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Most times it seems that when I am working with my piercing saw, a space/time warp-bubble surrounds me. I no longer hear noises and only see the blade and the line I am following. There is only here, the zone of now. If something does manage to enter this bubble, my saw blade will immediately break. It takes a specific concentration to not break these tiny little blades. I have found it best to try and think of nothing except 'blade' and 'silver' and 'line', but if I must think, the thoughts should be happy and relaxing. Angry or doubtful thoughts will break a blade instantly. I remember, as a beginner, that was very frustrating.
In 1990 I was very fortunate to attend the Fuji jewelry studio in Florence, Italy. My first day in the class I was given a quick demonstration, then handed a jewelers piercing saw and a sheet of silver. I eagerly drew a design and began to put teeth to metal.... Ping! ...What happened?!... Broke a blade...new blade.... ............OK........sawing........Ping! #@%&#@ I went through at least two dozen saw blades my first class.
The next day something happened: the bubble of time-disappearance first descended. It was a very crowded studio with students from all over the world speaking many different languages: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Hebrew, English, Chinese and German. At some point all the chatter and hammering and noise from so many people working went away and by the time I was again aware it was because someone was turning off the lights to close up. Three hours had gone by and I was still using the same blade. I had discovered my first love. After all, I was in Italy, how could I resist falling for this romantic art? The fire, the manipulation, the process from a conceptual idea to a tangible creation that survives through ages.
I can still get swept away with memories from that magical year and all these years later I have never lost this love. Every time I sit at my bench I remember the first blade I set in my first borrowed saw. To this day, as soon as the phone rings, or there is a knock on my door or I think about something I should have done yesterday: Ping!!! #@%&#@
