TNwJ

Another session of "Tuesday Nights with Jim" has begun.

Last night was week three of the last session of the year and everyone of the students are moving right along!

At this point in the program we've progressed through the basics of soldering. Everyone is now comfortable with the torch in their hand, maybe not on their own project but with it in hand none the less!

Jim doing another soldering demo, he's captivated everyone.

Last week I worked through 3 bezels for some more of Jeff's glass, I used them as a demo for soldering a bezel to a back-plate.

Jeff's glass was a success at the Farmers Market on Sunday so I'll be working my way through bezel setting some of his pieces in the coming weeks.

Since my last visit to William Holland I have taken to piercing sterling...I love it. I cleaned up my Sandhill Crane and added a hidden bail on the back:

Since there is a Sandhill Crane family that makes our community their home I'm keeping this one.

Besides, it is my first project of this type!

I also just completed a bear pendant that will be strung with some rough turquoise and silver, it will soon be added to the Silver Lining shop:

I think there will be many more of these projects in my future!

Orders and Projects

My first Sunday back at the Farmers Market and I could not be happier.

Okay, maybe if it wasn't 92 degrees but heck, it didn't rain!

All in all it was a great welcome back!

One of my first customers was someone that had never been to my booth before, Cathy had taken interest in my Spinner Rings when she started reminiscing about a ring she had long lost.

She described it as a 3 band ring that was intertwined and she would roll the bands over each other. She spoke longingly of how she missed that ring and when I mentioned that I could make her another one she was thrilled.

It's been a while since I've made a "Russian Wedding Band" or "Rolling Band Ring" so I got home and cooked up a couple, it was just like riding a bicycle. Here is my first test:

Just as I remembered!

...and here's your ring Cathy:

 Thanks for helping me remember this project!

Special Delivery, next Sunday.

When I got home I began another project, my first spoon...without the guiding hand of an instructor.

When we were making these up at William Holland I was so excited about getting started I forgot to take notes. Later in the day I began writing what I could remember but while looking at the notes later in the evening I realized I had not done a very good job. I've been thinking about starting one just so I can go through the process and write it down...while making the mistakes!

I'm proud, yes, there were some steps I completely forgot but heck...I think I've done pretty well on my own!

It's not polished yet but I still think it's not bad for a first solo flight!

Since we're on the topic of projects during the summer I began working with a product called ICE Resin, here are the results:

Weekend Away.

How Time Flies.

As to be expected there was a bit of a learning curve with this product but I am quite happy with the results. When it comes to this resin I am very excited to have all kinds of projects brewing in my head, just thinking of the colors and shapes makes me dizzy!

Backwards...Summer...over

Just when I turned around and gave it my full attention,

Summer was gone.

It's hard to tell here in the land of sunshine, it's still in the 90's, but the school buses are roaring up and down the hill beside our house.

Last week Jeff and I snuck in another week at William Holland, it was wonderful.

Although all the raspberries were gone the wandering grapevines had found the apple tree, ceremoniously latched on to every limb and shared it's sweet globes with all that passed by, yum.

Jim was in his usual form, needless to say we all laughed from morning well into the evening hours.

He looks so innocent as all we aim our hammers at him.

Everyone in this class came with plenty of experience. We had much to contribute and loved sharing our projects and opinions, we all had a great time.

As to be expected Jim challenged all of us:

We learned to make Silver Spoons, which I think was my favorite project!

We made our own stamps from tool steel then used them to create textures on rings.

Then we moved on to pierced pieces.

 I choose a Sand Hill Crane since they wander our community constantly but Jim chose a different subject:

I will not ask.

While everyone was working on Spinner Rings I chose to move to a pair of textured earrings, I really need to thank Jim for letting me get a bit off track...(Thanks Jim!)

To complete our trip we stopped at Melody and Lew's home in Atlanta for 2 nights.

Laurel (aka: Mr. Puffs) and McKenzie. 

Plenty of wine, food and friendship was the perfect way to end this summer!

(I usually do not photograph my food but this was meal was way to good not too!)

Beet Salad and Shrimp and Grits, oh my amazing!

Tomorrow I will share what I have been playing with on my summer vacation along with a Shop update!