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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

VOLUNTEERS!

I had a shop in downtown Wakefield, RI for three years.  During that time, I "hired" volunteer students and taught them how to do basic metalsmithing and basic stained glass work.  Over the course of three years, I worked with about 7 student volunteers, ranging in age from 14-50.  I loved it.  I benefited in many ways by opening my doors to students. The deal was, I teach them for free while they hone their skills on necessary work that needs to get done in order to decrease my "production" time.  After almost seven years after closing the shop, I now have another opportunity to start working with volunteers again.  Just this week, I began with Noah, aged 16,  who is curious,  detail-oriented and asks good questions. Two excellent qualities in a student learning a craft.  I  really like working with others in my basement studio as long as the chemistry is right; the right amount of talk, the right amount of laughter and conversation (which is different than talk). So thank you to Noah and Emma who will be starting next week.  Below see a picture of a pair of cuff links made from Spanish coins that were heavily worked on by Wen, my first student.