Golden

I just finished a custom project for a family member. It is a 50th anniversary gift so gold was required. I use a little bit of gold in my line, and like using it. However, I do not feel expert with it. It is easy to melt. It is very expensive. I have always wanted to use gold more. I felt this was a safe way to achieve that objective. I enjoy working with gold. It is dense, soft yet strong, and enchanting.

I began by designing a piece similar to something I make in my retail line. I found some pretty components and chain at my supplier and came up with a simple but elegant idea. The skill required to assemble the piece was rudimentary, little risk. I discussed this idea with people I trust to be honest. I got some negative feed back about not actually making anything. So I went back to the drawing board, literally. I started drawing instead of looking through catalogs. I came up with a couple of sketches I liked. The weirdest thing happened next. I was vending, a woman came into my booth wearing a pendant with a very similar idea. Then a few minutes later, another woman came in wearing some earrings that were like another concept I had. I felt I was being given the go ahead from the universe.

I made paper mock ups, drew and redrew my designs of the piece. I like to incorporate something that wiggles or moves in many of my pieces because people love to play their jewelry. It is a way of self soothing, using the hands so the brain works better.

I dedicated an entire day to making the project. The morning I was getting ready to work, I realized a flaw in my design! The wiggling part of this piece wasn't going to work, so I modified it on the fly, not the best practices. I was not thrilled with the result. The wiggle was there, but it was clumsy and not very pretty. Even symbolically it didn't work. I showed it to my husband and he made an accurate but derogatory comment, as a joke. I could not leave it as it was.

My most creative time is as I am falling asleep, if I am relaxed, not over tired, not worried or distracted. It was midday, no time to sleep, but I lay on the couch and let myself just think about the problem. The answer came, and is better is so many ways, including symbolically. Putting it all together was a challenge. My doubt in myself undermined my capabilities. I had to stop at one point and do something else. I worked on another aspect of the piece that I had done a paper mock up of. I did it like magic. It was a success! That gave me the confidence to continue.

The finished work is lovely. I am really pleased and certain they will love it too. I am even more excited to work with gold now. The best part is my confidence in my skills has grown, and that is golden.