Really? It's 2011 Already?!

How did this happen? Okay, I know how it happened. I just haven't been ready for it. A rather icky virus took me out of commission for several weeks, and I was working like a demon for weeks before that....so once again I am kick-starting the blog! Maybe *this* will be the year I can actually keep up with it? Cross those fingers...

So what am I doing? Where am I going? Let me share some things with you!

- I'm back in metalsmithing classes, effective today. Every Friday morning I will be enjoying the knowledge shared by Kristen Wilder at the Spruill Center. Kristin is a talented metalsmith who teaches the way I like to be taught:  logically, straightforrwardly, and (because sometimes I need to see and hear it more than once): repeatedly. I have learned so much from her and I can't wait to see what this quarter of classes brings.

- Now that I'm recovering my health and feeling less like "please, kill me now", I am fired up and ready to tackle new designs. I have ( as usual) a million ideas to work on and the hardest part is sorting them out and organizing them, rather than trying to tackle them all at once. The ring above is something new and fun - I've been wanting to make rings for a long, long time, and this is just the beginning!

- I'm traveling to new, exotic (okay, not necessarily exotic, but fun) locations: Coconut Grove (Miami) Florida. I've never been to Miami, despite living fairly close to it for the last few years. I'm exhibiting at a festival there in February and can't wait to explore a bit of Florida! I'm also heading to both Alabama and Arizona in March...I've done both of these festivals last year and I'm heading back again this year. The Arizona festival comes with a big, big bonus as one of my best friends lives in Phoenix. It's one of my great joys in life to hang out with her. Plus, she comes to work the shows with me. Can't get much better than that!

And that's just the first quarter of the year. Nothing like staying busy...but I work better when I'm busy so this suits me just fine. The trick will be to manage all that needs to be done...since it's still "just me" in the studio, I'm both the person behind the wheel of this business *and* its roadblocks.  Of course I'm going to try and keep the dang train ON the tracks...   :)

Why That Jewelry Costs What It Costs...

A friend I've never met (well, we really don't know each other that well, but her warmth and kindness reaches through the 'net so strongly that I *feel* like we're friends) just posted about jewelry pricing on her own blog. And she's discussed it so much better and more clearly than I would. So rather than reinvent the wheel, I direct you to the following:

Rosy Revolover Price Tag

I will add only this: to those of you who DO understand and support us, who don't cringe at our jewelry prices, who don't drop an item like it's hot when we tell you the price at a retail event...we appreciate you so much! You're the backbone of our businesses and we know you see more in our jewelry than just a commercial transaction. We design because we love it, because we are passionately driven to create, because we wouldn't know what to do with ourselves otherwise...but we wouldn't be able to survive without YOU....thank you!

A Top Twenty (or Two Top Tens)

---

Top Ten Reasons NOT to Be a Jewelry Designer:

---

10. It's physically demanding. 

9. Competition is rampant.
8. It's no get-rich-quick scheme.
7. Everyone thinks "I can do that".
6. Everyone else has a sister / cousin / mother / neighbor's dog who "can do that".
5. It will take over your life.
4. If you're any good, or even slightly innovative, people will want to copy you.
3. Depending on your design materials, creating can be expensive.
2. The field can be very elitist.
1. It's more challenging than you ever dreamed.

---

Top Ten reasons To BE a Jewelry Designer:

---

10. The challenge of being a player in a highly competitive field. 

9. It will push you to distinguish yourself from the crowd of "I can do that" designers.
8. Designing cherished, personal accessories for people - how cool is this?
7. You get to create items of beauty for a living!
6. Everyone knows who to come to for holiday / birthday / event gifts.
5. It will take over your life.
4. It will push you to grow and change in ways you never imagined.
3. You will meet so many fascinating people, both customers and fellow jewelers.
2. There's nothing better than loving what you do, and doing it for life.
1. It's more rewarding than you ever dreamed.