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Having a child with a birthday in the same month as Christmas means you have to be a bit creative when it comes to gift giving. Teens know what they want (I have to ask) and that makes it difficult to surprise them with that special gift. Lily did receive some “stuff” for Christmas and her birthday, but I also wanted to treat her to an experience. So, we headed to the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis this past weekend, so she could experience a different type of jewelry making. Her gift was to take the “Make Your Own: Multiple Link Jewelry” class.
The Metal Museum has been on our list of places to visit for a while. Being a writer, I consider myself a creative. I also enjoy sewing and taking pictures. I will admit those skills are a far cry from creating fine metalwork, but you never know what you can do or what you will enjoy until you try.
The “Make Your Own: Multiple Link Jewelry” taught us how to make wire links to create our own jewelry. No previous metalwork skills were required.
The class is one for anyone with no or some or much metalwork experience.
Instructor Lori Gipson (Metal Museum Education and Community Engagement Manager) shared a bit of history about the Metal Museum, which was quite interesting. After that, the linking and jewelry making began.
The class was extremely relaxed. Although we had a project to complete, there were no expectations (no pressure) to finish something.
We had the option of working with brass and/or copper. The use of either is more of a personal preference. Lily chose brass and I chose copper. Wire gauge options were 20, 18 and 16. The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire. Lily chose 20 gauge and I chose 18 gauge to use for making our own links.
Lori made the class fun and easy to understand, walking us through the steps of link making. All the supplies we needed, wire (raw/bare) and pliers, were provided.
Before starting any project, you must have a vision. Putting it on paper enables you to see where you are going and also works as a template for the links you make.
Depending on your skill level, you may end up where you planned to go. Other times, you end up where the link you actually make takes you.
Although there is room for creativity in metalwork (especially during the actual design – shaping the metal), being committed to your original design enables you to finish what you envisioned.
WIth 16 gauge wire, Lily meticulously shaped a clasp using a round nose plier.
It was the perfect finish to her beautiful bracelet.
Lily and I both enjoyed an afternoon making links and jewelry at the Metal Museum. The museum offers classes every month as well as the weekend hands-on classes. Check out “Make Your Own: Recycled Assemblages”, which will be offered on Saturday, January 26, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
We are looking forward to returning to the museum in the spring for two Homeschool Roster field trips. Along with a tour of the museum, grounds and a forging demonstration, we will have another opportunity to be creative with a hands-on bracelet making class. We would love for you to join us.
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©2019 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
