My First Bezel

I have been doing a happy dance all afternoon!!  I have been wanting to learn how to make a bezel and set stones for a long time, but have always been afraid to try it.  Well, today I said to heck with it, the worst I can do is ruin a piece of copper.  So, I went for it.  

I had a piece of copper that I had already designed and etched, so I measured the bezel wire around my stone, cut it and filed the ends.  Next was the soldering.  Mind you, I am not very good at soldering yet, but it worked perfectly!!!  So, by this time I am feeling pretty darn good.  

Next it was time to solder the bezel to the copper piece...........oh my, I was getting scared.  I put both pieces into the pickle solution to get them really clean, centered the bezel and added the flux and solder.  I remembered that I needed to heat the entire piece evenly and as I was moving my torch around the piece the solder melted and flowed like a river!!  Oh my gosh, I had done it!!!  

This would be happy dance time!  I was so excited!!  

Ok, so I had to calm myself down because there was still one very important element to this project..............the stone had to fit.  It did!!! 

Another happy dance!!!  

I know my piece is not perfect, but to me it's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!!!  I can't wait to do it again.  

 

Medal Day

Today was medal day at the Special Olympics basketball tournament. 

Kaidee's team played one game - which they lost, but that's ok because then we had time to go to lunch before the medals ceremony. 

Heck, I don't even know where Kaidee's team placed in the tournament and nobody cared about that.   They all had such a wonderful time and were so proud of themselves............that is all that matters.  Everybody was so excited to get their medals, they didn't care one bit what color they were. 

The energy level in that gym was amazing.  Everybody was hooting and hollering and clapping for everybody else............such an amazing experience. 

Here is Kaidee and one of her best friends wearing their medals. 

I have such a smile in my heart right now.