metalsmithing class notes

Today in my metalsmithing class, I worked on making what will hopefully become links in a chain. We are learning basic forging techniques, and I am attempting to master making a "transition." My classmates all seemed to make this sample fast, and move on to the next. I did not. I produced all varieties of mistakes. Today, time seemed like it flew by. I was so engrossed in what I was doing, I had to look at the clock twice to grasp that class time was over. I packed up my clumsy samples, home I went, got out my little bench block and a heavier hammer, and kept on trying.  All at once it seemed that I "got it." My hammer strokes were smoothing out the shape as they went, almost erasing my previous blows, leaving a lovely satin sort of finish, even before sanding. The hammer wasn't hitting the block, and with each blow the block gave back to me a little pinging sound. I never imagined I would like the feel of the metal so much, or that I would care about hammers. Fun times.