Back to the drawing board.
Well.
I have abandoned project #3 at this point, because despite a couple of hours worth of routing and careful clean-up, it became clear that I was never going to be able to get the last pieces in. Not to mention some pretty glaring errors in routing. Sigh. 
I had nearly quit a half an hour before I got to this point because it was not going well, but I figured I had nothing to lose, so I’d see how far I could get. Seems it was just so far and no farther.
What have I learned from this project?
1) Remember that thing about not worrying about doing a complicated design because I would learn just as much doing it as a simpler one, so why not? Well, I was wrong. I admit it, and am backtracking. Clearly, skinny little pieces in vines and such are not for me at this point in my education, and to continue to screw them up is only going to discourage me. So my next project will involve largish pieces, more geometric shapes, something simpler. When I can do all steps of the process well on simpler projects, I’ll consider complicating things. If you look at the routing around the flower, you see that it’s not terrible. And it’s a big piece. I need more of that type/size of piece.
2) The scribing into paint worked pretty well, but I’ll have to try it again to see how much I love it. I did get a closer line, though, and I found that overall, I had to rout MORE, rather than lamenting overrouting. I’m really not sure how a line drawn outside the shell results in routing that is too small. It’s a mystery at this point.
3) It’s still the routing that is kicking my ass, although there are some improvements. I think I’ve found the right dental burr/router bit combo that will give me the best results and greatest amount of control over all.
4) The use of my mini chisels for the first time was a good call. It helped me to slowly and precisely clean out corners and straighten up cuts. A round bit doesn’t get into the corners with the same precision I can cut pieces with my saw.
5) Speaking of saws, the new jeweler’s saw is a beaut. I like it a lot better than my original. It’s easy to get the blade in and out, and nice and tight. It felt like it sawed easier, but that could be placebo effect from new tools.
6) You don’t save that much money using thin shell. Larry Robinson uses .060” shell across the board, which has 2 benefits: it’s sturdier, and using the same thickness saves hassle in routing and sanding. I may try it and see if I still think it’s true.
I think that’s it for lessons. I have a design in mind for my next project already.
When I trace it to make my pattern, I will make her covering a solid piece and take out the gaps between pieces. I’m going to need bigger pieces of materials, and I’ve been wanting to try to some reconstituted stone because it comes in great colors, so I may put in an order for some abalam pieces, which I liked working with, and some stone at Rescue Pearl. I did my comparison math awhile back and determined that I overpaid significantly for the shell I bought from Luthier’s Mercantile. Rescue seems to have the best prices and greatest variety.
Abandoning #3 was discouraging, I have to say. I was bummed all afternoon. I feel some kind of imperative to get this eventually, given how much I’ve invested in it. But the reality is, I AM learning, and am getting better at some things, not the least of which is knowing when I’m in over my head. So I suppose it’s all good. I just wish it were better. But I’ll keep trying.
