[Jewelry making - Article 00668] - [Orchid] Cofessions of an obsession or "how I got the flow"

[Cathy Wheless - artjeweler]

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

Hi Gang,

    This is a confession of an obsession. On 12-14-2000 I bought Jean
    Reist Stark's & Josephine Reist Smith's book "Classical Loop-in-loop
    Chains". Soon there after I bought the fine silver wire to make fused
    jump rings as per the instructions in the book for loop-in-loop
    chains. Somehow I was side tracked by life, other jewelry work and
    then major spinal surgery in 2003. The chain-making project was put
    on hold. The last couple of years I have been making jewelry but it
    was spotty at times. The creative juices would come and go and at
    times it was very discouraging. About three months ago I purchased
    the small kiln (Ultra Lite Beehive Kiln) to aide in the fusing
    process. Well I finally settled my little butt down to learn and
    perfect the fused link technique to make chain. Now I think I need
    the help of a "twelve program". I am totally addicted to making
    chain. There are meditative qualities about the work.  It is very
    repetitious and soothing. 

    Well funny thing, now ideas are forming in my head on a massive
    scale for new jewelry work of all kinds. All I want to do is work.
    This state is what one refers to as the "flow". Being totally lost in
    the creative process, one loses track of the body, time and place,
    all focus is on the process. 

    Thank you Jean Stark and Josephine Smith for a very lucid and
    engaging book. Please know that your hard work on this book has had
    an impact on so many jewelers. 

    Now that I gotten that off my chest here is the feedback I would
    like to hear from you. Why does learning something new jump-start the
    brain so much? Is it that once your curiosity is piqued your drive is
    put into high gear? Do chemicals change in the brain as your learn? I
    guess that the fact of creativity being dormant for a period of time
    allows the brain to rest and perhaps store energy. Artists do have
    creative "burn out" if they push too hard. 

    Comments or observations please, 

Your orchid cyber buddy Cathy Wheless

____________________________________________________________________
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
____________________________________________________________________