Well, today was both a good day and a bad day. Let me tell you about the good part of the day. I learned how to make a doublet and a triplet opal, although my class has not begun the cutting part. We just know the choosing and the epoxying part. I also finished several opals today, but hear is where the bad part comes into play.
First of all, you must understand something about me. I am a bit of a perfectionist. I tend to try to do certain things as perfect as I can, and if I can’t, I kick myself repeatedly in the proverbial behind. So much so, that it leaches into other aspects of my work. Well, I am a bit frustrated with the business end of jewelry at this moment. And, I see this as a reflection on my pieces and my abilities. (It is amazing what one small, unthinking comment, albeit not said in a malicious manner, can do to you.) These negative feelings leached into the cut stones I was working on in the afternoon thus they ended up not being well formed at all, at least not to me. I began to look at every little mistake and mishap as some type of failure on my part. (Yes, even though it is my first time cabbing.) I couldn’t make the stone do what I wanted the way I had done yesterday.
My instructor, Sarah, graciously salvaged my work and helped me to finish the stones, most of which came out semi-decent. However, this second half of the day did not help my confidence any at all. All I can hope for is a better day tomorrow with my triplet and doublet stone. Perhaps, I may even be able to pick out an extra stone, because despite the mishaps of today, I really do enjoy working with stones. It’s as much fun as making jewelry.
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