My former life was as a Silicon Valley high tech type: Programmer,
Tech Writer, Training Manager, Instructional Designer, Test engineer.
Left that life behind 13 years ago for glass, quickly moved into
jewelry fabrication, too, and haven’t looked back.
Geri Comstock
Glass Artist/Jeweler
I have a BS in Microbiology. I work in a lab doing
primary/pre-clinical research. I have worked in labs doing
Infectious Disease and Nephrology (kidneys) in the past but now I
work doing Interventional Radiology research. I got into the jewelry
after graduation from college as way to do something with myself to
replace all of that studing time and as a stress reliever. I also
normally joke that I needed to use the other half of my brain, but
both are a mixture of logic and art. As a kid I was always making
jewelry in the form of friendship bracelets or stringing beads and
my mom always pushed us to be creative.
I spent almost 30 years with TWA. I played, skied, and golfed most
of the world. Was fascinated by jewelry from the hands of the people.
I bought whenever I could and treasure every piece.
Jewelry has always spoken to me, and now I listen to metals and
stones, nurture and caress them. I embrace the life flow I feel
watching fire, water, and silver unite.
That is the very same life flow I feel here on Orchid. My life has
been enriched exponentially by the time I spend here.
Thank You Hanuman, Ton, Charles, and all my friends around the
Orchid World.
Terrie
I started at 16…though I have done a little bit of side work along
the way (stylist for fashion shoots and a part-time jewelry buyer)
Jewelry has always been my full time career
Fun thread, I started making jewelry in high school. Was an avid
driveway rock collector before that. After high school I hitch hiked
around the country ending up in Colorado. I’m still here 30 some odd
years later and during that time I was driven to become an artist of
some sort. Jewelry and metal drew me in.I worked in construction as
a cement finisher to eat and pursued art on the side. I got jobs at
various jewelry stores and would devour any knowledge I could get
barely making enough to survive. I would jump in and out of the
jewelry trade like a dog in a lake. I did shows,I sold minerals, I
designed whole sale lines and sold them, I had 2 stores. 2 trade
shops, Mall jeweled for 8 years, worked in a bronze foundry at night
to pay for my own castings. Worked on monuments. Painted, made
pottery,ships in bottles. Went to Cali worked as a lighting
technician for Bill Grahm, Greatful Dead, Tom Petty, Santana and
more came back to Colorado and made more Jewelry. My latest
incarnation is another trade shop. I bought a laser welder and have a
great studio in a building I own. I have my jewelry studio downstairs
and my music studio upstairs. I also have been writing and playing
music for as long as I have been making jewelry. Been flying to
Nashville and performing and writing there. It’s been a wild ride so
far. Check out my songs at J MORLEY | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos
Cheers
J Morley
It seems like everything I’ve done up till now has led up to running
my own jewelry business:
Graduated with a degree in Secondary Ed/Theatre (I can teach classes
and am not afraid to talk to people!) Couldn’t get a job teaching!
Worked as an assistant to the CEO for a chain of fine jewelry stores
(basic jewelry knowledge)
Worked in basic accounting/payroll. At one point, ran payroll for 20
different companies at the same time. (know how to keep books)
Worked in the marketing dept for a computer peripherals company. I
networked with the magazines giving new product a review. (basic
marketing skills).
Was very unhappy at most of these things, I NEED to do something
creative, it’s almost like the need to breathe! For the last seven
years, I have run my own bead/jewelry store. I closed the store in
December because I was making more money at shows anyway! Now
narrowing the focus, at least a little. I’m about to have my own
silver designs cast, I am making ceramic and glass jewelry pieces and
cabs, and still playing with glass bead making and seed bead work
when I have time!
