I became a jeweler a little over a year ago. I also worked in a dental lab for 3 years, wax carving crowns, bridges, and implants. In the dental lab, I designed my first piece, a silver Noah's ark for my wife. I also have a BFA in painting and drawing, but also enjoy ceramics and sculpture. I have a goal of becoming a jewelry designer, after I have gotten a firm grasp of jewelry repair and fabrication. I am starting to dabble in design, going to jewelry shows, and reading trade mags to get a feel for where the industry is going. I hope to start designing jewelry seriously, once I have worked on enough pieces to know what needs to go into a design to be something that will withstand wear and tear and is not a nightmare for a jeweler to work on. I also hope to be in tune with what is popular, but not just copying the current trends, but using my own unique style to create timeless pieces, not just the fad of the day. I know that these are high ambitions, but I won't succeed as a designer by setting easy goals.; http://www.houseofstones.com