Pondering About At Plume Gables

I want to tell you these things:

1.  I love LOVE love what I do.  You might think you know what I mean.  But the love I have for silversmithing is unfathomable.  It’s like God’s love for His children (even though I, as a human, am not capable of such a pure thing).  When I take a day off, all I can think of is getting back in my studio and making jewelry.  I do not leave home without at least ten cabochons and a sketch book.  I am obsessed with my work.  I love it so.  I dream of designs.  I wake in the night and sketch.  I start to twitch if I cannot work.  When RW and I drive somewhere, I bring a bag of wire, beads, pliers and other odds and ends so I can make jewelry while we drive (just ask Emily about this).

2.  I do not throw things together to make a quick buck.  I carefully plan my designs.  Each of these rings was designed, sketched, components were cut, filed, sanded, stamped and soldered together one by one.  I’m not a machine.  I have to make what’s in my heart.  Many of my designs cannot be duplicated not just because each stone is one of a kind, but because when I made them, I was feeling something particular…more than anything, I often find it difficult to transport myself back to a certain mindset or emotional state.  I can spend hours on an idea before it actually comes to fruition. 

3.  I work really hard.  I value my time.  I value the abilities of my body.

I’m proud of these rings.  Because the designs are entirely mine.  In every way.  And because I can feel my skills growing.  And because I made these pieces with love.

It’s true.  When you love what you do, it shows.