So I have been down in Nashville, TN the past two weeks, out of twelve, at the New Approach School for Jewelers. Everything has been better than expected so far. I was worried a little bit about how close Murfreesboro is in proximity to where I am and what that could mean in terms of the people here accepting me. I haven't had any cops pull me over or anything out of the ordinary as far a being racially profiled, mainly as a terrorist by the anyone down here. It is the bible belt but people are more wrapped up in their own lives and don't care about what I am up to. I feel comfortable each day.
School is going very well and I am learning more than I thought I could in these first two weeks. Some of the things we are making are getting more difficult but no one really seems behind. Even if we struggle, Blaine reminds us that he was in a lot worse shape when he started out in his career. When we move on a couple of us, me included, think that we didnt quite grasp the hand skills learned that day. But once we come back around again to that specific thing it has gotten easier somehow. I guess that is the hands and brain taking time to mull things over and then knowing what they have to do to compensate. My eye for detail, which has always been amazing, is even sharper because all of the things I need to see are much smaller than ever before. Some things, such as cutting bearings for stones and making sure of a proper fit, are still giving a couple of us trouble but when we look back at what was done earlier in the week we see how far we have come. This learning style is the best I have ever encountered. I am a visual learner and must see things done, and trust me the camera Blaine uses shows everything in great detail, and it helps a lot since I am naturally awkward when it comes to learning new hands on skills. I should be taking notes but luckily a woman named Sara allows me to use here notebook to review each weekend. This is important as forgetting a specific step can be troublesome to progress. This next week is still stone setting basics, although they would be advanced at any other school, and the use of gravers to clean up details, making them far superior to anything I have made in the past. I like using a graver, its like a little knife at the edge of a small ball that rest in your hand. We cut practice lines in some of the rings Friday and I really enjoyed the challenge.
As far as my AS and working with small parts, my skill is improving. These types of things are supposed to be very difficult for someone like me to work on. I guess if I can learn to use my body to throw a baseball with pinpoint control, at the college level nonethelss, than I can pretty much learn anything. I will keep you guys updated but as far as some of the processess in actually making the jewelry, I cannot divulge them, but I can post some pictures of the final products. I think you will be surprised when I do. Until next time.
