Online class registration at the Bead&Button show opens tomorrow and I'm still perusing the catalog trying to decide which classes to sign up for. It's a bit of a dilemma for me. I'm somewhat limited in my choices because I don't want to be away from my studio for the entire ten days that classes are offered and many of the classes or workshops that I'd be interested in taking are at the beginning of the week. Because the floor show, where one can purchase all manner of beads, tools, and assorted jewelry making goodies, opens on Thursday and runs through Sunday, I look for classes that fall on those days so I can shop when I'm not in class. I seldom take classes having to do with bead weaving anymore, as I've become adept in designing my own patterns and can decipher by looking at a photo of a piece what stitch was used and how to make it. And my expertise in wirework and metal smithing renders many of the metals classes redundant for me. However, I have found one class that definitely intrigues me. Richard Salley is teaching "Tool Making 101". Having worked with metal for over twenty years, I have quite a collection of beautiful tools including wonderful Fretz hammers, a rolling mill, hydraulic press, bench shears, and a vast array of pliers, etc., but I've never made steel tools! From the catalog photo, I assume the various tools shown would be used for texturing metal. Yes, I think I'll register for this one. I won't walk of class with some sparkly new adornment, but I'll certainly enjoy wielding tools wrought by my own hands in the creation of my jewelry designs!
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