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| 27 Apr 2009 06:00:37 pm |
 Achievements and the Little Green Monster |
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Have you ever had a friend who was so naturally talented, and achieved so much of what you wanted for your own life, that you were jealous of her almost as often as you enjoyed her company? Well, I have one. She's beautiful and skilled and driven and she's already reached so many goals in her career that I can hardly stand it sometimes. She makes me crazy. No, let me correct that. *I* am making me crazy.
None of us create in a vacuum. We're always keeping our ears to the ground, checking in with other designers, sharing news and information and keeping tabs on each others' web sites and achievements. And while that's all good and positive for the most part, sometimes we don't like what we hear, because in a competitive medium, there's not always room for all of us. We don't get accepted to every show or festival we apply to. We can't all win the Niche Award, the Merit Award, or the Best Booth award, every time. We're not all given the same opportunities because well, design and art are subjective. And yes, politics play a part in the "who gets what" in the jewelry world, just as much as it does in anything else. So many times, we're going to feel left out. And y'know, we're sensitive creative types. So we get emotionally devastated very easily. It sucks sometimes, but the highs and lows of this life are what we ride, every day. Fortunately, they typically balance each other out!
But sometimes we run across a person who just seems to have SO much that it's a little hard to swallow. And no matter how nice or deserving that person might be (and trust me, she is plenty of both), we go home and have a pity party for ourselves in our studios. And then, hopefully, we get out of our heads and back to our benches and get to work. Because you know what the best cure for jealousy is? Earning your own achievements. If you're feeling jealous, push harder. Dig deeper. Create your absolute best work. And if that's not good enough, go back to the table and create more. Because it's there. It's inside you, waiting to get out. And when you let the creativity happen, you will reach your own pinnacles, and others' achievements won't matter quite so much. And maybe one day you'll even thank them (even if it's silently, in your own head!) for igniting that creative spark that allowed you to bring out what is buried within you.
And to my friend, who in addition to being gifted, driven, and brilliant, is absolutely authentic, down to earth, caring and super-supportive of everyone around her - thank you for pushing me further, both intentionally and unintentionally, and for all the great times we have together. You know I wish you ONLY the best, in everything. Keep achieving!
Working on a paler shade of green,
Jill |
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Category : General
| By : Jill |  Comments [0] |  Trackbacks [0] |
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| 20 Apr 2009 05:28:35 pm |
| Falling In Love... |
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Oooh, things have been busy here! But I finally had a little time to work on new Sticks designs...it's been almost two years since I first created that line, and I've had additional designs in the sketchbook ever since. So late last week, I carved out a little time to put them on a work board to see how they looked with the actual metal components, instead of just ink scratches on paper. And they looked...weird. I really was disappointed at first, because they just weren't speaking to me. So, after a lot of fiddling with them, I finally got up to do something else. I've found that sometimes it's good to step away from my work for a while and come back to it with a fresh perspective.
Several hours later, I came back to that design board and kind of peeked at the new designs. And hey, they didn't look quite so bad...I played with some of the bars, moved some pearls around, and they were starting to grow on me. And now, days later, I am so excited about them! I don't have any time to devote to them this week, because I'm getting ready for the Inman Park show (yay) but I can't wait to get back to the work board and start the process of connecting them together! Some may not survive the actual construction phase, but I think most of them will make it through and I am eager to see how they turn out. I hope to have them ready for the Roswell Colors Festival on Mother's Day weekend, and I can't wait to hear your comments!
Artistically yours,
Jill |
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Category : General
| By : Jill | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [0] |
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| 31 Mar 2009 10:54:23 pm |
| Can We Share? |
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Some of you may have noticed that I have changed the descriptions of my STICKS and Curvaceous lines. I'd been thinking about this for some time, about the deeper meaning of why I create, what I create, and what message I want it to share. Of course on the surface it's just jewelry...but so often jewelry is more than “just” that. It’s commemorative, celebratory, talismanic. It’s the most personal accessory we have and it speaks not only to our individual styles, but our beliefs as well.
Connecting to others on a personal level has always been a core drive for me, but it's even more necessary now that I work from home, alone, most of the time. I used to have this Grand Idea that I would grow up (still waiting for that part, I think!) and do something that would change the world. Of course, I had no idea what that would be, so I spent a lot of time pursuing different paths, looking at a lot of options, trying to figure out who I would be - because I was going to be Somebody! No ordinary life for me!
Well...I haven't exactly set the world on fire. I haven't become a big Somebody, either. But I don't mind being a small somebody as long as I am still able to reach out and connect with others. As I've gotten older, I think that maybe the changes I can make are on a more personal level, through friendships, and family relationships, and well, all the other (brief or deep) relationships I have every day. I think these relationships are what give our lives a true meaning and that they would be very empty without that.
And you all have been so great about connecting with me personally. I feel very fortunate to have such caring customers who want more than just a one-time jewelry purchase. You ask about my training, what inspires me, what my hopes and goals are. And I learn about your families, your dreams, your lives and loves. We get to know each other a little better; we get to enrich each others' worlds. And that is the biggest reward of all.
