[Jewelry making - Article 00085] - Re: [Orchid] Truth or dare survey

[Rick Copeland]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========


    I've been dabbling in silversmithing since I was in high-school
    (graduated 1975).  I'm mostly self taught with the exception of an
    adult ed class when I was 16 and the tips I've picked up along the
    way talking with jewelers and fellow silversmiths and of course from
    this list.  Back in my early days I sold my work at flea markets and
    art fairs and even on the street corner. Turquoise and silver was hot
    back then as it's been the last year or so.  I then apprenticed and
    worked as a carpenter but ended that career with an on the job
    accident (fell 3 stories) which landed me in the computer business. 

    Most of the time my spartan set of jewelry tools from the 70's
    gathered dust until a few years ago I had to pack up my woodworking
    shop which was my passion.  I became majorly depressed when Christmas
    came around and I was unable to make Christmas gifts for the family
    as I usually did.  I found my box of jewelry tools and with a little
    rust removal and a few trips to a local lapidary and jewelry supply
    store I was back in business for Christmas.  Now I sell almost all my
    work wholesale and have some excellent clients (one of which I met
    through this list - Thank you!). 

    It's still a part-time occupation for me but I do run it as a
    business with all the proper licenses.  It's hard for me to put a
    percentage on the income but I can say it does pay for some of the
    extras in my family's life like a traveling hockey league for my son
    the sporto and musical instruments for my talented daughter and
    hopefully a special family vacation this year. 

    My hope is to grow the business slowly so that it will allow me to
    retire early from the computer biz unless the computer biz decides to
    retire me earlier (damned economy).  The best piece of business
    advice I've gotten from this list, "Too many customers will drive you
    out of business as fast as too few."  I'm hoping to add another
    client or two this year. 

    Of course I devour all the technical tips from this list too... 

Rick Copeland -- Silversmith
rick.copeland AT Covad.net
home.covad.net/~rcopeland
Colorado Springs, Colorado


____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________