Being Ordinary

This post is what popped in my head tonight when I was trying to sleep.  So I decided to work my way blindly down the stairs to the computer.  Then my stomach reminded me that I was really really hungry, so I made some toast.  And grabbed a Coke.  At O-Dark-Thirty, does it really matter?  Not to me. 

This post is more on the personal side than usual, but it actually is relevant to the jewelry-making topics I usually discuss.  Sort of. 

I am a very ordinary person.  Very average.  I’m of average height and weight.  I have brown hair.  And these days blue eyes aren’t exactly rare.  And my eyes aren’t light blue, dark blue, bright blue, or any-other-adjective blue.  They are just blue.  I’m pale-skinned, but not of the transparent sort. But beyond the whole visual side of things, and more importantly really, I am very average as far as pretty much everything else goes, too. I’m somewhere in between shy and outgoing.  I have always been pretty good at most things.  But I have never been great at anything.  I’ve never even been REALLY good at something.  There are, of course, a few things that I really stink at (singing being one.  Don’t every ask me to sing.  Really.) but I can manage at least adequate with most things.  

And for the most part, being average is just fine and dandy.  I’m cool with being a decent cook, semi-athletic, and an okay person to chill with. 

The problem that sneaks up on me sometimes is feeling that there must be SOMETHING that I can be great at.  It first started really getting to me in college.  I really had no idea what I wanted to do or be.  There are just too many things to choose from that would be interesting.  So I have never found anything that I’m willing to really go for and devote time and effort to without it seeming like I was devoting time and effort.  And now that my kids will soon all be in school full-time, I’m feeling more pulled to do something.  People keep asking me what I’ll do when the last one goes to school.  I have no idea where I would work if I decide to get a job.  I really have no clue.  But I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

I have a lot of things that I want to learn and try.  I think because I’m constantly searching for that ONE thing that’s mine.  

Jewelry is appealing because there are so many mediums within the heading of “jewelry making.”  And I want to try them all.  Of course, that’s the main reason I have never found much success with it.  I’m too scattered.  That has been improving lately as I seem to have fallen into a bit of a style focus with most pieces.  But there is still so much I want to learn.  And if I’m being honest with myself, I really just don’t have the vision that real jewelry artists have.

Yup.  That’s right.  I don’t consider myself a jewelry artist.  I am a maker of jewelry, but I am no artist.  If you know me, you probably know that I rarely bring up my jewelry.  Many of my friends and acquaintances don’t know what I do.  I have probably offended some of you by not bringing it up, but it has never been because I don’t think you are important enough to know.  It’s because I’m embarrassed that I am a jewelry maker.  We all know people that make jewelry and I am well aware that a lot of those people do it much better than I do.  (I’m not pulling a “poor me” deal here… just being honest.  I have no delusions about my skills)  

I really do enjoy making jewelry.  It’s a lot of fun, and does appeal to my short attention span.  I can try new techniques then come back to the old ones and maybe mix them together.  

I just hope that eventually I will find something that I can call mine.  I kind of figure I wouldn’t feel this strongly if God wasn’t trying to tell me something.  Whether it’s with jewelry and finding a method or style or whatever that distinguishes me from the millions of other jewelry makers out there, or if it’s with something completely different, I have to keep searching and trying and exploring.  Probably with some naps mixed in. 

Maybe by the time I’m 90… 

Cheers.

Sale!

I have been finding myself creating pieces more frequently (which seems rare lately) and it got me thinking.  I have too much inventory.  So I decided to have a sale.  (check it out at B. Accessorized on Facebook)  Most of what has been in the clearance album for a while will be broken down to be used for new pieces if they don’t sell.  That’s one thing I need to work on.  It breaks my heart to take anything apart, no matter how dreadful it is now that I look at it with eyes that have a whole lot more experience and hands that are more skillful.

And I moved a LOT more pieces into the clearance album.

Everything else will be 10% off.

It doesn’t sound like much, does it?  But you know what?  For me it is.

It has always been a priority of mine to have my pieces priced in a range that I feel is reachable for most people.  I know there are plenty out there that would disagree with this line of thinking, but I can’t seem to help it.  I know what it’s like to fall in love with something only to take a peek at the price tag and automatically move it into the “ot in a million years” category in my head.  And it stinks.  I also feel as though my jewelry and other creations aren’t quite as skillfully done as a lot of other artists out there.  So I don’t feel I should charge what they charge.

This baby took a full 3 hours to make.

However, as time has gone by, I have improved and I have learned.  And my prices have slowly started to reflect that.  I’m starting to put more value on my time, but it’s a long process of change and growth.  I have this horrible tendency to want to discount when someone wants to make a purchase, or at least apologize for the price.  Which is silly. I’m a wimp.  But I’m getting better at telling myself “N.O. NO.” when I start to feel that urge.  And if I listed the things I DON’T charge for, you would be shocked.  It would be a very long list.  I’m not complaining.  It’s my choice to run things that way, at least for now.  And, like I said, I’m getting a bit stronger and I am finding more value in my time and work.  I’m growing and changing, as is my work.

All of those factors (starting with low prices, not charging for things like gas, time to hit the PO, etc.) are why my having a 10% off of EVERYTHING sale is a BIG. DEAL.

And the bottom line is that I love doing what I do.  It find it relaxing and challenging at the same time.  And I want you to love it too.  I love selling a piece even though a small corner of my heart cracks a little.

I think this says so much, and can be applied to so many things:

Thanks for reading.  ❤