rediscovering inspiration

so, i have had a dry spell for the past year with yen jewelry. there are several reasons:

• an overall lack of inspiration;
• a boredom with the style of work that i have perfected over the last few years;
  
• a dismay in seeing said style--frames meticulously wrapped in fine wire--is becoming more commonplace and widely made;
  
• the cost prohibitive nature of gold and sterling (it is only getting worse);
  
• disappointment that the techniques i have used over the years get more and more tedious to produce in quantity;
• my fingers hurt from all that wrapping of fine wire;
• the maintenance of the business and production time required for the sale of existing designs (that stinking tight wrapping again) keeps me from having time to create new designs; and,
  
• did i mention and overall lack of inspiration?

since the idea of hanging up the torch does upset me (and the fact that so much has been invested in my studio), i decided i need to do something about it. i am taking classes this quarter in lost wax (i have taken a workshop before, but never a full-course), more advanced stone setting and i just finished an intensive in enamel. i figured if i couldn't find inspiration and new approaches that will allow me to improve my production after this round of courses, i might just have to hang up the torch.

today was the conclusion of my enamel intensive. at first i figured i could check enameling off my list since it just wasn't speaking to me. today that changed. lo and behold, you can watercolor enamel! having a background in drawing and painting, and my past focus was watercolor, i goofed around with the colors that the studio had on hand by painting over some domes i created and enameled with a coat of soft white. i wasn't expecting much when i slapped on some color (i didn't go to great strides on design since i was strapped for time) and put them in the kiln. to my surprise, they turned out great. the picture provided doesn't do them justice, but trust me.i also played around with transparent enamel colors. again, the picture does no justice since the colors are absolutely beautiful. i have big plans for these enameled domes.

now i really want to get a kiln and all the required beginner items. i really want to get the one the instructor has, which is a smaller version of the kilns in the classroom studio. i figure everything will set me back $2500-$3000, which is a bit steep, but i guess it is a small price to pay for a renewed excitement. also, the idea of getting away with using copper, without worrying about tarnishing on the wearer, excites me since i can put more time and artistry into my work, which will compensate for the use of silver and gold. i sometimes feel that the cost of materials i use hold me back design wise, since time coupled with expensive materials can make items cost prohibitive or make it where my profit margin is low in order to price a piece at a point that will motivate people to purchase.

i will make sure to share pictures when the pieces using the above enameled domes are completed.