well rested

Is how I felt all weekend. I spent Saturday cleaning my apartment, exercising and relaxing. It was wonderful not to have any pressure to go into the studio.

I did go into the studio for several hours today. I tried repairing some of the dents in my mother's silver cup. However, mid-way through I discovered a solder seam come very slightly apart. I stopped planishing at that point because I'm not as sure of soldering a seam in an old cup.

I sanded the bottom and top of the cup with 2500 grit paper and then polished with tripoli then rouge. I'm considering taking it to my old employers, and friends, Lawrence at Lawrence Miller & Co., to get his expert opinion.

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did someone call for the doctor? the jewelry doctor?

I began working part time this week at the jewelry doctor and I'm already learning so much!

I'm really loving it. Such a breath of...jewelry dust (not fresh air)...to work with my hands and be away from a desk and computer.

Ellis, the owner, will do the repairs (sizing, chain repairs, checking prongs and/or settings stones) while I clean them up. I grind down the solder seams, file, and file some more, more filing and then polishing.

My bench at the repair shop

Ellis is a really patient and good teacher. Before even working part time, I came in once a week for an hour to get trained. Ellis gave me several tests and had me take in orders. It's such a great experience to learn this side of the jewelry business. Repairing jewelry is very different from actually making a piece.

In that you have to understand the properties of whatever your repairing, in addition to assessing the type of repair it needs.

Here I am with my magnifying glasses; looking completely dorky and happy!

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Gold Rush

Yesterday I was trained at the Jewelry Doctor, a repair shop in Greenville, NC where I will work/train part time this summer.

Ellis, the owner, showed me some of the basic repairs he does. He repaired a hollow chain, butterfly pendant and diamond ring that had a crack in the gold. I was thrilled that he took the time to show me and also marveled at the rapid rate one can heat and repair gold. It's certainly nothing like working with silver, when you have to heat the entire piece to solder one spot.

I have exciting plans to begin my journey with working in gold this summer with a rad triangle cut lapis lazuli stone! Pin It