Animal jewelry for people? Of course! It’s what I’ve made for almost 30 years. But sometimes, when I say I make animal jewelry, I have to do some explaining (mostly to male types).
“No,” I say, (pretty patiently most of the time) “I do not make jewelry for animals to wear.” And I leave it at that.
Of course I have seen Llamas wearing those little red tassels on their ears in South America. But I don’t think that counts.
It’s interesting, most jewelry artists say they are jewelers. And that is their true profession. But that title doesn’t seem to fit me so well.
I don’t really feel like a “jeweler.” A jeweler is a very serious artist, creating esoteric, hard to figure out and one of a kind pieces of wearable art work. His or her work is for serious people to wear, mainly to show off how expensive their taste is.
Nope, that’s not me! I laugh when I make my animal jewelry. This merriment (pun intended) is because I sometimes make hilarious mistakes while I work or else the look on the little critter’s face tickles me. I never think of myself as a serious artist; just an old animal lover who happens to have a sort of gift for creating little miniature critters for other animal lovers to wear. It works for me!
For example, one of my favorite pieces of all time is a pewter rabbit lapel pin. I look at it and it makes me laugh. Every time. If I don’t laugh outwardly, I giggle inside.
And you know why? It’s because creating is the happiest thing you can do. If you don’t think you have talent, think again. All of us have ability to create, and I don’t want you to sell yourself short. It may not be animal jewelry that you make. Maybe you paint, sing, make the world’s best cheesecake. But your gift is there. I guarantee it! (Let me know if your talent is making cheesecake, by the way. Maybe we can work out a deal.)
But I think making animal jewelry is my calling in life. I do a lot of other things as an artist, too, but my animal jewelry work is what has paid the bills, kept my youngsters in good schools and helped redecorate my bathrooms. In other words, it’s a living. And there are so many animals that I have NOT made yet. How can any single artist make every animal jewelry item possible?
You may have an idea for me. Lots of my fans tell me what they would like to see me make next. And sometimes, just sometimes I take them up on it! Especially if they are the 10th person to ask about the same animal design. I do listen, believe you me! If I didn’t, then I would have made that platypus a long time ago. (My perfect design project.) Alas, there are only a few of us who are enamored of platypuses. But I will probably still do it someday. You just watch and see!
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