|
I really like to make things...
I learned to make jewelry in college while studying abroad in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I took the class on a whim thinking it would be a fun thing to try on the side, while pursuing a more ‘serious’ education as a painter. I knew I was hooked on the jewely making when I was dreaming about soldering little bits of metal and hadn’t picked up a paintbrush in months. But there was no jewelry program at my school when I got back, so I finished up college with a focus on mixed media work.
In 2000, I moved to Portland with a studio art degree and no idea what to do with the rest of my life. After stints as temp, tile shipper, and art teacher, I still hadn’t found something that felt like it really fit. I kept thinking about that damn jewelry… I still had a little stash of silver left over from my time in Mexico, so I pulled it out, taught myself to cut glass, and got to work.
By the fall of 2002 I had kissed my steady job goodbye and Smallthings was born. Now I get to be my own boss and make jewelry all day, and I love it. Each and every one of my pieces is laid out, cut and soldered by hand and that’s not going change. It’s a lot of work sometimes, but it’s this process that keeps me engaged, connected to and excited about what I do everyday. I think I really have found my dream job…
|
