These 3 processes are essential to my life at the Jewelry Bench.

My least favorite is the sawing. I think it’s because this process is used towards the beginning of the design process. Whereas the filing and sanding are done once the piece is close to completion.

Moreover  both the filing and sanding have an almost meditative effect for me. I can let my mind relax and dream a little, since these processes are so repetitive. Anything that helps me relax is worth it! Plus I love seeing the result that sanding brings to my vision for the design. I guess it’s what we call a Win-Win.

Now to show off a few of my designs!

The post Sawing, Filing and Sanding: a Jeweler’s life appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Did you ever wonder how a designer creates?  Where DO those ideas come from?

Here’s a little insight from my perspective.

First of all there is no typical day at the jewelry bench. I may be creating pieces for a wholesale order, working on a new collection, learning to use a new piece of equipment or putting finishing touches on a custom order. But the BEST day is one where I have no project or job to complete. Then I get to imagine, envision, explore, play and have fun.

[tweet_box design=”box_08″ float=”none”]”This world is but a canvas to our imagination”    Henry David Thoreau[/tweet_box]

One of my favorite things:  place many of my loose gems on the bench. As you may or may not know, I make the trek twice a year to the Tucson Gem show. While I have enough gems and stones to last a lifetime, I always seem to find something new that catches my eye.  This is but a sampling but enough to get my juices flowing. Should I combine one of the druzy quartz designs (upper right) with Red Creek jasper?? or perhaps the rich blue of the Peruvian opal (in the round container) will enhance it?  I could spend an hour or more just playing with all the options.

Once I have zeroed in on a couple of potential combinations, it’s time to work on a design.  I may start with paper and more likely I start playing with piece of silver or copper that are in my bin awaiting inspiration. It is OK to use a magic marker to rough out a design. Once heat is applied the sharpie marks disappear!  I become immersed in this process too. Ultimately I may decide upon a potential design. But it is also possible that the selected components are kept together and saved for another day.

As the day ends my mind is spinning with ideas long after I have left the Jewelry Bench. That’s the great thing about taking time to play. The creative ideas continue to flow.

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Creativity takes many forms. You don’t have to be a jewelry designer to appreciate the advantages of taking time to play and imagine. Every one of us can dream, explore and blossom into the person we want to be. Just try it!

The post What if?? The ever-changing life of a designer. appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

If you Learned Something!

There is a memory I have from when I was 8 or 9 years old. The mother of one of my neighborhood friends was driving us out to get Ice Cream. And I was complaining about something that happened at school that day. This event felt like a waste and left me very upset.

This mother stopped me in mid-rant and said “It wasn’t a waste of time if you learned something”

For whatever reason this lesson has stuck with me all these 50+ years. And I call it to mind every time I feel that I could have spent my time better.

Recently I was exposed to an internet scam that was believable enough to have me invest many hours in it. Fortunately my instincts kicked in before any monetary loss occurred. But the hours spent were gone forever.  

What did I learn?  

1. Don’t do that again! Of course that is the obvious answer… but there is more

2. Become more savvy when approached by a ‘too good to be true’ offer.

3. Ask pointed questions earlier in the process. (this would have taken care of this hours earlier)

4. Let it go.  Whatever it cost in time spent is minimal compared to the rest of the wonderful events and experiences I have in my life.

How Can you Use this Life Lesson?

• Let it be OK . there will be times when you put in more time or money than you got back.

• Keep moving forward. This event/experience was just another moment in your life. What else is out there to explore?

• Be thankful for ALL that you love about your life.

After all, we can’t stop the waves (time and money wasters) but we CAN learn to surf!

IF you enjoyed this Post you may like 9 Ways to Pay it Forward this Week

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The post It Wasn’t a Waste of Time…. appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.