Saying "Yes" did the trick

Saying ‘Yes” to opportunities transformed my jewelry business.

I started my college career like many 20 somethings often do, with absolutely no direction. I had taken a couple of years off and it was becoming clear that I was not cut out for waiting tables. So I did what any broke, ocean-loving young person would do; I started looking for the most affordable college that was close to the beach. In 2001, that turned out to be College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California. So, I packed up and moved behind the redwood curtain to Humboldt County in Northern California where everything moves at a slower pace. We have two seasons here: 60 degrees with rain and 65 degrees without rain. With the nearest large city 4 hours away it can feel like we’re living on an island with one side flanked by the Pacific ocean and the other by prehistoric giants. 

In my first few semesters of college, I was all over the board. I started out in multimedia with photoshop, PowerPoint, etc., and then took several English classes and became a tutor for the writing center. I also took a lot of art classes, mostly photography, which was a favorite in high school, but by year three (yes, year three at a junior college), I had somehow landed on agriculture. When I graduated a year later with two A.A’s (I still laugh at myself all the time about that), I decided to transfer to the University of Hawaii to pursue a BS in Tropical Horticulture with a minor in business. I was going to have an orchid farm someday. 

My adventure in Hawaii lasted precisely one semester and one outdoor summer research project before I realized that island life was not for me and decided to trade the tropical rainforest for the temperate one and return to Humboldt County where I could finish a Botany degree from Humboldt State University. I think you can see where this is headed. During my second semester at HSU my husband (then boyfriend) asked if I would take a Jewelry and Small Metals course with him that was required for his degree in Art Education. This was the first “yes” in a long line of yesses that brought me to the place I am today, and while the road was a winding one, all of the stops along the journey came together in a kind of amazing way that has propelled my business and creative practice in ways I could never have planned. 

Saying “Yes”

It wasn’t long into that first metals class that I fell in love not only with the process of making, but also with the camaraderie of the studio. By the second course in the series, I dove in completely and went the extra mile with research, honing my craftsmanship, joining the jewelry and small metals club where I had my first taste of selling my work, and volunteering as a lab tech. My metals instructor noticed and I was offered an opportunity to be the Teaching Assistant for the introductory course. I jumped at the opportunity because I knew from my experience as an English tutor that teaching others is one of the best ways to increase one's own knowledge, bolster one's confidence, and to grow in ways that are unexpected. Because everyone has a unique learning style it’s a constant challenge to approach and explain things from different angles. In fact, problem-solving is one of the main drivers in the field of metalsmithing as well as in business.

Shortly after graduating, a few of my classmates and I got in touch. We were determined to continue working, showing, and selling our work. We were especially interested in maintaining the friendships and support we had fostered during our time at the university. Thus, the North Coast Metal Arts Guild was born. With a shared studio and gallery space, we were able to pool our resources, plan exhibitions, participate in local craft fairs, and teach small workshops.

Meanwhile, I continued to grow my own business part-time, working at tweaking my product photography, participating in online creative challenges like Ring a Day, and using social media to drive my ideal customers to my Etsy Shop. It wasn’t long before local shops started approaching either the guild or me personally. And shortly after that, shops from across the country were finding my work on Pinterest or Instagram and were reaching out as well.

The next opportunity that came my way was a work exchange for the Mendocino Arts Center. This meant an opportunity to live and work in a creative environment for three weeks while I maintained the jewelry studio at the art center and provided support for three visiting artists. I would also be able to take the courses taught by visiting artists at the same time. It was an incredible opportunity to learn new jewelry and metalsmithing techniques as well as the behind the scenes studio maintenance that makes it all happen. Five years later, I was offered the part-time Academic Support Assistant position at Humboldt State University in the same studio where I first discovered my craft and I continue to work in that studio and support future metalsmiths to this day. The knowledge that I have garnered in this position has been some of the most valuable of my career. 

Next, local teachers and artists in the field began to reach out about new opportunities. Every time I was approached I waffled back and forth between wondering if I had enough experience or time to meet the request and feeling incredibly flattered that I had even been asked. When the professor for Professional Practices, a college course that teaches graduating art majors how to be successful in the field, asked if I would consider talking to the class about my business and studio practice I said yes and worried endlessly about it right up until I started the presentation. The students were extremely engaged and they asked thoughtful and enthusiastic questions, which I had answers to. It was then and there that I realized I would continue to say “yes” to every opportunity that came my way. If it turned out to be a bad fit, at least I would be gaining from that knowledge and it would give me insight on how to move forward from there. 

When Merry Coor, a local glass artist and bead shop owner, reached out and asked if I would be interested in a collaboration, I was nervous about the opportunity. I wasn’t sure if we would work well together, if my craft was up to her standards, or if I had the time to add a new channel to my business. I thought carefully about what I would need to make to cover my expenses and pay myself the wage I wanted to earn. Then I showed up to our first meeting with a variety of designs, the price point I needed to hit, and a turnaround time that would allow me to balance my current responsibilities with the new endeavour. It turned out to be a perfect fit and I am honored that I continue to collaborate with Ash Beads today.

Then, in the Fall of 2018, I was approached by the new metals professor at HSU who asked if I would be interested in applying for the teaching pool. They were looking for someone to teach the Introduction to Jewelry and Small Metals course the following semester. As I compiled my CV I realized that what had seemed a long history of short term experiences had all come together to fulfill the experience required for the position. Had I turned away one or two of those opportunities due to fear or imposter syndrome, I would never have been selected for the position and I was fortunate enough to teach the course for three semesters. My work grew in new and exciting ways and when it came time to go back to the studio full-time I was overflowing with ideas.

During all this, I continued to grow my online presence, writing a blog, working on my photography, and taking on more daily or weekly creative challenges. After one such challenge, I was approached by Art Jewelry Magazine to write an instructional article. Four other articles in three different magazines followed.

Today...

Today I find myself living in a completely new reality. California is on a “stay at home” order, all college courses have been moved online, and I’ve spent the last two weeks working with the metals professor to make the unprecedented transition as smooth as possible for the students, all the while aware of the fact that I am extremely lucky to still have a part-time job to go to, even if I go there from my couch. The situation for my business is pretty dire. All of the brick and mortar shops that carry my work from California to Pennsylvania are closed, four exhibitions that I’ve recently applied to have been canceled or postponed, and sales have almost completely fallen off online. Somehow these major personal obstacles seem small, almost insignificant in the shadow of this public health emergency. 

At the moment there are no opportunities to say “yes” to. So, while we wait for the world to return to a new normal, I am trying to remember that saying “yes” to opportunities is a great start, but that the follow-through is just as important. Right now I’m focusing on having the essentials ready to go when opportunities return. Often, you’ll hear these essentials described as a press packet. For me, it means having an updated resume/C.V. and biography, as well as good photos of my current work. I’ll also be using this pause to push my work in new directions, taking the time to explore from a quiet space without the usual pressures of deadlines and obligations. This time seems to have the uncanny ability to feel both panicked and relaxed, energized and bored, terrifying and hopeful. As a creative, I look forward to seeing the innovation that results from the push-and-pull of these challenging times. Stay safe, stay healthy. 

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