How to Keep your Spirits High

This art world I am in is extremely competitive and extremely tough on a persons mental state.  If it was just a process of finding materials you love and constructing them into a finished product you love would be one thing.  But it doesn't stop there!  I would love to create a sculpture or paint a picture that would be worth millions of dollars after I pass on but no!  I had to pick jewelry making!   I never truly thought of jewelry making as art but I have been told it is   I never considered myself an artist.  But I have been told I am.

Right now there is   6,857,870 pieces of jewelry for sale on Etsy alone.   I have 223 pieces of jewelry listed just on Etsy  https://www.etsy.com/shop/Jewelrybyjane29  I have made some sales but not consistently, not enough to keep my spirits high.  How I do keep my spirit high part of that is to spread my work around.   I have my work in three different shops in as many states.  They are not consistent either, but are frequent enough to help my spirits.

Even though I am not making lots of money that I would of hoped I am treating it as a business.  I try to do all of the things that must be done for a business including the bookkeeping.

When I create I lose myself in my work!  A few minutes turn into an hour! The world around me turns into minor bumble bees buzzing around.  Then when I finally finish that piece I get gratification.  I tend to work on bracelets or simple designs that give me instant gratification.   Every so often I work on something that takes more than several hours to finish.  I guess that is why I keep going.  I can get lost in my work!  

I found that when I did craft shows my moral was boosted during every show.  I would get oo's and ah's and usually sold quite a few things.   I stopped doing shows because besides the wear and tear on me there was evidence of wear on some of my more fragile pieces so I went to consignment shops instead.

This is one that took many days to complete.  It was made for a contest and I was very proud I actually completed it in time.  Unfortunately I did not win the contest or even get any votes.   But it does not define me so it doesn't break my spirits.  However, it may be some time before I compete again! Jewelrybyjane29








The necklace on this one was fast gratification.  Once I picked the beads it just fell together.  The wirewrap on turquoise cabochon went quite well also.











This is why I do what I do!  I don't make lots of money I don't get recognition or cudo's!  It just lets me be me!  And that is the best job in the world.