Latest Update and Developments

I’m very excited to launch a new website! I’ve been thinking about switching providers for years, and I finally decided that now is the time. I’ve been with Squarespace for years, but I just haven’t been able to get the traffic that I expect, so I have made the switch to Shopify. Lots of things to learn along the way, like how to transfer my domain and email, not to mention all of the product information  and stuff. But after a couple of weeks of work and a few big bumps in the road, it’s all there. Still some tweaking to do.

Besides behind the desk work, I’ve been doing a lot of learning. I’ve taken a wonderful Instagram class through Megan Collin’s. Her InstaGold course was extremely informative! Now I need to stop feeling overwhelmed and start putting in the time.

In addition to that, I have been taking a diamond setting course from Ian Barnard, The Microsetting Academy. This is a phenomenal course, full of great information. It’s intimidating, however, since he is an absolute pro and his work is perfection. It’s hard to be satisfied with your own attempts after seeing what he does, but with every step I’ve been seeing improvements, which is what counts. 

Lastly, I’ve been studying more about sacred geometry from Zak Korvin, through Geometers Circle. He creates really amazing artwork, and is wonderful at explaining his process. Each image is created with nothing but a compass, a straightedge, a pencil, paper and a marker. Amazing. I’m trying to understand it better so that it is easier for me to create my own images that I can then reproduce in metal.

One more thing I’m learning is jewelry illustration. There is a fantastic book on this subject, Jewelry Illustration by Dominique Audette. Sometimes it is frustrating to be able to see the designs in my head but have no way to get them down on paper to be able to work out the details. I’m excited to have this new skill.

I still have found a little time to be at my bench, too, besides just practicing the things I’m learning in my class. I am working on a pair of 14k gold huggie earrings. This is my first time alloying the gold on my own, so it’s been exciting. Not without its own drama, however, since I got the earrings made and realized that I had made them backwards. Good thing metal can be remelted and reused! 

Lots going on behind the scenes here. I’m hoping it will all coalesce at some point into something fantastic! Stay tuned!