Between the new issue of Easy Wire and the summer issue of Stringing, I created 8 pairs of earrings. I like making earrings, but until recently, I couldn't tell you why. Many designers seem to concentrate on necklaces, which makes sense, since those larger pieces bring in more income. This week I found an answer where I least expected one.
In the mystery, The Wrong Stuff by Sharon Fiffer, her main character remembers the joy of working on both small and large accounts at her former advertising job. She thinks:
She could work big better when she worked small at the same time . . . Of course Mathew Westman loved to carve frames and smaller objects. It allowed him to continue to learn. It honed his skills, kept him fresh, and allowed him to experiment.
That makes sense. This simple pair from Stringing, for example, let me experiment with color, combining the bright colors and also mixing gunmetal and sterling silver. (Plus, it let me use up the last bit of this fine gunmetal chain, which gives me the excuse to buy more!)
This idea of a small/big project balance made me realize that I need to add a large writing project to my plate. I love writing the short stuff such as essays or short stories, but sometimes it's good to switch things up.