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January 24, 2006
The Neverending Spring...
Not that I mind, mind you...its just been a fabulous calm, warm winter...perfect of the Vampyre, I take it out all the time with the top down...when I see other Miata's (called "MX-5" now, like their European counterparts) with their tops up when its sunny and 75 outside, I think 'what are you thinking? - this could not BE any nicer for a top-down drive"...oh well, my top is down most of the year, if I didn't think a squirrel would build a nest in the floorboard, I'd keep it down all the time...I wish I had a garage so I could do just that, but maybe one day...
Just got back from a long, interesting smithing class...am still working in copper, did lots of cutouts..next week I'm going to 'sweat solder' some brass and silver onto a large copper cutout I made today...I've never done sweat soldering before, so this will be fun...you know, there is a LOT of prep that needs to be done in silversmithing - I see other jewelry makers who don't finish ends properly, their stones are set poorly, they don't even CLEAN their finished pieces (they admit there is firescale on the piece!) and yet, folks buy their stuff...I don't get it...would you pay money if someone brought you spaghetti that had been dropped on the floor, and meatballs that weren't cooked thru properly? What is it about people who buy unfinished stuff, is it appealing in some way I don't get? I like hammered, shabby chic looking stuff, not everything has to be perfectly shined or lined up in little rows, but there should be something said for a proper construction, right? do you buy cracked beads? Hell, I don't even like selling beads that are slightly out of whack - my friends go thru my beadjar and yell at me 'what is wrong with this bead????'...but if I think its bad, then its bad, and it stays in the jar...(or some folks steal the beads from me, which is fine and all, but yuck to that)...do you buy half eaten loaves of bread from the grocery? I guess I just don't understand what folks think is acceptable...
Posted by Donner at January 24, 2006 02:42 PM
Comments
I'm with you on the unfinished jewelry that people seem to just snatch up (and at crazy prices too). I don't understand it either. You're going to love the sweat soldering...once you start it you'll be figuring out what to sweat solder next while you're right in the middle of your first project, believe me.
Posted by: amy at January 24, 2006 05:21 PM
I know what you mean about the unfinished jewelry also. I see stuff at art shows, even side-by-side, with beautifully done pieces and the poorly crafted stuff sells like there's no tomorrow. Some people just don't know quality even if its staring them right in the face. Your pieces are beautiful and I received a lot of compliments the other day when I wore my icicle earrings and Donner beads. In the end quality will always win out.
Posted by: Kathy James at January 24, 2006 09:08 PM