A Storyteller, with a Blowtorch

Know your "why".

Someone told me, not early enough in business, that to be able to withstand the turbulence of entrepreneurship, I need to hold on tight to my "why". As a creative, I think this is especially important. Our selves are so much a part of what we do, that losing the "why", would really be more of a symptom than a catalyst, of something going wrong. Do you have your "why"? Do you post a reminder of it somewhere? In what way does it influence your "how", "what", "where", and "whom"? Because it definitely all connects.

When I decided that I needed to develop a healthy business where I could optimize my skills and talents to provide for my family, I made a list of everything I am able to do, everything I like to do, and things I would like to become better at doing. I made note of where those things intersected, and started my dive into why I do what I do.

In every intersect, no matter the industry, I was drawn to stories. As a performance poet, I liked to sketch portraits with words. At the beginning of my jewellery-making career, I was drawn to styling and accessorizing performers. After college taught me to work with fine metals, I focused on repairing family heirlooms, then custom and bridal design. I loved helping to tell other people's stories.

Before breaking it all down like this, I probably would have said that my "why" is money for my family. But there are lots of things I can do if that is it. In fact, I've done some of them! So my why is more specific than that. My "why" is storytelling. My "how" is with a blowtorch, my "what" is fine metal and gemstones, my "where" is in a studio, and my "whom" is a combination of "with" and "for" - with a collective of artists, for people who value an artist's work.

Have you ever had this conversation with yourself? How did it go?

Comments

Introducing the new "Focus" line of aspiration rings.

I have been working on a new line of “dream driven” rings, which are now available at Jewel Envy in Toronto, and soon online. This line is based on a simple idea – stay focused on your dream. Many of us have vision boards, or other ways to inspire us and remind us of the things in life we want to manifest. However, once those visual reminders are out of sight, they can be out of mind. My vision is two-fold. One, a beautiful, easy to wear ring that helps to stay focused when making decisions about time, money everyday, all day. Two, a constant reminder of love and support as a loved one works towards their dream. The rings follow a motif, but are elegant and subtle, leaving it up to the wearer to share the deeper meaning with those they deem worthy. Our dreams and goals are varied and individual as we are, but the Focus line has launched with three rings which look beautiful with or without the aspirations: Focus - Writing a Book: This is designed with the aspirations of some...

It's Good to be in Knots

Through the pandemic, much cleaning was done. Many boxes discovered, and their treasures revealed. Treasures like old rings (too small), brooches (too outdated), and necklaces (too broken). You may, like me, have wondered why treasure chests in the old movies always seemed to have loose gems in them. There could be a terrible, historical reason for that I can cover in a another post, or it was just theatrical drama, but I think many people these days have similar stashes because they simply do not know what to do with them. Over the last few decades, there have been literally tons of silverware and ornate jewellery deemed gaudy and melted down for money. Diamonds get reset into new engagement rings. But what about pearls? How do you know if they are real, if they are worth anything, do they need to be treated in a special way, and what can you do with them? 1. Real pearls have a subtle, grainy texture. Experts will look f...

Inspiration Interview with Erin Groff of Pulpa Paper Products.

Artist Erin Groff of Newark, Ohio, creates with fiber that is cotton mixed with various recycled fibers, dyes, and botanicals from the garden. The cotton and additives are soaked, possibly dyed, and beat into a pulp. Once this pulp (slurry) is created, it goes through a screening and pressing process and then left to dry. Erin built on the education she received from Columbus College of Art and Design, played, experimented, and now sells her art and sculpture online. This is what she has to say about Inspiration... What insipres you? Ahhh, a timeless question, "what inspires me?" Sometimes it seems so difficult to find and other days I can find it in the way the sun hits the trees, the way a child plays, or even as simply as the taste of really good peanut butter and jelly sandwich. When have you had your greatest "A-ha" moments? Keep in mind artists, that sometimes it isn't about how GREAT your art is, it's about how GREAT YOU BELIEV...

Frekkel Designing

Search This Blog