[Jewelry making - Article 00415] - Re: [Orchid] Jeweler's former lives

[Becky Bray]

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    My entire career has been spent in the aerospace industry. Working
    for NASA now for 26 years, I've done Spacelab mission planning and
    operations, web development, and now I oversee all the web services
    at my center. I majored in math and physics in college, attracted by
    science and problem solving. It's been a good career, but everything
    I do is "virtual," no product I can pick up and hold. So there's
    always been a need to do something tangible, too. As the years went
    by, I tried a number of hobbies like cross stitch, photography, and
    even building a train layout. But the problem with those hobbies is
    that they are strictly money-out, no money-in. One day after
    visiting a craft fair, I started thinking about a hobby that produces
    something I could sell, like beading or fimo jewelry. But then I
    thought, if I'm going to spend the time and effort, it might as well
    be on something valuable as on something cheap. So I began thinking
    gold jewelry. I took some courses in jewelry repair and casting,
    bought some equipment, and started playing. Then I had two of the
    folks I had met thru the course work contact me about starting up a
    store. One was experienced in retailing, the other in jewelry repair,
    so I decided to give it a shot. It's now seven years later, and we're
    not the biggest store in town, but we're doing ok. My partners work
    in the store full-time, along with two salespersons and another
    part-time jeweler to help with the repair work. My investment was
    just monetary, so I don't have any responsibilities, but it gives me
    a place to go play, with all the wonderful tools (toys) I can
    imagine, and make beautiful things. I have another 5 years or so to
    go until retirement, but I see that as time to refine my skills and
    style. (Time is always the issue now, working full time and all the
    other demands of life, it's hard to find as much time to spend at the
    bench as I would like.) But I will definitely be creating jewelry as
    my second career. I'll be in a situation where I can set my own
    hours, choose what I make, and have a venue for selling my items. How
    can it get any better?

Becky Bray Creative Touch Jewelers in Huntsville, Alabama
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