Unlike my typical posts, this is a personal one. No SEO and no readability optimisation. It is just me sharing my personal experiences of re-learning to jewellery.
Double strong red olive
First up is a double strand necklace. It comprises of two strands of 6mm faceted rondelle glass beads in fiery red and olive, reflecting both passion and uncertainty. There are three onyx beads as side focals. They are for the eye to pause, to find a moment of balance in the lively rhythm of colour.
Relearning to make jewellery
But what makes this necklace special is not just its look, it is the process of making it. In July, I bought a few strands of hoping to make some simple necklaces. When I finally sat down to string, I could not find beading wire. Horror of horrors, my stash of beading wire had finally run out for the first time since 2009. It was the last straw on this camel’s back.
I was going through a bad brain fog at that time which made me feel that I had forgotten how to make jewellery. I forgot how to use pliers and so for the tutorial on Toda earrings, I resorted to sewing. The fact that my experiments with leather jewellery in July failed added fuel to the fire. I was waiting for the other shoe to fall and then there was no wire left. Even in the worst of times, I could bead necklaces and the fact that I couldn’t do it depressed me further.
In August, I went to the store and bought some beading wire only to discover that I had a spool and half left at home. It was there, forgotten, waiting to be discovered. Let me say this while you cringe – this seemed like another sign. Eventually, I decided to be patient with myself – teach myself how to make jewellery like I would teach one of my students. This double strand necklace took me 4.5 hours to make (nope I am not kidding) but I completed it. I taught myself to loop, to knot, to make hooks and cut metal in the last month. But the first step was the hardest.
Each bead I placed was a step forward, a reminder of resilience and the quiet strength of doing something small, steady, and creative. Then, I made some handmade connectors and finished the necklace. For me, the necklace represents healing. For its future wearer (yes, this one is for sale), it can become a talisman of courage, joy, and vibrancy.
Maybe, some nice earrings
In one of my therapy sessions, my therapist asked my 6-7 year old self to write a letter to me. While it felt silly, I wrote it and in it I mentioned buying a new black dress and “maybe, some nice earrings.” My therapist told me to buy a dress and earrings for myself. While I could not find a dress that I liked, I found a pair of vintage earrings with a drawing of a ship. However, when I received a parcel, I found that it was tiny (it looked huge in the pictures when I ordered it). Therefore, I added glass and hematite beads to elongate it. While the earrings look simple, they suit me and look great when worn.
I contemplated about this post for a long time. Eventually, I decided to write and post as my beginnings with jewellery making also had to do with healing. I continue to have doubts regarding my skills as a maker and as a writer. But I figured that relearning to make jewellery brought about a full circle. It deserves a pause, a moment of reflection, and yes, accepting my shortcomings and looking past them.
Thank you for your patience.
What do you think?