Lesson 2: Pearl Knotting

Week 2! Time to tame that shrew (aka fear of failure) and start making some jewelry. It sure was difficult to get myself started. I kept making excuses: I don't have all the tools! I need to finish bigger homework first! I've always been this "brave" about new and tough things! I tried to re-teach myself not to think like that, but the truth is we are "all victims of our upbringing", as one of my friends sometimes says, and yes, I was taught that being smart is all you need. I now know that effort is 80% of anyone's success (Just look at Tesla! I read somewhere that he only slept for four hours a day.), but that little hint of doubt always comes to my mind. Funnily enough, I saw an interview with Richard E. Clark, instructional technology professor from USC, who said he kept postponing learning statistics as a graduate student until one day he said to himself "Alright! Stop this!". That tickled me because he is dry eminence and I am string beans. So, if he can overcome his fears and beliefs, so can I! (I just need to keep reminding myself that if I fail, it is because I am new to this, not because I am utterly stupid. Hence, the value of this assignment is for me to grow and learn. It was not created to test my IQ.)

Before I start contemplating on what I learnt this week, here is a video on the technique I tried to learn. It is called Pearl Knotting. 

Surprisingly, making this bracelet did not take long. Overall, it is a simple technique. However, my first piece is full of flaws. It turns out that tying a knot right against the pearl is close to impossible. There are all sorts of physics and chemistry laws that are working against you, so after a few clumsy attempts I told myself: "Alright! This is not gonna work! Be smart! What do you already know that can help you do this in a more efficient way!" 1. Cyanoacrylate is super glue. I have a brand new coffee table. Move to the other room! 2. Pearls are heavier than the tread, so if I use gravity to my advantage and try to hold the string with already attached pearls vertically, it might be easier to tie the pearl right next to the knot on the other side. (Will you look at that? It worked!!!) 3. You need to hold the tread, the awl and the pearl at the same time! However, there is a tiny problem: you only have two hands! Apply pressure to the tread to easy the movements of the awl! 

Pressure? Gravity? Cyanacrylate? I was always avoiding physics and chemistry, so the fact that I can meaningfully applying some of those concepts just amazes me. I guess my Type II Elaboration (Martinez, 2010) came into play :) I connect with prior knowledge like nobody's business. Or did jewelry making just helped me understand gravity? Hm...

Jewelry Making Lesson 1: Finding Proper Tools

Jewelry making. Fun! Finally, I get to do something I've always wanted to do but never had time: make earrings and fun necklaces. Yay! (Notice how I do not lack intrinsic motivation for this assignment! Wink! Wink!) Plus, let us be honest! How hard can it be? All you need to do is buy a few trinkets, find a quiet place in the house to sit down and enjoy!! Right?

Wrong! Lesson #1: Martinez is right when he says:
         "I knew then, and still know, how wrong I can be even when my ideas seem absolutely certain."

Jewelry making is nothing like I imagined it to be. However, I am not too worried about it. My naive theory pushed me towards creating my own self-efficacy beliefs (I thought to myself: I am absolutely capable of doing this! What is more, I will have so much fun!), signing up for an online class (Bandura helped one more time: I am a visual learner and I thought that if I find a good online workshop, which I could watch, I could learn by simple imitation), and looking forward to it (I want to make some Christmas presents for my friends. That will be a pretty rewarding experience in itself. Hence, I secured the reinforcement element.). Now all I need to do is make it happen. 

The workshop I signed up for, Jewelry Making (Bead, Wrap, Chain & Etch)  with Max Goodman seems very well organized and most importantly, tailored towards beginners. So, I watched the first video: Introduction and Materials. This is where I struggled first. I took a piece of paper and sat down to take notes. This always helps me stay focused. 1. A well-organized tool box. Got it! 2. Chain-nose pliers! Ok! 3. Round pliers. Another pair? This is going to be more expensive than I thought! 4. Wire cutter! 5. Tweezers! 6. Clear acrylic spray! Ugh, I wonder what that is in Serbian! I don't think I've ever seen something like this! Hm... Wait! What was the 7th item again!!! Rewind! So, it took a while until I made my list! Ha-ha! But, by the time I finished the video I felt pretty confident that I can now go and purchase the tools I need for this project! I cut out my coupons for Michaels and went. 

Challenge number two: recall. Yes, I saw Max holding the items in her hands and yes, I made notes, and yes, I downloaded her list, as well. Still, it was not enough. I ended up buying 13 items, three of which had nothing to do with jewelry making (got a bit distracted by the sale there!) and two of which were wrong. So, I managed to hold eight items in my short-term memory! How funny is that! I guess Miller's "magical number seven, plus or minus two" is correct. Who knew? My "external memory" (Martinez, 2010, p.62) helped to a point, but since I could not remember any visual details about the correct product, and the store shelves overwhelmed me with choices, I had to give up on buying the items I did not remember specifically. Luckily, I have everything I need for the next lesson, so stay tuned!