Thursday, September 8, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Since the late 60s when I would make love beads for my friends, I have had a long affair with jewelry. In my late 30s I decided I would try to make my own and although my first attempts were only slightly better than the love beads I made as a young girl, I kept going. I took classes, read books, and spent many hours in bead stores asking questions of complete strangers about how they created their jewelry.
I can spend hours looking at beads or getting lost in my work in my studio. I have made hundreds of necklaces and thousands of earrings for myself and friends over the years and refined my techniques. My style? Kind of all over the map. I start with the beads – might be a whole string or one incredible pendant and from there I go where the beads take me.
My goal now is to take my true love to the rest of the world. I have given away so many pieces of my handmade jewelry that I’ve lost count. Recently on a retreat with my best friends from high school I brought all the necklaces from my stash, laid them out, and said help yourself. It was such a joy to see them look through the pieces, ask about the beads, try them on, and then through the course of the weekend to see my jewelry on them. It was then that I knew it was time.
Someone once told me that true personal growth comes from doing those things we fear most. This is why at 50 I finally learned to swim and now I am taking the leap into selling my jewelry. Every time I say that the first thought that pops into my head is “What if no one likes what I made?” That is the fear I must conquer now.
As I start posting pictures of my work I hope whoever reads this will tell me what they think, good or bad, and any suggestions or questions are always welcome.
My newest adventure begins now.
I can spend hours looking at beads or getting lost in my work in my studio. I have made hundreds of necklaces and thousands of earrings for myself and friends over the years and refined my techniques. My style? Kind of all over the map. I start with the beads – might be a whole string or one incredible pendant and from there I go where the beads take me.
My goal now is to take my true love to the rest of the world. I have given away so many pieces of my handmade jewelry that I’ve lost count. Recently on a retreat with my best friends from high school I brought all the necklaces from my stash, laid them out, and said help yourself. It was such a joy to see them look through the pieces, ask about the beads, try them on, and then through the course of the weekend to see my jewelry on them. It was then that I knew it was time.
Someone once told me that true personal growth comes from doing those things we fear most. This is why at 50 I finally learned to swim and now I am taking the leap into selling my jewelry. Every time I say that the first thought that pops into my head is “What if no one likes what I made?” That is the fear I must conquer now.
As I start posting pictures of my work I hope whoever reads this will tell me what they think, good or bad, and any suggestions or questions are always welcome.
My newest adventure begins now.
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