Something Treasured
The Snow Leopard Network Artist Team that I'm part of is having its first monthly "talk about" blog. The topic for this month is:
What have you created that you treasure the most?
Although we weren't limited to choosing something in our field of work, I decided to stick within the realm of jewelry.
This is the first piece of jewelry I ever created with my own two hands. A pair of wire-wrapped chandelier earrings made of 14k gold filled wire and faceted garnet.
I treasure these because this is what started it all for me.
Actually, let me backtrack a couple steps.
It was 2004, I was teaching French at the Greenwich Country Day School in Greenwich, CT. I had just discovered Anthropologie (which exists not in Canada).
I coveted a pair of earrings but refused to pay $86 for 2 dinky beads on a wire (These days I have a love/hate relationship with that store, beautiful clothes, but ridiculously and unjustifiably overpriced, I think).
Back to my story: A couple towns away in Norwalk was a colorful little bead store. If I remember correctly, all they sold was beads.
I remember being be so intimidated by that place - watching other shoppers choose their beads with confidence, while I hadn't the foggiest clue how to even pair colors together.
Anyway, I signed up for a beginner earring class.
Alright, I don't want to sound braggy here, but for someone who had never held jeweler's pliers before, my hands bent that wire into shape pretty darn effortlessly.
While the other ladies in the class were struggling to figure out which direction to loop the wire, I had finished my project and my earrings looked better than the instructor's sample pair.
Maybe they don't look like much, but I was so proud of how easily it came to me.
These earrings gave me an inkling that handmade jewelry was something I might have to pursue.
In any case, here I am today. Happily no longer teaching (although I do SO miss my French students from Country Day), and metalsmithing full time.
And it all started with a little pair of garnet and gold earrings.
Please visit the blogs of some of my teammates to see their answers to this fun question:
ArtJewel Designs - http://artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko -http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Andes Cruz - http://andescruz.wordpress.com/Bill Martin – Purified Art- http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/
Rosy Revolver www.rosyrevolver.blogspot.com
Metal Riot http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Metal Riot http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
And our team's blog: - http://snowleopardnetwork.wordpress.com/
posted by Alice Istanbul at
3:38 PM
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20 Comments:
Your first earrings are lovely, Alice, and your recounting of how they came about is delightful and an inspiration! So often it's the unplanned things in life that shape our paths so powerfully.
Those are some beautiful earrings :)
I think it was just meant to be.
Checked out your other buds, wow what talent and also, I am riding on the back of that Bike, I am so jealous :) T.
Thanks :) Sometimes I wonder, what if I had never taken that class? What if my husband hadn't encouraged me to buy the tools and beads to keep going? What would I be doing now? Life if crazy sometimes.
Nifty story! And the earrings are lovely too. Do you know if that bead store is still around? I get to Norwalk once in a while and would dig checking it out.
Rachel: I left CT in '05, but I just googled it and it looks like they're still there. There was an incredible little coffee shop a few doors down (go if you like good coffee). I linked to the bead shop in my blog post, but here's their website: http://beadworksnorwalk.com/
such a wonderful thing, Alice, to know that exact moment of where you found your calling. Of course they are treasured! I would treasure them too :)
Thanks, Ande :)
Wow, those are gorgeous garnets and a lovely pair of earrings. Why wouldn't you treasure them? The sad thing is, my first thing created was given away...and I think it broke. How embarrassing is that? I keep begging my friend to give it back to me to fix, but now over a year later, she still keeps forgetting to!
That's wonderful!! And those earrings are beautiful!
Well, you definitely have a knack for it, I'd say!
Thank you.
Now, my first *metalsmithed* piece was a bit of a mess. I should have kept it for posterity, but I believe I melted it down for silver. So don't let me brag too much now about my abilities :)
The earrings look pretty darn good for being your very first... and what an inspirational story! I can tell you love what you do! Have a great one!
This is such a great post...and a good question to blog about! Love the earrings too!!
I haven't touched my torch or other metal working tools in over a year, for this reason or that. After looking at your blog I realize I have to change that very soon.
and your first earrings are wonderful!
I love this story....kismet kinds of things like this are my absolute favorite.....it 's like the magic in your hands was just waiting to be let loose....!
Awesome earings and an awesome story! It is great when things work out the way they should yes?
I still have my first ring too :)
This is such a fantastic post because it shows how far you've come. I started out as a beader too.
You rock, ladyfriend.
xoxo
awesome story! jewelry making was in you!! see, something like this make me think about we all have previous life...
OMG !!! I have been to that famous store many times.What a small world !!! Yes the bead store is still there - the founder has written a few books too. Great story !
The earrings are beautiful, and I loved hearing the story of how you began. I also started with beading as so many have. Congratulations for staying on your creative path!
Great story. Thanks for sharing!
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