March 27th, 2007 at 3:05 am
Rachel Helen Designs
When Rachel made a very interesting comment on my post about whether formal education or self teaching is important I became most intrigued and wanted to find out more! She has kindly answered my questions so if you’re interested in jewellery making as a business or metalsmithing read on for priceless information and advice. Rachel is a very talented metal worker and designer. See her website to find out more.
1) What did you learn on the evening course you took? What did you enjoy most about it?
I started out with basic metal working skills. You need to know how to work with the metal and what its limitations are. It can be quite intimidating at first but you soon learn that, for example, holding the blow torch in one place for more than a few seconds will usually melt whatever you are doing!
Basic annealing, soldering and saw control are usually the first things you learn, then you go onto the more adventurous stuff like stone setting and multiple solder joints.
When I first started I loved the freedom it gave my designs! I had been restricted to working with beads and wire for so long that this opportunity took my ideas to another level. I think my ambition and creative drive concerned my tutor at the time as I was asking her to help me make pieces that were way beyond my level of skill.. but I always thought that if you don’t try you will never learn!
2) Did you intend to make a business from your jewellery or did it happen naturally?
Jewellery making was always a hobby. When I was young I sold pieces at the odd school fair and to family and friends for next to nothing, but my main ambition was to become an animator and work in America! Jewellery was just something I did for fun.
When I left uni after studying in film & animation I realised that my skills where not quite up to the standards most employers where looking for. My main interest is hands on stop motion or 2D animation and by the time I left uni most companies were using computers and as much as I love new technology, I just couldn’t work up the enthusiasm I needed to make it.
I made the decision to take up evening classes in jewellery with the intention of eventually selling my work, but at the time I never really understood where it would take me or how long it would take to get there.
3) What made you decide to take the film and animation degree at university over jewellery design?
Like I mentioned before jewellery making was just something I did for fun. I thought that doing it full time would spoil the enjoyment. Making such important decisions at the age of 17-18 is hard enough, but predicting the future is impossible! I have no regrets about my degree choice. I met some of my closest friends at uni and had a fantastic time.. I also learned a few things here and there!
4) What did you do income wise when you were training in silversmithing?
I used to be a project manager/PA for a commercial furniture manufacturers. Surprisingly, I wasn’t too bad at the job and enjoyed certain aspects of it, however it was very stressful and just not for me. Had I stuck it out I could have worked my way up, but when my class tutor, offered me a job working full time with him I jumped at the chance!
5) Your work is obviously very advanced, how long did it take you to get to the stage where you felt you could start selling it in art galleries and boutiques?
Being able to sell your own work to the general public is very much a confidence thing. People have been telling me for years that I should be selling my work, however it was not until I had been training for about 3-4 years that I decided I was ready.
Being given the opportunity to work for a jeweller full time for a year also helped me along greatly. I was already selling my pieces when I started working for him, however my craftsmanship and attention to detail improved so much that now I can confidently say that my work is at my highest standard yet.
Getting to this stage does not mean it is time to stop learning though! There are always new and exciting things to experiment with!! I have so many ideas and techniques I want to play with!! It’s never ending!!!
6) Businesslink sounds like a fantastic resource, what was the best sort of advice they offered you?
I only needed to speak to Business Link once, but they put me on to my local business advice service run by the council.
This service has been invaluable to me. It is a free service offered to new businesses or people thinking of starting a business. Not only was I assigned a business advisor but I was also given the opportunity to take part in several free courses run by the council. These courses included marketing, business planning and tax advice. I have also been fortunate enough to obtain funding from them! My business advisor has helped me on so many issues, I honestly don’t think I would be where I am now without his help.
For anyone starting a new business in the UK I would recommend a call to Business Link because even if your local council doesn’t run a scheme like mine they can always put you onto people who can help.
7) How do you get your creative juices flowing, where do you draw inspiration from?
Ooh now that depends on the piece I’m making and who I’m making it for!
I love working on commissioned pieces because I draw inspiration from the people involved. I like to use subtle symbols and icons that are meaningful to the recipricant, but not obvious to anyone else. I think this makes the piece mean much more.
I also like to fill my head with fairy tales and pretty pictures! I try to take in as much of the world around me as my brain can handle.. I love the countryside and nature so this features heavily on my work, but at the same time I am a dreamer and I love surrealism and fantasy.
8 ) For somebody reading this wanting to be a jewellery designer and in a job they don’t like, what would you suggest?
Well I can only advise on what I know, so I would say evening classes are definitely the way to go. A full time degree would restrict your earning and a few months down the line you may discover its not as much fun as you thought! With evening classes you keep your money and you get to test the water. Also evening classes are usually much more open to what you can learn so you build skills and techniques at your own pace.
If however, you are a college graduate looking for a future career in jewellery design then I would certainly recommend looking for a good university degree. At the age of 18-21 you can afford to loose a few years on a subject you may or may not build on and the life experience gained at uni beats any other!
Whatever your situation though, I would say that the most important thing is to give yourself time to learn from your mistakes. It is also a good idea to have someone to guide you when you get over ambitious! Getting your work to a standard worth selling takes commitment, time, practice and a hell of a lot of patience!
If anyone would like to get in touch with questions and jewellery related problems please feel free! I’ll do my best to answer all that I can!!
I have just set up my own blog page at http://rachelhelendesigns.blogspot.com , I am also on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/rachelhelendesigns and of course my web site is http://www.rachelhelendesigns.com .
1) What did you learn on the evening course you took? What did you enjoy most about it?
