It is truly amazing to watch metal become liquid. I could spend hours scrolling through Instagram and admire the skill of jewelers who are able to craft their pieces and make the solder melt with ease. When I first encountered the jewelry class, it was like something out of a Stephen King novel - it was horrendous. The solder bested me in this conflict.
It is almost concerning that someone gave me a blowtorch and then abandoned me with a lit flame. I am a master of words, but not of patience, and making jewelry requires a great deal of patience.
Lesson 1: I took my first jewelry-making class at Smith Shop in Highland Park, Michigan, near Detroit. The class consisted of around eight people, and I was overly eager to get started. Big mistake! The instructor was proficient and knowledgeable and had to remind me more than once to take my time and not skip any of the steps. Everyone else in the class seemed to understand, but I did not. The teacher was patient with me and made sure I was following all the steps properly and diligently.
Lesson 2: My clumsiness resulted in far too many broken jeweller's blades during the class I attended. My sincerest apologies for that! It took a while before mastering the right technique for installing and managing them with my saw. All I can do is express again how truly sorry I am for this mishap.
Lesson 3: The materials have to be respected, and there’s a lot to learn from those materials. I struggled with the manipulation of the materials themselves. If it isn’t clear by now, this class truly got the best of me. I’m glad we worked with simple wire and inexpensive stuff so that I didn’t have to write a check each time I broke, manhandled, or messed up something like gold or silver. The fact that people work with precious materials to create such art was yet another important lesson.
Lesson 4: I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a plain material turn into beautiful jewellery! It takes a certain knack and attention to detail I lacked, but it still captivated me! Despite my lack of aptitude for creating beautiful pieces and ornaments, I really admired those who had honed their craft and found joy in this profession through trial and error.
Lesson 5: Although I still have numerous years of work to do before becoming proficient in the jewellery scene, my newbie status in this introduction class was something to be pleased about. Everyone likely had to begin somewhere and here I am, immersing myself with enthusiasm no matter my age. These rewards go beyond what words can express and it's nothing short of marvellous that a person at 50 can feel like such a novice again. In moments like these, I'm humbly grateful for this experience.
I'm sharing this information to pay tribute to the jewelry makers and the jewelry industry that I have been writing about for JCK for over a year. I hope this personal story of what I learned in my jewelry class brings you a smile, makes you remember why you do what you do and reminds you of the many gifts you have, including the skill of soldering without making a fool of yourself in front of other people.