Last weekend, I had hoped to catch up on the stack of jewelry related products I’ve got waiting for review. I did manage to make a dent, including one book (entitled Mostly Metals) and a metal clay DVD by Sherri Haab. I also have a really cool chain maille kit from Urban Maille that I had to pass onto by husband because my whimpy hands decided not to cooperate when I started trying to assembly the 14-gauge jump rings that were part of the kit. I know he will actually really enjoy the kit because he took a chain making class a few years ago at our local rock club, so crossing fingers, he’ll humor me and get that done this next weekend and then report to me so I can write up that review.

Other than that, I have seven books and another DVD (this one on resin jewelry, yeah!) that I need to review. It bothers me when these sorts of tasks start stacking up. I really do try to keep up with them, but I also don’t want my About.com Jewelry Making site to just be full of product reviews. I prefer it mainly to be full of projects (which take a good deal of time to design and write up) with a healthy sprinkling of related information. But, obviously, it is time to dig in and get serious about these books!

And, I love books of all kinds! I got one the other day, A Charming Exchange (see the Amazon add above) that looks amazing. It was all I could do not to start in on it right then and there, but paper grading has taken a major priority in my life these days. I’ve been teaching two composition classes this summer, and they are nearing the end, so that means lots and lots of grading and student hand-holding. (With about a week and a half left, this is about the time many students start getting concerned about their final grade.) Summer school is just so darn difficult!

Unfortunately, most students think that since summer sessions are shorter that means easier, but actually, it’s the other way around. You are trying to cram 16 weeks of curriculum into 6 weeks. Of course, some pairing down has to happen. For example, for one class they normally are required to read a novel and write a research paper on it. I switched that (and am actually thinking of doing this way in the fall too) so that they write the research paper on a play instead of a novel. This cuts down on the length of reading required, but they still get the experience of writing the research paper, which for many is their first time doing one.

But, it’s almost over, and during my brief break between this semester and fall semester, I will get to put my craft hat back on and wear it much longer. Needless to say, I have a huge list of “want to make” craft projects to do!