I've been thinking about this alot lately: why do I make jewelry, specifically? What is jewelry to me?
I keep coming back to this question for a few reasons. One is that, as an artist-entrepreneur, I need to understand who I am: what my brand is, what my style is, and who I’m creating for. It’s hard to market yourself when you don’t have a clear answer to, “What kind of jewelry do you make?”- especially when your shop contains several different styles. I've learned that if a jeweler has too many different styles, then the customer gets confused, doesn't trust that the artist made the items, and goes away.
I need the customer to stay and trust me because that's how I make a living. That's how I get to keep doing this work.
But here's the thing- if you know me, you know I'm not fancy. I don't wear makeup unless I'm dressed up and even then it's minimal. I'm not a fashionista, though I’ve started to appreciate fashion more as I get older. Probably because younger women can get away with things that older women can't. And I just want to wear pretty clothes sometimes. But I don't need to go out shopping every weekend nor do I need or want the "latest and greatest". I love a small wardrobe of quality clothes that fit, look good on me, and make me feel good.
So, why did I choose jewelry as my craft? To be honest, I kind of fell into it. This journey could just as easily have been with pottery or wood-turning.
I have always loved handmade jewelry. At local festivals, I'd go into each and every jewelry booth and ogle what they had and lament that I couldn't afford it. One Christmas, I was given a beading book with a starter set of pliers and beads, and, guys, it's been a rollercoaster ever since. As I progressed with beading, I wanted to learn more and more. Then came classes, books, videos, online courses, art markets, etc, etc.
This craft has taken over my life, in the best way, and shown me that craftsmanship is my passion.
I wanted very badly to be a scientist. But life had other plans, and over time I’ve realized that being a craftsperson is my true work. So it’s not jewelry itself that fills me up—it’s the act of creating something beautiful from nothing. From raw material. While yes, I do hope people love and cherish what I make, at the end of the day, I do this work because I love the work.
It might sound shallow or self-centered, but I want to build beautiful things and put them out into the world for others to admire.
