Learning About Jewelry Blogging

I've been designing and creating jewelry for a long time but I am just now trying to become more social about the whole business. I like the idea that making jewelry is something I can do when I am alone but I also know that it is really a lot of fun to make jewelry with friends.

Several years ago, before I moved to my current location (Pennsylvania), I used to go to "Craft Night" with several of my close friends. We took turns going to each other's houses for a night of beading fun. There was always good food and lots of laughter. Once I moved, I didn't have the opportunity to bead socially anymore and I became a solitary beader.

This has been my favorite solitary pastime for several years and now I feel the need to reach out for others of like mind. So, here I am, learning to blog!

I have discovered that there is so much to learn beyond making jewelry when it comes to the business of jewelry! One of the things I've discovered that I need to learn is how to create a successful blog. I am just a beginner at this. I've been reading blogs and, as you can see, I'm writing a blog as well. So, if you read this, please leave a comment. I'm anxious to get some readers and I have yet to learn how to do this but I am trying! Keep coming back, I appreciate your beading and blogging experience!

Extend an "Olive Branch" Gift of Jewelry

Have you ever had the experience of apologizing for a mistake yet still felt that nagging feeling that you wanted to make up for it in some tangible way? I've had this experience on several occasions but didn't really find a good way to relieve the feeling until I decided to offer a token of apology by giving a gift of customized jewelry.

To my surprise, the receiver of the gift was rendered speechless by the gesture and immediately reacted by saying "you didn't have to do that!". I had made a pair of earrings for her and wrote her a sincere little note of apology with the intention of leaving it on her desk. To my surprise, she was in her office when I came by. I then explained in person and gave her the earrings.

The goodwill generated by extending this "olive branch" was definitely understood as a token of peace and good feelings. The result was very positive and, clearly, there were no hard feelings left after this interaction. This is just one more positive way to use your jewelry-making skills!

Jewerly Repairs - Embrace the Resistance!

Using the "embrace the resistance" attitude works well when facing jewelry repair projects. Usually, my favorite thing in all the world is to begin a new and creative jewelry project but facing a repair has been quite another story, at least, until now.

In the past, I have used the procrastination approach for repair projects. I put the broken jewelry on a shelf and save up a few broken items until I can bring myself to start working on the needed repairs. In many cases, I am just not sure where to begin with the repair and, sometimes, I don't even look at what is needed until I am ready to begin the work.

I always thought that creating new jewelry was fun and satisfying and that repairing old jewelry was boring and, in fact, not creative. Now I know that this is not true. There is creativity and satisfaction to be found even in this type of jewelry work. I recently came to this conclusion and the benefits I have found are listed here.

Benefit #1 - Satisfaction upon completion

There is satisfaction to be found in finally doing something that you have been putting off. This is true whether the task is cleaning out the garage or repairing a piece of jewelry. The truth is that you will feel some satisfaction when you finally complete that long-awaited task. Procrastination is avoidance and, when you finally face something you have been avoiding, you will feel good about yourself.

Benefit #2 - Creativity

Upon review of the item to be repaired, I have found that I do rely on a creative thought process to figure out the best method of fixing the item. Some repairs are quite challenging and the main thing to be avoided is creating further damage to the jewelry components.

This creative process takes into account my past experience in creating jewelry. I know what works for me and I know which areas have not been the most successful in the past. Being experienced in jewelry design and creation definitely aids me in finding the most successful solution to a problem.

Benefit #3 - Helping Others

In my experience with jewelry repairs, I have found that 99% of the items needing repair are brought to me by other people. In general, most of these repairs are on jewelry that I did not make. So, I am asked to help out and fix things that are created using components and methods that are not my own. This adds its own challenge in that I might not have the same type of component available in my inventory to fix the piece thus requiring some type of improvisation (the creativity benefit comes into play here).

When all is said and done, if I can help someone out by fixing a broken piece of jewelry, it always brings a smile to the owner's face. I always guarantee the jewelry I make, so, if something breaks, I will repair it at no cost to the purchaser. For other jewelry, I usually don't charge a fee for repairs either. I prefer to enjoy the goodwill that is created which is a reward in and of itself. There is also the hope that the owner may someday purchase a piece of my jewelry which would be a future monetary reward. Either way, everybody feels good when the repair is completed!

So, the moral of the story is..."get those repairs done." It will benefit you in ways you didn't imagine!