Let me know what you think about the new copy. As always, I love to hear your thoughts and perspectives.
Fondly,
Jill |
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Category : General
| By : Jill | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [69] |
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| 20 Jan 2009 07:28:20 am |
| Breathing |
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Lately I have been feeling like I can't catch my breath. I'm jumping into wholesale and the shows are taking place during a time when I normally have a lot of space to design, create, clean up the studio, etc. This year I am only a third of the way through the first month and there is waaaaay too much going on. Last fall was frantic, too - selling at retail events through the holidays, along with all the other stuff that goes on in the 4th quarter every year, tends to make a person hustle through every day. I remember people saying "Well, things will be better after the holidays, right?" Usually. But not this year. I don't expect any downtime, really, until after mid-February. And if the BMAC is a good show for me, then I'll be working on filling orders. When do I squeeze in the breathing time?
I've taken on two things for the business this year that have great potential, but are also causing me great stress. And I have a habit of feeling a bit locked in, once I choose a path - as if I absolutely have to follow that path. But last night I had a little reminder that my choices aren't carved in stone. Maybe these two paths, though possibly solid foundations for the future, aren't the *right* foundations for me *right now*. If they are stressing me this much, then I need to step back and look at other choices. Just because I think they are ultimately the best options doesn't mean they are today's best.
So one I will be terminating shortly, and the other...well, the other I really, really want to continue, but moving forward "as is" isn't going to work. So I am going to have to lay down an ultimatum. Either things change, or I'm out. And if I'm out, I can use the time and money in other ways that will possibly be much more beneficial to my business. It's not the end of the world if I try something and it doesn't work the first time around. And you know what? Realizing that I can make these changes has been like lifting a great weight off my chest. I can take a deep breath and start over, in a more achievable direction. It will take longer to get where I want to go, but at least I might survive the getting there.
Yours,
Jill |
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Category : General
| By : Jill | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [211] |
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| 19 Jan 2009 05:31:00 pm |
| Oh, Lordy Lordy... |
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It's been over a year since my last entry! And what a year it was...ups and downs and recessions, oh my! And that's just enough said about that. I'm looking forward, not back, and starting a new game plan of blogging more often. Raise your hand if you've heard that before...okay, ALL of you put your hands down. Mea culpa and apologies. On to 2009!
What's been happening so far? A lot more than usual for me this time of year. I started exhibiting at wholesale shows last year, and am now on the circuit...which meant that the new year began with a BANG for me on 1/5. The Atlanta Mart Gift Market was from 1/9 to 1/13, and I had to get everything pulled together for the setup on the 6th...eek! Transitioning my booth from retail to wholesale takes some work, but I managed to get set up with relatively few issues. Though the wheel of my hand truck died...as I am trying to haul my full loads from the parking garage, down the hill, across the street, to the Mart - did I mention that I only had a *few* issues?
The show itself was good..and bad. Bad because I have yet to break even at a wholesale show, so it cost me more money than I made. Not a good sign for positive business revenues. Good because I was in a much better location than at the previous shows, and I actually wrote decent orders and got a chance to talk to retailers who are interested in the work. Typically - at least at the beginning - the goal for wholesale shows is not to *make* money...but to make contacts. Wholesale is a slow-growing process, not an instant "I love it, I'll buy it and take it home now" situation like retailing. But I want to expand and have my designs available to more people, and IMO this is the most efficient (though certainly not the least expensive) way to do that.
I had several "ASAP" orders which was great - they will be shipped by EOM and I am taking those revenues to Tucson with me for shopping! And then I'll have some more orders to fill when I return, so hopefully those orders will ease the gap between the wholesale events and when my retail events start again, which is typically April.
In February I am off to Tucson (!) for the annual buying trip, and my list is nearly complete already. I'm eager to go and get the goodies so I can get crackin' on new designs for this year. And after I return from Tucson, I head off (right off, only one day later) to Philadelphia to exhibit at the "end all, be all" of wholesale events - the BMAC (Buyers Market of American Craft). This is an all-handmade show, which will give me exposure to a more suitable group of buyers. At the Gift Markets, I am also competing with mass-produced and imported items, so pricing becomes an issue and those buyers aren't necessarily comparing apples to apples. At the BMAC, we are all creating and selling our own designs, which (somewhat) evens the playing field. Plus, my designs can reach an audience in other parts of the country - so far I have mostly had exposure to Southeastern customers.
Today I should be finishing items for orders due at the end of the week, but instead I am working on lots and lots of online updates. New pics for the wholesale and retail sites, updates to other sites related to wholesale...and I am just not that fast with cropping / editing and uploading pics, so I tend to put those things off. Then I kind of wait until I have a whole batch of stuff to do, and just grit my teeth and start doing it. Fortunately I can un-grit them now, because most of that's done for a while. Now, on to finishing the orders that will ship this Friday!
Back soon (I promise!),
Jill |
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Category : General
| By : Jill | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [158] |
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