The past few weeks have been the start of my at-home in-depth project.
My jewelry making went through a big change. I continued doing lots of research, but I was also able to do some hands-on work at home. This major change was due to Coronavirus. I started finding ways that I could work at home and it was successful. I did my best to work around Coronavirus and continue learning about jewelry making as best as possible. Overall, I did tons of great research and learned lots about jewelry making once again. This isn’t saying that everything ran perfectly, but I think I took a great step forward.
At first, my project started off as pure research. I found more videos and websites and went as in-depth as I could researching theory and history. I watched Youtube videos, went on Brittanica, and found viable resources. I found that the research went great I found out more information I never knew about. I also continued using the book that my mentor gave me and figured out some common mistakes such as using the wrong metal, overheating, and soldering with the wrong colours. Tips like looking at the colour of the metal when it is hot, being as flush as possible when soldering, and going slowly all really helped.
Below I put links to the websites I found most interesting and useful.
The History of Jewelry: https://www.britannica.com/art/jewelry/The-history-of-jewelry-design
Jewelry Making Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czmJ2YyNDBs
Turning Jewelry as a Hobby into a Business: https://www.shopify.ca/blog/203365449-start-a-jewellery-making-business
Since I haven’t been able to meet with my mentor and use her tools, I went out and got some of my own. I used some of my dad’s tools and set up a workplace. I used several pliers, steel wool, a butane torch, mallets, hammers, tweezers, water and a cooling pot, a measuring tape, a diamond file, and a workplace. I set up the tools in my backyard and created a workspace on some wood, rocks, and a metal sheet. In the end, I had enough tools to do some great work. I polished up my copper bracelet and my silver ring, and they ended up looking super shiny. I didn’t have all the right tools, but I did what I could.
My big project was working on my twisted ring. Each day I spent a bit of time working on it. As you saw before, it was a straight, dark, twisted copper band. I heated and cooled it several times to make it soft. After that, I spent time happening with hammers and mallets to make the side of the ring flat. This took a while and I had some problems heating the metal because the butane torch wasn’t the best. However, I kept working.
After flattening and heating, I got to measuring. I used the measuring tool from the book and measured the circumference of my finger. After that, I took wire cutters and cut the metal to the size of 6.5 cm. After this, I used the diamond file. I filed the ends of the ring because I wasn’t going to solder and I was going to leave it open-ended. I also filed the flat parts to give the ring an etched design. After that, I spent ages using steel wool and getting it as shiny as possible. Finally, I was able to bend the metal using pliers into the ring shape. After everything, it turned out really great, and I was proud because I made it almost completely on my own, and it looked great.
Meeting with my mentor was again the big roadblock of these past weeks. I feel like those first weeks of In-Deth Mme. Toure did a great job preparing me. I learned all the basics and got through many struggles. Now with coronavirus, I’ve been on my own. I was given a book by my mentor, and I’ve been able to use the book and the internet as my main sources. I know that Mme. Toure has been busy, and I’ve been respecting how much she has done for me. I’ve only talked to her if I had any questions, but besides that, I’ve turned my project more towards being self-lead. Altogether, I think that being able to lead my project shows how much I learned. I was able to take the skills I learned from my mentor and apply them by myself. Even though I haven’t been able to meet with my mentor, I’m thankful for all she has done and I’ll continue working.
Coronavirus is a challenge to work through, but I’ve continued doing my best.
Before:
After:
Above are some pictures I took to show how my current projects are going. My two rings and bracelet were all attached as images. I also attached images of the tools.
1. What kinds of learning opportunities does the mentor provide to expose you to new learning?
My mentor provides lots of learning opportunities to expose me to new learning. From actual jewelry making work to constant questions to teaching about tools to giving me research materials, Mme. Toure has provided lots of things that expose me to new learning. On their own, each of these opportunities would be great, but combined they create an awesome learning environment.
2. What kinds of learning opportunities exist to reinforce new learning?
Online resources, the jewelry making book, my mentor and are all there to reinforce my learning. These opportunities combined have allowed me to continue thriving in my learning. Even with Coronavirus, I still feel I’ve kept up to date and been able to go In-Depth with my learning.
3. What kinds of opportunities exist that might accelerate learning?
The best opportunity to accelerate my learning has been working at home. Since we can’t meet in person, I haven’t been able to do as much hands-on learning. However, to accelerate my learning I was able to create an at-home workspace and do jewelry making at home. This has helped me get to use practical skills, and lead my own learning.
4. When you get together what do you talk about?
When I’ve been able to talk with my mentor, it’s been to ask clarifying questions. Since we don’t meet as much, I’ve been really leading my own learning. I’ve done my own hands-on work and research, but I’ve also been able to contact her whenever I need. She’s there to answer questions and help explain things to me which is super helpful.
5. What is going particularly well in your mentoring relationship right now?
Right now we don’t have much communication, but I know that I can go to her for help whenever I have a question. The trust and ability to communicate efficiently is working best. I don’t want to bother her a lot, as she’s busy with other work, but when I need to contact her questions are answered quickly and in an easy to understand way.
6. What are you learning about one another?
Mme. Toure has been teaching for a very long time, and I think we’ve both learned lots about each other. Her style of teaching worked great for me, and as we went on we worked better with one another. She taught me all the basics and got me started with hands-on work right away. I was surprised, but also super happy that things went quickly. I got comfortable asking for help, and I did more each meeting. We learned how to work off each other. We both learned a lot and it was great.
Until next time…