Working Smart

by Judy Larson

It is very important to take care of our health. Every 20-30 minutes during any stretch of time I am working on jewelry or sitting at my computer, I stop for hand, neck, and back stretches. Some times that is not enough.

Instructions

Recently my daughter, a high school teacher, asked me to make 150 or so textured stack rings to give to her graduating students, which I have done for years with no problems. However, repetitive motions can cause problems, which happened this year. After securing a wire length in a miter jig and vise, I will tightly hold it in my hand and/or brace it on the work surface. Then the filing begins. After 15 rings, I noticed that the inside of my wrist and going up my arm a few inches was starting to hurt, which had never happened before. After a few hand stretches, I kept going for a few more rings but had to stop because the pain continued and I knew it could possibly morph into lasting damage. It was time to stop and re-evaluate how I had always done things.

Judy Larson's Working Smart - , General Education, , working smart

We have to pay attention to our bodies. Most of the time they will tell us when we need to make changes. Each of us can come up with alternative ways of doing things that work for us that may also work for others. Maybe this will help you.

I placed two 3"x3"x7" blocks, which I use to raise metal pieces up to make the edges easier to file and sand, side by side with a space between them. I then placed the wire secured in the miter vise with the end to be filed facing up on top of the two blocks. I did not have to use anywhere near the same amount of strength to hold the miter vise in place for filing. No more pain, and I kept working the rest of the day, stopping every 20-30 minutes for hand, neck, and back stretches as usual.

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Tools

Multi Angle Cutting Jig

VIS-512.00

VIS-512.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $84.95
Gold Club Price: $63.71

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GROBET FILE - BARRETTE CUT 2, 6"

FIL-31.030

FIL-31.030
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.20
Gold Club Price: $23.40

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Category: General Education
Technique(s): General Education

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!

Working Smart

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