I have spent all of my professional life in the jewelry trade; and that is, all of 8 years. I did not set out to become a part of it, but it was the first available job right after college. I stuck to the path, thinking I loved jewelry enough to keep me inspired. My favorite days were when I received new jewelry because that was when I saw the fruits of my labor. Even if I did not personally make it by hand, I was very much a part-creator. I was the one who sent in the sketch, priced items out with a hundred variations, exchanged various emails endlessly, re-sketched to show what I meant and approved models as far as I could tell from an image. These blissful moments did not last and would actually be quickly followed by a feeding frenzy. Eager beaver sales reps or art directors would grab the samples, never to be seen again until inventory time comes around. Guess who they will ask for it?
This vicious cycle overtook the pleasure of creating something and I found myself burnt out and wanting to get into something else. I was also disheartened by the knowledge of how jewelry was really being created overseas, and the sacrifices that people had to go through just to be able to make them. I felt like I was batting for the wrong team and my husband felt like I was becoming somebody else: I was a snarling animal if he called me in the middle of the day.
The funny thing is, I somehow found myself in jewelry making classes when I had all the opportunity to take on something else. And you know what, I loved it. My teachers always praised my work, but I felt like I was cheating because I knew a little more than other people in the class because of my job. I tried starting my own little jewelry design business, but quickly nixed that idea when I figured out my costs. I couldn't really compete with the sweatshops.
I still can't stop thinking about the beauty of creating. I look at Etsy everyday for inspiration, awed by what people are able to make and how cheap they can sell them, and green with envy of those "Quit my day job" success stories. I don't know, maybe I just need to find cheaper materials or maybe I should start creating something else?
This vicious cycle overtook the pleasure of creating something and I found myself burnt out and wanting to get into something else. I was also disheartened by the knowledge of how jewelry was really being created overseas, and the sacrifices that people had to go through just to be able to make them. I felt like I was batting for the wrong team and my husband felt like I was becoming somebody else: I was a snarling animal if he called me in the middle of the day.
The funny thing is, I somehow found myself in jewelry making classes when I had all the opportunity to take on something else. And you know what, I loved it. My teachers always praised my work, but I felt like I was cheating because I knew a little more than other people in the class because of my job. I tried starting my own little jewelry design business, but quickly nixed that idea when I figured out my costs. I couldn't really compete with the sweatshops.
I still can't stop thinking about the beauty of creating. I look at Etsy everyday for inspiration, awed by what people are able to make and how cheap they can sell them, and green with envy of those "Quit my day job" success stories. I don't know, maybe I just need to find cheaper materials or maybe I should start creating something else?
No comments:
Post a Comment