a long list of expensive tools I want to buy!
We began the day learning how to use a jewellers hacksaw, with tiny, tiny blades. First, we had to cut a straight line. Then a curvy one, and then a zig-zag. It was really quite easy – except it kills your hand having to hold down tightly to the metal!
After that, we progressed to making our first project – a silver ring.
For this, we had to learn to solder with a torch, then shape and texture with a mandrel, and finally polish and finish using a bench grinder.
The second project for the day was a pair of domed earrings – using many of the above skills also. Here are the finished products – I had time to finish my ‘practice’ brass ring as well..
I’ll take some better, close-up photos tomorrow – but the light had almost run out by the time I got home! As you can see, I left the earrings as a matt finish – I think they’re quite beautiful like that! I’ve textured both rings, but it’s hard to see in this photo.
Tonight, I have homework – I have to work out the design I want to use tomorrow on a pendant. We’re going to be ‘sweat soldering’ – where you solder one piece of metal flat on top of another.
I also met an absolutely lovely bunch of people at the course! Really looking forward to tomorrow 🙂
WOW WOW Jess! It looks like you had the best time!
It was soooo worth it! I’d recommend it to anyone!
Fabulous Jess!
Ooooh…I’m loving those domed earrings! how clever you are! 🙂
So funny – it sounds like we did the same course!!! Haha we did saw piercing today too but then started on our pendants – next week we are doing soldering! I’ll have to blog about my pendant but too dark for a photo now!
You just reminded me I need to come up with a design for my pendant tomorrow!! Hmmm, now, what shall I do… 🙂
Isn’t cutting, forging and soldering divine?! OMG, woman, if you cut those circles out…. you are a GODDESS! of saw! They look…. ROUND!. Isn’t doming fun! Okay, I could gush on all day! I love metal!
ba
Blackwater, ON Canada
found your blog through Huffina Creations via Plurk
Let’s be plurkers together! LOL
Me too, Beth! And I did cut them out – but I had a circle drawn on there first 😀
They are beautiful! I wanna come to your course! Good job:) Excited to see what you do today!
Ooh they’re so cool! I loooove the earrings!
Fantastic!!!
You’ve done well.
Thanks guys 🙂 I love those earrings too, Penny – thinking I might have to buy the tools to make more of them… 😀
Yay glad you enjoyed it Jess.