[Jewelry making - Article 00340] - [Orchid] Sad Fact?

[Jim Reitze]

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http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/200407/msg00876.htm

    I know I am quite a bit behind in my reading, but I have to agree on
    this one.  Some things just cannot be sourced out oversees, and those
    are the things we need to find to occupy ourselves with.  Even the
    biggest chain operation isn't going to send their sizing and repairs
    to China.  They need much faster turnaround.  True custom work that
    requires one on one with the purchaser needs us here, too.  Perhaps
    not everyone wants to do repairs or custom work, or has the skill
    sets necessary.  Perhaps some find it offensive that their creativity
    is not fully utilized by doing something to another persons
    specification.  Maybe we need to make a choice here, each on our own.
     Any of us, me included, who want to let our own creativity shine
    also need to pay the rent and put food on the table.  A few can
    develop to the point where they can stand on their designer status
    and make a good, or great, living without having to 'stoop' to menial
    chores.  The rest of us need to find something else to do for the
    bread and butter, and create some nice stuff along the way, hoping
    that it will sell.  Is doing repairs for the basic income any more or
    less appealing than stocking shelves in a grocery store?  Depends on
    your own personality and taste, your own skills and desires.  For
    myself, I would rather use my repair work as the leg up than go
    outside the jewelry trade.  There is a certain creativity in doing
    repairs and contract work well.  We often need some ingenuity to
    successfully repair something.  All of the books, classes and
    workshops in the world won't teach you everything.  It is knowing how
    to figure things out that will save your butt.  When doing custom
    work, there is a creativity in taking a customers ideas (that are
    often totally uneducated in terms of practicality) and translating
    those ideas into an attractive and enduring piece of finished
    jewelry.  When doing contract work, I find creativity in seeking more
    efficient and better ways to achieve the customers goals.  All of it
    is a continual learning process, as is all of life. 

Jim
http://www.forrest-design.com

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