My girlfriend surprised me last Friday with a surprise visit. She had the day off, so it was nice to have her see a day in the life of an Associate Editor for the Web.
Unfortunately, editing the BookShop News newsletter wasn’t as fun as she expected. Soon, thumb twiddling began.
Not wanting to bore her to tears I finished up my work, looked up and said Wanna go make something?
Her eyes sparkled and I could see the wheels turning as she thought of all the possibilities.
What are our options? she asked.
Being the good boyfriend, I said Let’s make some jewelry.
I ushered her into the shop and we headed straight to the scrap bin. This is so pretty, what’s the deal? she inquired.
Thats cherry, I said, and this is oak, and this is walnut. I showed a nice off-cut of a Bible box project that was to be featured in the October issue.
That one is my favorite! She said. Apparently that wasnt the only scrap she liked , her arms were already full of strips of cherry and oak.
What she doesnt know is at this time I was furiously thinking about what in the world we could make with this piece of walnut that she could be proud of making and I wouldnt have to lose fingers. Remembering a conversation she and I had the other day I suggested we make a ring.
Bob Lang was in the shop with us so I asked him what he thought. Apparently, because rings are circular, grain direction wouldnt matter too much (it would be weak at least on two points). Because I was aware of my girlfriend’s preferences in jewelry, I knew that shed would design something large and chunky so grain strength wasn’t an issue.
My girlfriend was reassured and went to work on a block design using Bobs compass. It was then time to get the drill press. At first excited about our speed of progress, I soon found myself dumbfounded with the realization that I have no clue how to size this ring. As I stared into the Forstner boxes, my girlfriend broke my trance and took out her silver ring. She then grabbed some bits and gave me the ring that fit.
She said this: Use this one.
Shes a keeper.
I quickly drilled the hole and then headed to the band saw to cut out the shape. This was my favorite part. After my work was done, I could teach my girlfriend how to use a raspel. We were back in our cubicle within minutes, and she was forming her ring with joy. It inspired her to write a song.
You tiny rasp! Because I help you get into small spaces.
With her work nearly completed, we went back into the shop for some final sanding. In no time she had a beautiful ring entirely of her own design, entirely homemade.
This project was much simpler than a dovetailed Bible case, but it was fun to show my girlfriend how easy it is to make something you will love and treasure.
I must go to the shop more often.
