I am fortunate to work in higher ed. So many great opportunities to take classes, listen to lectures, or just rebalance with yoga. I've taken advantage of tuition remission at UVM and this spring I decided to take Jewelry Perspectives. It's a 4 hour metal work class on Tuesday nights.

I did not walk into this class inexperienced. When I attended SUNY Geneseo, I was a studio art minor with a focus on metalsmithing. I loved manipulating big metal pieces and casting. I started with jewelry with my mentor Patrice Case, and remembered I was not enthused about working on a small scale with jewelry. Making one of a kind pieces on a small wearable scale was not fun and beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder. My pieces were gnarly and raw.

Moving to sculptural pieces was something different. I loved it and now in this class with my first assignment, making a pendant I remember why I like metalsmithing. My jewelry instructor is an interesting hard tack woman. She teaches different from and her style of jewelry is similar modern and abstract as my mentor. In each class, I am reminded that each instructor has their bias when it comes to design.

Jewelry is an expensive craft and I don't think I'll pursue it as a side hobby. I may look into loom weaving, which was another skill I learned in college. Now I just need to find classes to get back the skill.

The photos are of my current pendant project, which is a work in progress due on Valentine's Day. The other photos are of my college metalsmithing projects.

Taken at Uncommon Grounds