Mummy Magnet!
In the run up to my opening I was working late in the laundry and my 11 year old son came in and asked: "I'm bored, what can I do?" Sound familiar? Well, several things sprung to mind including, go to bed! Tempted as I was to say that, I just knew he'd go in and turn on a computer game. Oh dilemma!
All thoughts of good mothering and tucking him in bed went out the window and I said: "O.K., if you want to be here, you have to help out." He agreed and to keep him occupied I got out my silver scraps and a hammer and set him the task of making little tags. He then hallmarked them. I was mindful that my neighbours might not appreciate his enthusiasm with the hammer. Seeing me polishing rings, of course he wanted to do that too, so I let him...minus the polish. I got him using brass brushes, both at the sink and on my pendant drill. He could see the instant results and just loved it.
I'd just finished a new pod ring so I gave him a go at hallmarking that as well. He didn't do too badly.
Because he'd worked on both rings pictured above plus the fact that the evening is burned in my memory as special, I haven't taken the rings off since! No, they weren't included in the exhibition. I just couldn't bring myself to sell them. Talk about bad business person! However, what these rings represent is priceless to me.
I captured a bit of it on video and I just laughed as he shook his head as if to say...Mum...Not the camera again!
All thoughts of good mothering and tucking him in bed went out the window and I said: "O.K., if you want to be here, you have to help out." He agreed and to keep him occupied I got out my silver scraps and a hammer and set him the task of making little tags. He then hallmarked them. I was mindful that my neighbours might not appreciate his enthusiasm with the hammer. Seeing me polishing rings, of course he wanted to do that too, so I let him...minus the polish. I got him using brass brushes, both at the sink and on my pendant drill. He could see the instant results and just loved it.I'd just finished a new pod ring so I gave him a go at hallmarking that as well. He didn't do too badly.
Because he'd worked on both rings pictured above plus the fact that the evening is burned in my memory as special, I haven't taken the rings off since! No, they weren't included in the exhibition. I just couldn't bring myself to sell them. Talk about bad business person! However, what these rings represent is priceless to me.
I captured a bit of it on video and I just laughed as he shook his head as if to say...Mum...Not the camera again!