| Are you a successful jewelry maker?
Save $$$ 
20 Gauge Round Half Hard 1/100 14k Rolled Gold Plate Wire - 10 Foot Coil
Get it Now Only $9.97!  | Click Here to Find Out About The Masters Package "I took a leap of faith and bought your jewelry making package about 2 years ago. My husband had just lost his $80,000 a year paying job. The course more than paid for itself within 2 months when I did my first show. I didn't do great. I made about $500. Then a couple of weeks later I did my second show. I made a little over $2000 in that show which was held in a former chicken ranch out in the middle of nowhere Louisiana. Every piece of instructional material that I have purchased from you has more than paid for itself. "
Jackie O'Mealey from Enid, OK |
A JEWELRY DESIGNER'S BREAKTHROUGH REQUIRES MANY TRIALS
Yes you are a jewelry designer!
See, I knew what you were thinking. When someone asked me, "What do you do for a living?" It took me almost three years before I actually said,"I'm a jewelry designer." Before that, I always said, "Oh I make a little jewelry." A statement like that is truly a sign of no self confidence!
If you want to get better and have more self confidence in your jewelry making career, you have to start talking like a pro! You may not be a pro right now, but when you imagine yourself as a jewelry designer and start talking like one, the laws of action and reaction go into motion. And, telling your friends and relatives you are now a jewelry designer, it will place a bit of pressure on you to work extra hard on that next piece of jewelry to give it that professional touch.
I'm no expert on what makes people what they are, but I do have the wisdom of an old man. Once you proclaim something it truly starts to happen – especially if you really want it to – and work harder then ever for it. This brings me to my next point.
You will go through some trials to make it to the next level of jewelry design. You will go through a trial each time you go to a higher level. The Bible says, "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold." In simple words, you're going to endure some pain before you get where you're going. Sometimes these points or landmarks in your career are very dramatic and don't cause much pain. When I had been doing wires for two years or so, I was always afraid to do gem shows because I might get ridiculed or made fun. I can remember it like it was yesterday – I set up at a small gem show that was very affordable, and after about an hour a big crowd gathered around my display. I guess I wondered what they were looking at, and then I heard one person say, "Wow that's beautiful, I never saw anything like that before." Then I heard another customer saying, "How does he do that?" and another, "That's the best I've ever seen!"
Well, I don't know if all that was true, but it did give me a jolt of much-needed confidence to work even bigger shows, which I did and did well. Looking back, I don't know if I would have done it without those few words of encouragement.
This was an easy trial, but there were lots of hard ones along the way. Still, I enjoyed each one of them with the anticipation of facing the unknown at each showing. Some receptions were good some not so good. Some were downright horrible. I remember a young girl at one show. I was making little simple bead rings and this little girl about 12 years old said, "That's too plain for me. I want something different, something special with some swirls in it." My jewelry had never been rejected like that – at least not to my face – and I really did not know how to handle it. I guess my ego was a bit bruised. I made a decision right there to listen to my customers and try to give them what they wanted, but most of all, listen to what they liked. So I made a special ring for that little girl that day. It was all swirly and looked pretty good. Because I listened to what she wanted and what she liked, I made a design I had never made before, and the little girl loved her ring. In fact, I still make that ring to this day! In spite of the slightly bruised ego, I learned criticism is a good thing, because it's the only truth there is in teaching oneself. You won't get that from family and friends.
Each trial, no matter how large or small, will bring you to a new level of artistry.
Helpful links:
Gold Wire, Silver Wire, Brass Wire and more!
Click here if you would like to ask Preston a question. It might be featured in an upcoming newsletter!  Sign Up Below to Receive a FREE Daily Jewelry Making Tip from Preston! Important Links The Handcrafted Jewelry Mall http://thehandcraftedjewelrymall.com DVD's & Videos http://wire-sculpture.com/projects.html Complete Home Business Package http://wire-sculpture.com Free On-Line Jewelry Making Patterns http://wire-sculpture.com/patterns.php E-Booklet on Craft Show Selling http://wire-sculpture.com/ebooksell.htm E-Booklet on Selling on Ebay http://wire-sculpture.com/ebayebook.html E-Booklet on Selling Cameos http://wire-sculpture.com/cameoebook.html Preston Reuther Master Wire Sculptor
|