5.19.2025 I Want to Know, Where Does the Time Go?

Engraving Bench at ACC

I can't believe how quickly the spring semester (or a whole year since our daughter's PhD graduation) flew by. 

I've been taking classes at ACC for 18 months - engraving was my fourth class. I finished last week, and in just a couple more I'll be starting summer school.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating - I have always loved jewelry - and learning about the craft behind it enhances that feeling.

I have very early memories of watching my Mom choose her jewelry when she and my Dad were going out, or in the mornings when she was getting dressed for work.  

I started buying my own (silver, but real jewelry - not cheap, plated stuff) in my early teens with my babysitting money.  I've kept it, too.  My daughter has several of my silver rings, I still have some really old earrings, including silver and turquoise ones from the same shop as the rings, the small gold piercing studs from my first holes fifty years ago, and of course the things that belonged to my Mom*.

Now, about this past semester...I think engraving might be the most challenging class I've taken so far (I said that about stone setting, too) - but this was all new - including the tools.

I'd never held a graver until January of this year, and certainly didn't imagine that I'd be able to create engraved pieces by May...but I did!

Both of these pieces were done with a square graver on titanium, and then heated to create the patina (color).  My plan is to make then into pendants, eventually.

That said, I would never claim to be an engraver. I've taken one class and even becoming proficient takes years...skilled, that takes a lot longer.

In addition to teaching us about the tools - including how to sharpen the gravers - and techniques, our instructor, Chelsee Sandaker, introduced to one or two master engravers every week. It was interesting to me that some engravers are also fabricators (they make jewelry, too), others are not, and people engrave all sorts of things that are not jewelry!

I confess, that not only am I following a whole bunch of new folks, I've added A LOT of engraved jewelry to my wish list!  Like every class I take, engraving has enhanced my appreciation for what it means both to create and own jewelry.

Next month, I'm excited to be learning another new skill and making things in class again. I'll be back at ACC starting the first week of June, taking advanced enameling with my wonderful friend and teacher, De. 

*While looking for something else, I came across this enameled pendant that belonged to my Mom. It was one she wore a lot.  I'm sure she bought it at an art show or on vacation - I don't remember its origin - just that it was a favorite piece.  It has a pair of matching stud earrings, but I'm not a studs person, so I'm thinking about creating my own pair to go with it in class this summer.

Stay tuned for updates. Until next time.