Lessons from my jewelry bench
What jewelry making has (re)taught me about creativity.
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If you can't see this entire post in your email, you can open it in a web browser for the complete version. Minor housekeeping aside, I’m excited to dive in and share my jewelry-making journey with you today. Onward!
My late grandpa was a man of many talents. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and father of eight, including my mom. He had a passion for the outdoors and a knack for storytelling. His most fascinating skill, though, was one that blended art and craft. My grandfather was a talented silversmith, creating beautiful pieces that became family treasures.
I wanted to be an artist when I was a kid. It didn't matter what medium. I only cared about living a life that made room for creativity. As I got closer to my teenage years and early twenties, I focused less on being creative. Instead, I poured most of my energy into running for my college team and studying. I tried photography, piano, and graphic design a few times throughout college and after, but I was never consistent. In 2017, I almost applied for a beginner bench jeweler position at Betsy & Iya. And yet, I was more focused on landing a temporary job in alignment with my career goals.
It wasn't until the summer of 2018 that the dream revealed itself right before grad school. It hit me out of the blue: I wanted to make jewelry. I saw jewelry-making as an ideal blend of physical craftsmanship and creative design.
I remember it like it was yesterday. My parents, partner, and I were sitting at a brewery in downtown Denver when I shared this dream out loud. To my surprise, they were supportive. We immediately began searching for classes I could take during my free time in grad school. I beamed when my mom said, "You could be a silversmith just like your grandpa!" Aside from my mom's two cousins, no one else in my family had followed this path—I knew then and there that I would.
Long story short, grad school took up more time than I anticipated. Between required internships, classes, and homework, I worked 60 hours per week. Grad school left no time to start learning a new, unrelated skill.
My jewelry-making journey began in 2021 after finishing grad school. I dove in, learning the basics and crafting simple rings. Life then took me to Colorado, where career demands as a therapist put my newfound passion on hold for two years.
Finally, this past spring, I reconnected with the craft. I got out of my way and made my boldest move yet: I learned wax carving and sand casting techniques. I've fallen in love with turning wax models into metal jewelry using sand molds. Handling molten metal can be nerve-wracking, but opening a mold to reveal a finished piece is thrilling.
Since engaging in jewelry making, I've relearned a lot about what it means to be creative. Here are a handful of takeaways:
Daydreaming can sometimes be more fun than doing the actual thing. This is obvious. But the truth was glaring when I, a chronic daydreamer, first started. Before purchasing all my tools, I imagined what it would be like to create jewelry as a full-time profession. I imagined a tidy studio, no messes, and a streamlined schedule. Those images immediately dissipated as soon as I had to wear my respirator mask for 5 hours straight in 90-degree temperatures. (My current "studio" is my parents' backyard.) It was not as glamorous as my brain made it out to be! Daydreams aside, I'm sure the images in my brain can become a reality with more practice and time. No room for discouragement here!
You can learn any creative skill with the internet! There are no jewelry-making classes in my town. (Aside from what's offered at the local university, which I'm currently trying to sign up for.) I've had to be resourceful. I watch jewelers on YouTube and sometimes screen-record reels from Instagram for reference later. My pieces aren't perfect, but I'm proud of the skills I've learned so far.
Discipline, a robust work-life balance, and consistency are integral. It sounds counterintuitive, but creativity requires structure. I recently took a week off work to dive into sand casting, and my usual routine fell apart. Once I got going, I went hours without stopping for water or food. It didn't feel great.
My theory: After overlooking creative activities for years, I found it hard to stop once I started. This new outlet was fun, challenging, and fulfilling. However, I learned that setting a regular schedule for creative work helps improve skills and maintain steady progress. While passion is admirable, becoming obsessed with a project can lead to neglecting other aspects of life. Developing a sustainable creative practice is more beneficial than sporadic bursts of activity.
Sometimes, the prospect of success feels scarier than failure. Failure is inevitable. While learning how to make jewelry, I've failed so many times it's almost laughable. From burnt fingers to flinging tools (because I didn't secure them properly), I "failed" at least once every day. But oddly, success terrifies me more. Creativity inherently exposes us. Success brings new pressures: high expectations, increased visibility, and the fear of losing what we've gained. Fear of failure convinces us to stay in our comfort zone. It doesn't push us beyond our perceived limits. Success demands that we become a new version of ourselves—one we may not feel ready for. Yet, pushing through this fear is crucial for growth. Success means being open to change, always learning, and being brave enough to share your work. It's about realizing success is an ongoing journey, not a final goal.
I'm far from my grandpa's level of mastery, but I'm thankful that this journey has connected me to his legacy. I've learned so much about fear, discipline, and the nature of creative fulfillment. Whether struggling with a technique or marveling at a successful cast, I'm learning that the real joy lies in the process. (And not only that, but it's encouraging to see my pieces bring others joy!) Regardless of your creative pursuit, I hope this post motivates you to take that first step, too.
Thanks so much for reading! If you want to stay updated as I learn and make more pieces, follow my jewelry account, Zoie Made, on Instagram. ‘Til next time! 👋
this is beautiful. and the pieces are dreamy!
Fellow chronic daydreamer here 🩷 & a lot of what you wrote here resonated with me, many takeaways to digest!