Wednesday, April 11, 2012

J is for Jewelry-Making


Sometimes I get so discouraged with my writing that I threaten to quit and make jewelry. One birthday, my husband and daughter gave me a lot of jewelry-making supplies. I got all kinds of chains, ribbons, twine and turquoise--my favorite--and a plastic container with little compartments to keep it all neatly inside. I even visited a jewelry making  group. That’s the closest I’ve come to actually making good my threat.
I love jewelry fixings of all kinds. 

I’m not a shopper. No matter what I’m looking for, I end up at the jewelry counter of the store, perusing the jewelry. This is known as escape. Yes, I recognize it.

Even though I love the idea of creating one-of-a-kind bracelets, necklaces and earrings, and have several books showing me how, step by step, I don’t have the patience.  I wouldn’t be any better at making jewelry than I am at sewing.  Put a needle and thread in my hands and I'm disastrous! The idea of jewelry making is my escape.

What’s your escape when writing gets tough?

14 comments:

Jessica Bell said...

I used to do this. Have all the supplies too. They're all packed away in a little chest in the back of my wardrobe. Haven't touched it for about five years. You've reminded me that I actually miss how relaxed it made me feel. Hmm ... you might have inspired me to take a little sneak peek into that chest ...

Unknown said...

I threaten to drive to Niagara Falls. I don't know what my plans are once I get there or if I will come home. It's an open-ended threat.

Lucy

Donna B. McNicol said...

I think it's interesting how many writers dabble in jewelry making. I have my stuff stashed but now that I'm writing more, no time to dig it out and play around.

Georgina Morales said...

I looove jewelry and would love to know and have the patience to do it. I will always go to the jewelry section in shops and dream that I can buy all the hundreds of things I can't live without but, alas, I leave the store with nothing and I've survived so far. =) My escape from everything are books and TV. I can watch to Discovery channel, or History channel, or Bio channel for AGES and not get tired.

Nice post. Thanks for commenting on my blog!
From Diary of a Writer in Progress

mooderino said...

My version is playing video games I think. Somehow my frazzled attention span can focus for hours. If they could just make a game for writing novels, I'd be the most prolific writer out there.

Thanks for visiting and following my blog. Now following yours,
mood
Moody Writing

Jessica Ferguson said...

Jessica - welcome!Your music is too good to get distracted by beading.

Lucy - Take your laptop!

Donna - I think we writers just have a need to create something.

Gina, I love jewelry too but I feel totally uncomfortable wearing it. Wish I could just love the Feeling Gaudy feeling. :) And I'm a TV person too. :)

Mooderino - I like scrabble and solitaire. not too good at video games but if you create a game for writing novels, let me know. I'll be first in line to buy it.

nutschell said...

Sounds like a fun thing to do!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Dropping by from the A-Z!

Melissa Ann Goodwin said...

I think that all forms of creativity feed each other, don't you? I used to do some "crafts" - painted Victorian Santas on old wooden breadboards and even an old wooden ironing boards. Haven't done it in a long time and I miss it. I think that kind of deep concentration on something else can actually release some creativity for the writing - like a lightbulb suddenly going off over your head. I love following the crafters and quilters _ check out Just Jingle's blog justjingle.blogspot.com - her creations are amazing!! Nice to meet you.

Pat Carroll Marcantel said...

Where have you been hiding this talent? Or am I just clueless? Don't answer that. Wonderful post.

Jessica Ferguson said...

nutschell - I know it's a fun thing to do. Wish I could do it!

Melissa - I agree with you. When I start viewing all the wonderful talent on different blogs, I yearn to do it too.

Pat - I don't do it--I WANT to do it. Believe me, if I could make beautiful jewelry, I'd be doing that instead of writing! I think. :)

James R Tate said...

You know Jess, the funny thing is, Writing is my escape. I guess that's what's so frustrating. It's my hobby, passion, consumer of most of my waking thoughts (Next to my wife, of course) so when I have to do other things like make a living, I tend to get freaked out until I get to write again. I've actually enjoyed the Blog thing--I just need to stay with it. Good to hear from you.

Debra Harris-Johnson said...

I have the supplies to so many crafts, jewelery, scrap booking, knitting...whatever. Can't seem to hold my attention. Like writing does (:{ And we all know I'm back and forth with that.
dreamweaver

Pa Ul said...

lovely jewerly

do check out my letters at GAC a-z

Unknown said...

When I want to avoid writing, I read. Fantasizing about making jewelry sounds a lot more interesting.