Once upon a time, I had a jewelers bench, it was set up for me and the way I worked, a small anvil, vise, my bench block, and a must for me was the fluorescent incandescent bench lamp. I had a big window but it faced south. A northern window would have been preferred since the light would have been more constant. It is the little things you learn that help long-term in more than one project. I had a flexible shaft controlled by a foot rheostat.. it was indispensable for the kind of work that interested me, it was suspended over my table so I could easily access it for my various needs. The different types of chucks available accommodated the various sizes of drills, burs, grinding stones and polishing
To this day I hang a flexible shaft outfit from my office window, over one of my work tables, even though my Foredom gave up the ghost long ago, I still kept all the parts, just in case… Since I no longer work in precious and semi precious metals, I replaced my need for doing smaller projects with a Dremel. That I could use when I was sculpting with Apoxie medium, or wood. I’m an artist with a need to express my visual pieces with depth, and texture that can be and hopefully is tactile.
The Foredom was and is probably the tool that I most enjoyed having over the years, I can carve small rocks with the Dremel, and it does do a lot of what I could do with the Foredom, but it is what we get used to and what we use while learning and feeling our way with a new skill that adds to the dimension of our work. I think so anyway.
Jewelry whether we are making it or wearing it, is an art form. What we wear, how we wear it, speaks of our way of expressing a visual statement. n’est pas? Errr no that web piece is not something I would make or wear, but I appreciate the work that went into it, the detail, the patience .. and even more I would applaud the woman or male who would wear it.
“Everything old is new again” The fashion mags are showing the “Hobo” look, vintage 70’s Hippie style jewelry is back. hmmm I sigh and turn the page, I no longer want to have the gold, platinum, best stones, and classic pieces, I never did.. I like my gemstones uncut, and the metal thick and sculpted, that was the reason I started making my own….. but….. I’m attracted to the semi precious stones that were worn in biblical times, and during wiccan ceremonies. I prefer pieces that speak to me, because someone wanted to express themselves by doing something different. Not something that is manufactured and spit out by the gross.
I’ve taken to searching out thrift shops and pawn shops looking for unique pieces that still have their past owners energy and history on them, so that they have a “voice” that can be heard by the person willing to listen… these are the treasures that I enjoy the most. LOL this musing all because I looked at my Dremel this morning, and thought of my long gone Foredom.
I found an amazing piece today, I don’t think a picture would do it justice, but if I find a way to show it to you, I will… meanwhile… thanks for meandering down memory lane with me. From me to you…
Namaste – Oyashikiri
photos from Pinterest
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