Hi Judy,
I loved your addition of that stanza from “Diamonds and Rust”, there
– nice touch! As for tackling new challenges at the ripe “old” age
of 50 – or any age, for that matter – I’d say, “Why not?”! Since
we only pass this way once, you might as well go for it, and give it
all the love, passion and determination you’ve got! (For what it’s
worth, I know from whence I speak: I’m a 42 year-old master lapidary
who’s been cutting stones since 1970 and selling them,
professionally, since '72. After years of cabbing, faceting and/or
carving and designing jewelry (including a piece for the
1994 Spectrum Awards), I wanted to expand my palette to include
metalsmithing skills, too. So, last year I closed up shop for seven
months, kissed my fiancee a bittersweet, though temporary farewell,
and made San Francisco’s Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts my home for
eighteen hours a day while I began my training as a goldsmith.
So, was it tough? (Babeee, you ain’t got no ideeeea! The word,
“gruelling” doesn’t even begin to cover it. But then, I was out to
soak up every last syllable of my teachers’ words, and experience
every last teeny little saw, file, torch or design technique I could
possibly glean from the experience, so I went about things a good
deal more intensely than many others – including most of my
teachers and classmates – would have.) But in the end, was it worth
it? Good G-d, yes! I’m living my dreams now, and doing so in
technicolor… Since graduating both the Jewelry Technician and
Graduate Jeweler programs and a few of the post-grad master classes
that were offered there, I’ve gone on to create rings, bracelets,
necklaces and earrings for new clients, make pieces from scratch, do
repairs and carve waxes in ways I never could have envisioned, just
a short while ago. And that kind of self-empowerment exceeds the
imaginations of all of those who might suggest that you’re “too old”
to try something new, “at your age”. And though my experience in
taking jewelry classes is limited to those I’ve taken over just the
last few years, I’d say, by all means, take whichever classes you
can, whenever and wherever you can! To paraphrase from any number of
motivational speakers I’ve heard through the years, where will you
be, a few years from now, if you don’t take those classes? (Or, to
quote from a recent series of commercials, “Why ask why?”)
As for the biggest question you’ve asked, believe me when I tell you
that the only person who can really answer your question is you. But
know this without any question, whatsoever: once you’ve decided that
you either can, or can’t do something, you’re 100% right. For
example, several nay-sayers told me that I couldn’t, or shouldn’t,
or would never be any good at silver- or goldsmithing; that I should
be content to do one thing, and do it well. I didn’t see things
quite that narrowly, and just went for it. (I’m really glad I chose
not to see the world as they do. Can you imagine all that I’d have
missed out on, if I had?)
And last, but not least, if you’d like someone to mentor you in the
lapidary field, I’ll be more than happy to help out, wherever I can;
I serve as a mentor on one of the larger list-serv’s for faceters
anyway, so what’s one more knowledge-thirsty student? The only
“caveat”, per se, is that I’m leaving tomorrow for California
(again), for my wedding and honeymoon, so I won’t be able to guide
you for a few weeks. If you’d like to drop me a line after then, I’d
be more than happy to lend a hand. Until then,
All my best,
Douglas Turet
Another Bright Idea! / Turet Design
P.O. Box 162
Arlington, MA 02476
Tel. (617) 325-5328
eFax (928) 222-0815
anotherbrightidea@hotmail.com