I started out with basic metal working skills. You need to know how to work with the metal and what its limitations are. It can be quite intimidating at first but you soon learn that, for example, holding the blow torch in one place for more than a few seconds will usually melt whatever you are doing!
Basic annealing, soldering and saw control are usually the first things you learn, then you go onto the more adventurous stuff like stone setting and multiple solder joints.
When I first started I loved the freedom it gave my designs! I had been restricted to working with beads and wire for so long that this opportunity took my ideas to another level. I think my ambition and creative drive concerned my tutor at the time as I was asking her to help me make pieces that were way beyond my level of skill.. but I always thought that if you don’t try you will never learn!
2) Did you intend to make a business from your jewellery or did it happen naturally?
Jewellery making was always a hobby. When I was young I sold pieces at the odd school fair and to family and friends for next to nothing, but my main ambition was to become an animator and work in America! Jewellery was just something I did for fun.
When I left uni after studying in film & animation I realised that my skills where not quite up to the standards most employers where looking for. My main interest is hands on stop motion or 2D animation and by the time I left uni most companies were using computers and as much as I love new technology, I just couldn’t work up the enthusiasm I needed to make it.
I made the decision to take up evening classes in jewellery with the intention of eventually selling my work, but at the time I never really understood where it would take me or how long it would take to get there.
3) What made you decide to take the film and animation degree at university over jewellery design?
Like I mentioned before jewellery making was just something I did for fun. I thought that doing it full time would spoil the enjoyment. Making such important decisions at the age of 17-18 is hard enough, but predicting the future is impossible! I have no regrets about my degree choice. I met some of my closest friends at uni and had a fantastic time.. I also learned a few things here and there!
4) What did you do income wise when you were training in silversmithing?
I used to be a project manager/PA for a commercial furniture manufacturers. Surprisingly, I wasn’t too bad at the job and enjoyed certain aspects of it, however it was very stressful and just not for me. Had I stuck it out I could have worked my way up, but when my class tutor, offered me a job working full time with him I jumped at the chance!
5) Your work is obviously very advanced, how long did it take you to get to the stage where you felt you could start selling it in art galleries and boutiques?
Being able to sell your own work to the general public is very much a confidence thing. People have been telling me for years that I should be selling my work, however it was not until I had been training for about 3-4 years that I decided I was ready.
Being given the opportunity to work for a jeweller full time for a year also helped me along greatly. I was already selling my pieces when I started working for him, however my craftsmanship and attention to detail improved so much that now I can confidently say that my work is at my highest standard yet.
Getting to this stage does not mean it is time to stop learning though! There are always new and exciting things to experiment with!! I have so many ideas and techniques I want to play with!! It’s never ending!!!
6) Businesslink sounds like a fantastic resource, what was the best sort of advice they offered you?
I only needed to speak to Business Link once, but they put me on to my local business advice service run by the council.
This service has been invaluable to me. It is a free service offered to new businesses or people thinking of starting a business. Not only was I assigned a business advisor but I was also given the opportunity to take part in several free courses run by the council. These courses included marketing, business planning and tax advice. I have also been fortunate enough to obtain funding from them! My business advisor has helped me on so many issues, I honestly don’t think I would be where I am now without his help.
For anyone starting a new business in the UK I would recommend a call to Business Link because even if your local council doesn’t run a scheme like mine they can always put you onto people who can help.
7) How do you get your creative juices flowing, where do you draw inspiration from?
Ooh now that depends on the piece I’m making and who I’m making it for!
I love working on commissioned pieces because I draw inspiration from the people involved. I like to use subtle symbols and icons that are meaningful to the recipricant, but not obvious to anyone else. I think this makes the piece mean much more.
I also like to fill my head with fairy tales and pretty pictures! I try to take in as much of the world around me as my brain can handle.. I love the countryside and nature so this features heavily on my work, but at the same time I am a dreamer and I love surrealism and fantasy.
Well I can only advise on what I know, so I would say evening classes are definitely the way to go. A full time degree would restrict your earning and a few months down the line you may discover its not as much fun as you thought! With evening classes you keep your money and you get to test the water. Also evening classes are usually much more open to what you can learn so you build skills and techniques at your own pace.
If however, you are a college graduate looking for a future career in jewellery design then I would certainly recommend looking for a good university degree. At the age of 18-21 you can afford to loose a few years on a subject you may or may not build on and the life experience gained at uni beats any other!
Whatever your situation though, I would say that the most important thing is to give yourself time to learn from your mistakes. It is also a good idea to have someone to guide you when you get over ambitious! Getting your work to a standard worth selling takes commitment, time, practice and a hell of a lot of patience!
If anyone would like to get in touch with questions and jewellery related problems please feel free! I’ll do my best to answer all that I can!!
I have just set up my own blog page at http://rachelhelendesigns.blogspot.com , I am also on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/rachelhelendesigns and of course my web site is http://www.rachelhelendesigns.com .
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What a great article! I have been doing metal working classes every tuesday afternoon for the last 30 weeks. I often want to run before I can walk. I walk into class with arms full of drawings that I want to try. My tutor encourages me and says it’s ok, but I often worry I am making too much work for, not just me but my long suffering teacher LOL. Your story about over ambitious designs makes me feel a whole lot better. I shall follow your lead, carry on designing beyond my skills and hopefully one day figure out how to combine my new skills with my Lampwork glass skills.
You are an inspiration, Thanks Rachel
Emma xx
March 27th, 2007 at 12:35 pmHer work is beautiful - great interview too!!
I’m definately going to do the course now!!!
thanks for the inspiraton
March 27th, 2007 at 10:34 pm