A second factor to consider when deciding to make jewelry is the components you will use in your designs. When I first began making jewelry I realized quickly that I could get "no name" crystals for much cheaper than I could purchase Swarovski crystals. And I purchased a good number of those crystals. However, as I began making jewelry I realized immediately that the clean crisp edges and the sparkle for which Swarovski crystals are known was missing. It was at that point that I had to decide what types of components I would use. I could charge less for my jewelry using the less expensive crystals, but my name was on my designs and I decided that I wanted to use Swarovski crystals. Neither crystal is right or wrong. I had worn plenty of jewelry in my lifetime with jewelry containing the less expensive crystals. I just decided that with my perfectionistic tendencies and my penchant for quality I would never be happy with jewelry I made using lesser quality components. Again, neither one is right or wrong. You just have to decide what is right for you and then pursue it with all of your heart!
Good Friday 2017. It is finished.
7 years ago
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2 comments:
Jane, I love your blog. And I agree wholeheartedly about giving a lot of thought to the components we all use in our jewelry. I love Swarovski crystals. Nothing else can quite compare to them. Your jewelry designs are excellent. And your choice in using the finest components makes the jewelry exquisite! And a fine quality piece is worth the money.
This is very true and an important decision to make. It does many things including helping to define who you are as a designer and what your work is about.
I had to pray about my decision to work with only semi-precious metals and things like gemstones. I was concerned that I was being ... prideful? or vain? ... in wanting to use these more costly materials. But God is so good to confirm through His Holy Spirit. The morning after I made my decision I was at a Bible study and this verse came up:
1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (New International Version)
11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
It confirmed for me that since my work represented something eternal, The Word, it was only fitting to choose those materials. So choose wisely! :) Lori
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