Last two weeks, I've had a trial for a jewellery apprenticeship at a local, well known jewellers and I've been able to extend that to a month long trial before the final decision is made as to whether I'm officially signed on as an apprentice.
Though I've only been there for two weeks, I've managed to learn so much it makes my head spin.
In a way, it feels like going back to the very beginning of my jewellery making, having to relearn techniques and accepted ways of working for a more commercial setting.
I've had to relearn how to make a plain wedding style band... Harder than it sounds!
The ring needs to be made from scratch, that is, from stock gauge, including getting all the measurements right from the start so as to avoid wasting any metal. Precise dimensions are integral, as are speed in making and uniformity.
Math. Guh. Bane of my brain. Equations for finding volume of metal, lengths needed for specific dimensions, pi, circumference, diameter, division, teeny tiny little measurements, oh how i've not missed you!
Still, I've having so much fun and, even if I don't get the apprenticeship, I've learnt more in the last couple of weeks than I could have hoped for.