New Beginnings

In case you haven’t seen it elsewhere, here’s a little update on a journey I have begun this Autumn.

Many things have happened over the last few years for us all. For me I have had my miracle baby girl at 43, a move from my beloved Scotland to the South West of England and a re-start of my business, all run alongside the international dramas of Brexit, Covid and the Cost-of-Living Crisis.

For the last 18 months, back from maternity leave, I have started to explore the opportunities here for me in the South West. I have definitely found a niche for my work, developing what I’m making and found my own style. I have gained many new customers and made contacts with some very remarkable people. There is a great energy here in Dorset and the county attracts numerous artists as you can imagine, inspired by rural countryside, way of life and Dorset’s impressive Jurassic coast. I’ve felt very inspired too by the opportunities presented to me and feel a need to up my game and push my skill set to another level. Ambition has crept quietly back into my life. I have always wanted to learn new skills but get stuck in a rut of producing the same thing and chasing my tail all the time. Keeping up with my stock and commercial orders seems enough of a task and skill development a luxury of both time and money. But if I don’t start somewhere, I never will start at all.

I decided in the early summer to enrol on a diploma in Fine Jewellery run from London’s famous Hatton Garden. Why did I decide to do that? It is a giant push out of my comfort zone where I have lingered for far too long and to focus myself on learning the new techniques and skills I have wanted to do for so long.

The course was always going to be a huge commitment both financially and time wise so it wasn’t a decision to be taken lightly. After a lengthy discussion with my partner about why I wanted to do it, knowing full well it will impact on my little family too with the extra time I’ll need to work on the course, Stu kept saying ‘do it! do it! do it!’ And so, I have. Not only is the course a significant investment money-wise, along with that I have decided to invest and upgrade my workshop. I’ve acquired pieces of equipment that I have for a long time coveted, but always told myself I can’t justify the cost. At 46 years of age I am only just realising that investing in your skills, your work and your creativity is always justification enough.

The final piece of equipment has arrived today and I just need to set it up (or ask Stu to set it up for me, all looks very complicated). I will write again on some of the new kit and what it does and expectantly on how its improving life and my work. I will also write each week on the projects I’m doing and whether they are successful or not! Hopefully they are but I can guarantee some swearing, maybe a little crying and a lot of ‘I’m putting the kettle on’ along the way. A familiar path for anyone improving their craft, frustration and set backs are part of that process. All this will be forgotten when the high of achievement kicks in along with a ‘well done me’ box of Ferraro Roche.