Hi,
I started out with a PhD in molluscan (bivalve) biology, thesis being
on showing how eggs and sperm developed and how fertilization took
place (I was blessed with very fine motor skills, not so hot in
sports). Then did a number of post-docs in environmental toxicology
at the cellular level and tissue level. Followed that doing a Masters
in Public Adminstration and worked in “operations research” for a
number of organizations. I soon realized that my life would be very
one-dimensional if remained tied to the computer screen and thus took
up enameling as a consequence of my long-time fascination with
closionne (played with my mum’s cigarette box as a kid -now have it-
and gave my wife as her first present a cloisonne pill box). So built
a very small kiln based on a burn-out oven. My wife took pity on me
and found a nice kiln and the rest is history. I found my local
library to be the most help of all in learning techniques first in
enamelling and then in jewellery making, the history of enamelling
and jewellery, art history in general, and art theory (design,
colour, composition etc). It also helps that I’m more than mildly
obsessive-compulsive [see first sentance] (joke).
David
What an interesting array of backgrounds!!! Here is another one: I
was an anesthsiologist, until our move to the US would have made me
have to repeat all of my specialty training with several years of
residency. I’d already done that once and knew how draining it is
even when only in my 20s and early 30s… Having gone to jewelry
classes after my 24 hour shifts on the intensive care unit and
starting to solder every spare minute I had, making jewelry full time
seemed the natural alternative. I am still amazed at how little I
miss life at the hospital!
Katja
Former US Army servicemember and Department of the Army civilian.
Current student for technical writing degree.
Miachelle
I hoped for medicine, but my mind was dull. The US Army Infantry was
happy to have me so I became Ranger.
Subsequent, I found myself traveling through Kashmir (India Occupied
Territory) I bought Kashmir sapphire, thus a business was born.
Ed Cleveland
This has got me hooked… I taught for thirteen years at a
residential treatment center. Loved the kids and I swear the
administration was in need of treatment. A back injury while at work
forced me to miss the deadline for credits/license renewal they let
me go. Their loss. I still work with just copper and do peace signs,
I am trying to teach my self fold forming, and thought I was the
first to create jump ring until I read Tim McCreight. I agree that it
can be addictive. This is one of the best threads I’ve read in a long
time. Thank you all for giving me hope. peace.
Another burned out former graphic designer here. After spending up
to 12 hours a day sitting in front of a computer, I really felt a
need to get more physical and work with my hands. So hand fabricating
jewelry sure fulfills this need and also satisfies my need for
creativity. I still use the computer as a tool, though, as an aid in
the design process. My educational background (BA in English and
Communication) and former experience in marketing, public relations
and advertising will also be utilized in my jewelry business.
My only complaint is that I miss the interaction of working with
others because I work independently out of my own studio.
Bonnie Cooper
I was a professor of Civil Engineering, I taught the concepts of
infrastructure at 4 different universities during my career. I was
an International scholar, but I took early retirement to do the
things that I enjoy, which is working with my hands and working
metal.
Jerry
I’ve heard it said that the average person will change careers 5
times during their lifetime. I don’t know if that’s really true but
here’s my list and yup, there are 5.
Career #1 Hairdresser in the 80’s until starvation and standing in
one spot all day forced me to put down the scissors.
Career #2 Landscape maintenance until starvation and winter layoffs
(Kansas!) forced me to put down the pruners and put away the
lawnmower. Was able to utilize haircutting abilities from Career #1,
but not much demand for junipers with mullets or punk rock spikes.
Career #3 Returned to school - earned BS in Horticulture & MS in
Plant Biology. Thesis: pathology + entomology project. Much frass
produced.
Career #4: Currently an agricultural research biologist for USDA-ARS
Career #5 which will begin the day after retirement from #4.
Career #5: Getting there, one rock at a time and loving The Journey.
This thread is so interesting seeing everyone’s previous life!
I was a journeyman electrican and forman, but in the past I’ve done
everything form bounceing at nudee bars to working in laundry at an
Nurseing home (and no, no disposable diapers).
Now after years of other peoples crap being my bread and butter, I
finnaly got the nerve up to change carrers and am a bench jeweler.
Happy Profits and heres to all the people brave enough to leave what
is comforatable to pursue their dreams.
This is truly an interesting thread!!!
