[Jewelry making - Article 01455] - Re: [Orchid] How did you come to be a jeweler?

[joanna gollberg]

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    I love this topic, as i feel very lucky to be a jeweler.... 

    My grandmother was an enamelist her whole life. She never made
    jewelery, she never was a emtalsmoth, but she oredered
    pre-fabricated copper pieces and enameled lots of bowls and
    ashtrays. 

    When i was 18, she felt she was too shaky to enamel anymore and gave
    me all her supplies. Two kilns, years of collected enamels, copper,
    trivets, everything. This sat around fro awhile as i was in college
    busy doing other things. Then The spring of my 19th year, my
    grandfather passed away leaving me $2000. I bought a mountian bike
    for $600 and spent the rest on a 2 week jewelry and enameling class
    at The Penland School of Crafts. 

    My teacher was Sidney Scherr, daughter of Mary Ann Scherr. Sidney is
    afantastic enamelist and teacher with a greta sense of humor and a
    lifetime of knowledge. I loved her. I loved making jewelry. Time
    making jewelry flew, i knew i had found my true passion. 

    I returned to my liberal arts college and set up a studio in the
    basement of the English building, with permisson. I continued to
    make jewelry throughout my undergraduate years, selling to various
    professors and friends. often i would skip the socializing as i had
    more important things to do in the studio. and it was not for
    credit, it was for fun! 

    I quickly realized that my job opportunities with an undergrad
    degree in Religion, Philosophy, and English were few. After
    graduating with my BA, I enrolled at the Fashion Institute of
    Technology in NYC for their 2 year Jewelry Program. At the time, it
    was the cheapest one i could find and it was in NYC! what fun! and
    it was. i learned so much, had a wonderful time in school...had some
    excellent teachers. 

    I returned home to start my own jewelry business when i was 25. I
    spent a year driving a catering van until i got accepted into my 1st
    Gallery and my 1st Local Craft Guild which had selling
    opportunities. I told my parents i was quitting my job to start my
    business and my mother asked "how are you going to make a living?"
    and i told her "by making jewelry" and she said "but how are you
    going to make money?" and i said "by making jewelry". 

    almost 10 years later, my parents and grandma are very proud of me
    and i am more happy than i thought possible in my day to day life.
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