I’ve been studying at Austin Community College for more than 4 years now. I started with a Continuing Education class in welding in 2021. I was working from home and never leaving the house, so I randomly signed up for a class taught in the parking lot of one of ACC’s campuses.

I unexpectedly discovered that I really enjoy working with metal. Welding, in particular, was a very satisfying practice that rewarded focus. I took the second continuing education welding course and then applied as a student (I had to get my first college to send them my undergrad transcript!).

Since then, I’ve expanded my metal-working repertoire from just welding to fabrication, brazing, coppersmithing, sheet metal work, and blacksmithing. This semester, I decided to branch out into smaller things and took the introductory course in the Jewelry department.

The Jewelry Techniques 1 class has a very open structure. We started with three set projects: a simple ring, a toggle bracelet made with jump rings, and a cabochon mount. Then the rest of the semester we could work on any jewelry projects we wanted, with the help and advice of a jeweler with 50 years experience.

These projects taught us how to cut metal using a jeweler’s saw and how to solder with a jeweler’s torch. These are techniques I’ve used before, but scaled way down. The saw blades are tiny and break at the slightest provocation, but offer really fine control and a very narrow kerf. The torch produces a flame the size of one of the cones in a welding/cutting torch!

I finished the starter projects in the first few weeks, which left me with a quandary. I didn’t have any idea what kind of jewelry to make. There have been periods in my life where I’ve worn a fancy (like $200) watch, tie bars, or cuff links. But I haven’t worn any jewelry regularly for a long time.

What to do…