I was inspired by my son. As a senior in high school, he took his
first Silversmithing class and had items shown at the Art Museum.
After moving, when he started to college, I enrolled in the local
High School Adult Ed Program. That started my 32 year passion for
metalsmithing.
I am forever indebted to the wonderful instruction from Roger
Rydberg, my first teacher for 9 years. I was privileged to teach the
same class for 15 years after he left. During that time and until
present I have taken classes from Harold O’Connor, Phil Poirier,
Michael Boyd, Roger Wilbur, Tim McCreight and Cece Wire (my PMC
Certifier).
After World War II teachers weren’t available in our rural area.
With one year at CU, I taught 3rd grade on a “Dire Emergency
Certificate” for 2 years in eastern Colorado. Made a whopping $75.00
a month - that was in 1947!!! Teaching was a natural. In the
interim: Marriage, 2 kids, Ski Patrol Auxiliary, Ski School
Instructor (as were both kids), and First Aid Instructor; and for 7
years since Adult Ed at the High School, I am teaching privately.
One of my first time students, (from several years ago), Priscilla
Walsen, had a Step by Step in the November 2006 Lapidary Journal. Am
I proud - yes!
Now, retired after 31 years with an Automobile Company, at 78, I am a
full time, active Metalsmith/ Lapidary artist, creating one of a kind
jewelry (fabricated, cast, inlayed, PMC), doing what I love best.
Love to cook, too!!!
In my day job I’m a jeweler. I’m working on my Ph.D in economics as a
hobby. Before jewelry I was planning to be a veterinarian and worked
as a vet’s assistant.
Doc
Hi,
I had an interesting ‘working’ life. Starting as a land surveyor
until I decided I didn’t really like wandering around snow covered
fields for 8 hours a day, I then moved into building surveying and
management. This was a fascinating period as much of my work focussed
on modifying and managing ‘factories in multiple occupation’ - old
steel works and cutlery works which were divided up and let off one
or two rooms at a time to small companies. At any one time there
would be maybe 200 different companies in the properties I was
managing. It was also a period in the 1970’s and 80’s where local
government who I was working for was under little pressure to perform
and so I had plenty of time to look in on the various firms and pass
the time of day with them. The range of businesses was fantastic -
manufacturing pewter ware, silversmiths, goldsmiths, jewellery
makers, glass workers, wrought iron, plastic moulders, rubber hose
makers for the aircraft industry, musical instrument makers and
repairers, and many more. There were also artists, antique dealers,
printers, performing arts studios etc. etc. I learned more about how
to do things in those years than most people learn in a lifetime! In
the 1980’s my focus changed more onto building engineering and I
ended up as a facilities manager running the council’s office stock -
a couple of dozen buildings ranging from the grade 1 listed Town Hall
to small district offices in outlying areas. I did everything from
designing works, negotiating contracts and obtaining finance,
clearing legal points, arranging and supervising the works through to
allocating staff desk space, arranging the services installations,
managing the security cleaning and maintenence staff and being on 24
hour call for emergencies!
Retirement and the ability to follow my previous hobbies in a bit
more joined-up way is a delight - if only there were more
time…
Best wishes,
Ian
Ian W. Wright
Sheffield UK
BA Math, programmer, mechanical engineer - in text processing,
predictive failure analysis for IBM, then entrepreneur starting a
company in computer networking, then mergers and acquisitions of
software companies for one of the bells. Got my GG during the mergers
and acquisitions job as an attempt to maintain sanity. Left the
corporate world for good 16 years ago and learned how to work metal.
Still learning.
Judy Hoch
Youth - MA in Anthropology with emphasis on archaeology Middle Life -
Corporate executive
Next Middle Life - Self-employed as craft supplies store owner
Future Middle Life, etc - Artist, jeweler, creative person - HAPPY!!
Looking at the list - ALL GOOD!!!
Sandi Graves, Beadin’ Up A Storm
Stormcloud Trading Co (Beadstorm)
http://www.beadstorm.com
Saint Paul, Minnesota USA
651-645-0343