Hello all!

I'm a long time forum lurker, but not participator - shame on me.

I love metal and tools (and cameras and lenses) and started off sinking and raising a few bowls in pewter and copper. After getting a numb left thumb from all the hammering, I thought I'd try making smaller, less noisy things - like jewellery.

Despite enjoying the process of fabricating, I struggle with motive - I don't wear jewellery myself, I don't want to make things that I might not like for other people and I don't want to sell something that's taken me so long to make - which would appear to make the process pointless and me a lost cause!

My thinking is that if I joined in the monthly themed competitions I'd have a legitimate reason to play with my tools - I don't suppose anyone else out there has suffered from a similar quandary?

Sally