Life is pretty much one big special order when you’re a jewelry maker. It is amazing how far in advance some people order for special occasions. The perfect necklace for a friend/significant other’s birthday, the most splendid ring you can imagine, even a tie-pin shaped and studded like a darting lizard. I do it all and each piece is uniquely their own.
Then, of course, there are the usual: Valentine’ Day, Christmas, Graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and some appreciation days keep me hopping throughout the year. Father’s Day is particularly interesting, as children and grandchildren and spouses file through with the perfect idea for an engraved pocket watch or a kingly ring. I wonder how many of those presents are actually worn more than once or twice.
Adrianna looked up from her notebook to check on her various machines, all whirring away to heat, cool, or cure her creations. She did love her work, and she was GOOD at it…usually.
One major problem with being a specialist who creates one of a kind, unique accessories is that it becomes more and more difficult to create presents for my own friends and family. I promise my clients individualized pieces so when I create something, I never duplicate it. Even in sets, nothing is ever identical.
“Neither are flowers dear.”
Adrianna’s grandmother had snuck up and was reading over her shoulder. “Mawmaw! What are you doing here?”
“It is time to go out for our Mother’s Day Outing, silly goose.” Mawmaw hugged her girl tight. “Your mother is waiting…that’s something else like your jewelry you know. Motherhood.”
“Motherhood is like specialty accessories?” Adrianna was incredulous. “Go on.”
“No person is ever identical to another…even twins have separate DNA.” Mawmaw pointed out. “Every child, and therefore every parent, is a unique, one-of-a-kind gift. That’s why we celebrate days like this, to remind everyone how truly blessed they are to have the maternal figure they have. Whether they were raised by parents, aunts, grandparents, adoptive parents, etc. they have each been cared for by a one-of-a-kind.”
“Too bad I can’t get all of that on a necklace,” Adrianna joked. “That’s sounds better than the locket I’ve been working on for mom. I melted it down three times already!”
“Just buy her a t-shirt.”
Here there Be Dragons! 