Rolling Along into Week Two- Part 2

Woo Hoo!  Stone setting!  Something about setting stones is always exciting!  It's like you are putting the heart into the piece.  The part that makes it alive.  The spark that lights up the jewelry.  Needless to say, I was glad to jump right into this section.  I know that I have been approaching my setting with only partial knowledge, as most all of my stone setting knowledge has been self taught through books. Or by me pestering my generous goldsmith/metalsmith friends to no end.

Gypsy setting beginnings.

---

Flush setting practice.

We started with gypsy setting and flush setting.  Both I use regularly in my work.  While I struggled through the first few, I realized that I need to dial it back a step to really listen to what was being taught.  After a few more, making adjustments in how I had been tackling it, the new found approach became second nature.  Something I thought would be a no-brainer, took me a few tries to realize I needed to refine my current process to make for a better set stone.  Correct my depth, watch my burnisher angle and make a tight bearing. 

---

Moving quickly along to solitaire prong setting, Blaine directed us through bur control, angle alignment, vector tightening and the finer details that separate the average goldsmiths from the great goldsmiths.  Tiny adjustments can make a world of difference.  It is in the details, but the details don't really take that long.  They can make a huge impact visually.

I received a package of my work back this weekend from a gallery that unfortunately closed it's doors.  So many things I missed or just glazed over.  Not that any of it was horrible, just not what I want to pass as ok anymore.  Oh the humanity!!!  Naw, now I can see the little things that can make a difference in the overall appearance.  Next week starts bead setting!!  I've never done it before.  This should be an interesting ride...Hang on!  It's gonna get bumpy!

---

Two weeks worth of projects and tool making.