Tuesday, June 24th
Today is our 8th Wedding Anniversary! I cannot believe how time has flown by. We have so many happy memories together!
I have not posted much about my jewelry. I decided right after I got into PMC that I needed to know more about metalsmithing. I took a beginners class at Metalwerx in Waltham, MA with Diane Lawton. She is a great teacher and very patient. I then met Pauline Warg of Warg, Etc. I went up to her store/ school in Scarborough, ME last July to do a one-on-one class on soldering. I was not ready to work with a torch and acetylene tank on my own, but I needed the practice. Pauline is so patient. Her hand-outs are the best. After the class I bought my Smith torch from her, and I bought my actelyne tank that following Tuesday. Pauline is a wonderful teacher. I have several pieces of her jewelry including a bracelet I wear every day.
I was on my way now to soldering at home, the only problem was, I was not ready to set stones and I have tons of stones. I signed up for the advanced stone setting class with Joy Raskin at Metalwerx. I think it was a 6 week course in the evening last July. I was way out of my league. Most of the students were jewelers and had experience setting stones. Joy is the most patient person. She never made me feel like I did not belong in the class. I listened patiently, took tons of notes, and at the end of the class I made a ring with an amethyst tube setting. At the end of the class, Joy invited me to her studio in NH. I took her up on the offer, more to just see what an experienced jeweler’s studio looks like and to see all her amazing tools.
Jim, Daisy (our Chihuahua), and I went up one Sunday afternoon. Joy’s studio is out of this world. She has pretty much every hammer you could imagine and most are antiques. You can see how they were lovingly used by other jewelers. Joy spent the day helping Jim and I master the art of the viking knit. Jim understood the pattern and made several bracelets, but I was a goner. Not only did Joy help us with the viking knit, she showed us some of her variations.
Since then, Joy and I have become great friends. Joy comes down to visit our critters, we talk all night long and occassionally I can get her into my studio. Last weekend, Joy came down to visit. We spent all day Saturday setting stones….well until the actelyene tank was empty. I went through Joy’s stash of stones and came across this amazing Druzy. Joy walked me through the stone setting. We also used my rolling mill for the first time and rolled out some really amazing patterns. I used flower punches for the ring band. Below is a picture of the ring. If you know me well, you know I love BIG rings!
Joy is a member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. Joy makes amazing jewelry including my favorite, the Silver Hedgehog pendant. I have several of Joy’s rings and I love them!
Joy will be selling her jewelry this Summer at the 75th. Annual Craftsman Fair in Sunapee, NH. The event is August 2-10th. It’s one of the best craft shows in the U.S. We’ll be going up to support Joy!