Confession #6: I take my work apart

I have found that the willingness to take something apart that has proved to not sell well is crucial to taking chances with design. I suggest to all jewelry designers to know your style, but to take risks on occasion. Try a new method, use new materials, change up color schemes, etc. If nothing else you may learn what doesn't work. If you always make symmetrical pieces, try an a-symmetrical one for a change. If you never mix shades of green, try one that is nothing but different shades of green. If you only make chokers, try a longer piece. If you only work with pendants, that's right, try one without a pendant. If you make single strand pieces... you get the picture.

This is another good reason to check out other people's work. They can give you an idea of how to step outside your own box. Being inspired by other designers is not the same as copying. Most of us would be flattered.

And when or if this change up goes wrong, take it apart and put the pieces back in your stock. Or if you were the only one who liked it, keep it, maybe it was just ahead of it's time. Who knows, maybe you are wearing a year from now and someone asks you where you got that lovely piece of jewelry, "oh, I made it," you'll say.