[Jewelry making - Article 00301] - Re: [Orchid] A one-question interview

[Len & Judy Bjorkman]

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    About 23 years ago, I was working for the American Friends Service
    Committee, doing Middle East Peace Education (as you can see, I did
    not "succeed," but I still have high hopes).  Everything I did --
    attending speeches, movies, TV, books, etc. -- was about that topic,
    which is rarely an "upper," even though I got to know a lot of
    fantastic people.  I decided I needed to do something different,
    occasionally.  Since I love to make things, and I had written my M.A.
    thesis on "Metals and Metalworkers in the Ancient Near East," I
    signed up for an adult ed. course on jewelrymaking. 

    It was not a terrific course, but I learned what tools I needed to
    start with.  I checked out library books on jewelrymaking, read and
    photocopied parts I found helpful, made notebooks on designs I like,
    bought more books and just experimented on my own.  On rare
    occasions, I met someone with whom I could "talk metals," and that's
    great!  That's why I enjoy Orchid so much. 

    I only do this part-time, but I enjoy it immensely.  I teach adult
    ed. courses on jewelrymaking, which are loads of fun, and have
    published at least two articles.  I have finally learned how to do my
    own designing without being nauseated by the results (I originally
    believed that one had to be born a designer, but now I know that it
    can be learned). 

    I love the visual and tactile aspects of jewelrymaking.  I also
    enjoy wearing my own jewelry -- years ago, I couldn't find much
    jewelry I liked, and if I did, it was way too expensive.  I love
    selling my jewelry, too -- art/craft shows are great social
    occasions, and I can often make a nice amount of money. 
    Jewelrymaking is even helpful in my professional field, as I have
    written articles and book reviews on the Ancient Near East which
    involve critiquing theories other scholars have proposed about metal
    artifacts. 

    It's really serendipity, and it's made even more so by the
    helpfulness of so many folks on the Orchid List!  If I haven't
    thanked you for your help in the past, let me do so now! 

Judy Bjorkman

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