My First Piece of Metalsmithed Jewelry

Etsymetal Team are asking their members about their first ever piece of metal work (see links below). This was my first piece of metalsmithing, some years ago now. It's a bangle made of copper wire soldered and polished.This was the test piece and I then made it in silver. what did it mean to you? It took a lot of courage to sign up to the course and walk into my first class. I really thought metal working was what I wanted to do...................but what if I hated it, or was hopeless at it. I had no plan B. what materials? I worked in copper for the first few weeks, practicing annealing, manipulating , hammering, plaiting, embossing the metal. I remember it as a magical time and I couldn't wait for the next class. were you in class/ home?The class was at the local college here in Bath. 3 hours workshop time per week with Mel Sproat, a fine teacher who has a lot of patience and a huge fund of knowledge. I was fascinated by it all and so worried about getting it right. Ha! Learning to relax, make "mistakes" and value what it taught me was one of the hardest lessons. what would you do different now to it? Hmmm, I still like the simplicity of the design, but the metal is too thin and needs soldering in more places. If I re made it I'd add texture to one strip or maybe use 4 or 5 wave "strips" using mixed metals. Now, that's set me thinking. what did you learn from making it? Ooh, lots about annealing and fire stain and soldering and shaping and just how satisfying I find the whole process. I'm pleased to say I still haven't had to come up with plan "B". These fabulous Etsymetal Team jewellers will be blogging their own stories on this theme on Monday September 7, 2009 http://sarawestermark.blogspot.com/ http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/ http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com/ http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/ http://duckduckgoosestuff.co.uk/duckduckBLOG http://discomedusa.typepad.com/ http://tangerinetreehouse.blogspot.com/ http://gentrydesignco.typepad.com/ http://andescruz.wordpress.com/ http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com/ http://elizabethrosasjewelry.blogspot.com/ http://ninadinoff.blogspot.com/ http://clarestoker.blogspot.com/ http://kerinrose.blogspot.com/