Expanding Boundaries

March roared into Texas with record breaking low temps this week, so I took it's lead and chose to push some boundaries if my own, to get out of my comfort zone and try some things I've been wanting to do, but was not confident in doing. So glad I did!

Trying new things can be so intimidating, so terrifying, yet so satisfying! It always is a thrill to jump in there and just DO IT!

One of the things I've been wanting to do forever is to make myself a small hammered silver ring. I don't know what I was afraid of! It wasn't using a torch as I use a pretty big flame to make my enamel jewelry! If I were to guess, knowing my personality, (a 4 with two wings on the enneagram scale of personalities), I didn't want to waste material in case it didn't work!

Yesterday, I threw caution to the wind (more like "while trembling in my boots"), I hammered and soldered my first little silver ring! I say "my first" because now that I see I can do it... Katy bar the door! I loved it! It was actually fun and I learned so much! Like, don't measure, cut, then hammer your silver thinking its going to remain the same size! lol So my first ring is a thumb ring, who cares? I Did It!!!

The next thing I conquered was an enamel design I've had floating in my head for months.

This design required patience and experimentation... not to mention a lot of mental and metal prep work to get to the point of executing the experiments!

But I was so pleased with the outcome!

Below are the results of the labor of love put into the original design... no longer floating in my head but manifesting right before my eyes! I cannot explain the excitement as I watched the enamels cool and the colors begin to expose themselves!

These beauties will be showing up in my shop later this week! Like the new ring I made... I can't wait to make some more!

Expanding my boundaries, getting out of my comfort zone, doing new things has been so good for my soul! I am so grateful I ignored my silly fears and tried it anyway!

~Selah