This week brought all sorts of wild ups and downs – business and personal. Since opening the shop the ebb and flow of panic and trust has left me exhausted most evenings.
Just yesterday I stood chatting to a beautiful woman who has been doing jewellery classes as a hobby for about ten years. The love, the wonder and the passion towards her creations were tangible as she spoke. A glint in her eye about the sacredness of creating. For a moment I dropped my guard and felt like a has been, a vulnerable thing to admit I assure you. Years of fueling my own fire, cheerleading the shit out of my own ideas and starting my own engine to get up at five to keep this dream alive. I’m tired I think and feel suitably lacklustre.
It wasn’t so much the way she spoke about creating, it was the desire to be experienced in the way I was experiencing her while talking about creating. I hope I haven’t lost that magic I think to myself. Life seems to be one big experience, all there really is, some good, some bad, and then we do it all again tomorrow.
Part of what I do for a living is gifting others with an experience. That experience starts long before the jewellery is handed over and adorning the hands of those that ordered it. This particular experience started a whole year ago. It wasn’t entirely intended but it just worked out that way and in hindsight, one of my favorite journeys in business to date.
When your clients are ambassadors of the slow life, prefer quality over quantity, prioritizes integrity and communication above all else, believe that nature is a healer and whose value system is determined by a fierce and protective love for one another’s hearts and dreams I mean…could you align with anyone more?
So generally clients would book a consultation with me. We’d sit down and discuss their dreams and desires in relation to their bespoke pieces. After the first meet up I get stuck into a few designs and offer three final looks with quotes and possible changes if need be. But this was no general couple.
After a few brief emails, WhatsApp’s and a meet up to get ring sizes measured the adventure was a go. Shortly after I received an eye wateringly beautiful brief put together by my clients, from when they met, a photograph layout (such a crucial part to getting to know my clients when far away) and a meticulous layout of his and hers ring concepts. I have been schooled I admit while giggling to myself.
In the end this year long process turned into a beautiful back and forth collaboration between my clients and I. After the final rings were delivered and a last few changes made I realized the importance of journeying together. Magic is a colab.
Next week we start manufacturing!
Stefni
x
*All visuals courtesy of my clients