I write this on day 32 of Lock down and day 36 of isolation. I am not an outdoor person and I like staying at home. Online teaching, evaluating assignments, basic cooking, helping around the house, research and jewellery making has kept me busy. However, I have not achieved as much as I thought I would. While I have made some artwork out of recycled materials, I haven’t made any masterpieces. But I think that is okay. As long as we are productive, positive, and create with a purpose we are fine. My purpose with regard to jewellery is to create simple, wearable and economical pieces that will bring joy to the wearer. If you would like to create with me, I have some Tips for Crafting in isolation and creating jewellery with positivity.
Tips for Crafting in isolation
Bruce Metcalf, esteemed jeweller, writer, and critic claims that handmade craft objects have sympathy. When someone uses a handmade product he sees the effort the maker has put into a product that is helping him in some way. This increases positivity. Wearing handmade jewellery makes one feel good. Such simple pleasures are crucial in these dark times. We can worry about getting sick, empty store shelves, economical breakdown, and hunger or we can make ourselves stronger to face it. I am not saying that crafting will solve the world’s problems. What I am saying is that crafting will give you peace of mind and pleasure for atleast the time you spend working on a project.
PS: All the necklaces showcased in this post are handmade with love and for sale. Product description can be found as captions. Email/message to book and they will be shipped once the lock down lifts.
Shop in your supply cabinet
Don’t whine that lack of new supplies in affecting your creativity. Go shopping at the back of your supply cabinet. All of us jewellery makers have enough supplies to last a year. Supplies might old yet in pristine condition. You might have forgotten that you had them. Yes, that cover of beads stashed at the back of the bead box in the last drawer of your cupboard is what I am talking about. That special tin, felt or art bead that is so pretty that it needs special attention. Pull it out and get to work. If you haven’t used it in 6 months and it is not disintegrated or compromised, its new or atleast new-ish.
Reuse, Recycle and Upcycle
If you think of cleaning as getting rid of things, it will be boring. But if you consider cleaning a chance to find items that you can recycle or upcycle then it will be a treasure hunt. While you should throw away majority of the junk, maybe decoupage a milk bottle and make a flower vase or or turn old crayons into melt art.
Fix what is broken – better remake it
Those earrings you haven’t worn in ever as the hook is broken or the necklace that will sell in a heartbeat if not for a flimsy clasp, it’s time to repair them all. I know that this is easier said than done. Repairing jewellery can be really boring but this exercise will allow you to pull apart pieces that are not working. You can also fix them by remaking them. Use new beads or beads in a different colour with your focal. Tada! you have made a fantastic new design worth selling. Photograph it and upload it on social media asap. Who knows, it may get sold or booked in seconds.
Take a look at your UFOs
I have written enough about UFOs on this blog and my ongoing attempt to convert my UFOs into finished wearable pieces. Infact, majority of my lockdown collection uses UFOs. Whenever I experiment with a technique, I make multiple pieces at a time. While the process is cost and energy efficient there will be leftover pendants or components. I am sure many of you have them too. You might also have art projects that are about 80% percent finished. Use this opportunity to complete them into something beautiful. That is one more nagging monkey off your back.
Apply newly gained skills
Many experts, websites and universities are offering free courses during this period. Whether you learn music from Berkeley, Stone setting from Bluprint or upping your social media skills, put them to good use.
Don’t worry
I read a post on another jewellery blog where the maker declared that she “doesn’t see a point in making new jewellery.” She thinks that people will have other priorities once the world becomes “normal.” As a consequence they will not buy jewellery. While I agree that people will have other priorities once lockdown lifts, there is going to be no return to normal. In fact no old definition will make sense in the post covid-19 world. That said, people will not stop living, celebrating and enjoying themselves. This summer and fall people are not going to spend money on vacations, parties even outings but they do need small pleasures in life. The forecaster in me predicts a huge rise in purchase of cosmetic products, lingerie and lounge wear, and inexpensive costume jewellery. So I am going to keep on making.
Those are some of my Tips for Crafting in isolation. Please share your ideas in the comments section. Are you crafting in these tough times? If so tell us what you have been making and how it makes you feel.
Until then, Stay Safe.
I hope you find it interesting
Cheers
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