Jewelry Making as Therapy?

[Stephanie]

So, I’ve decided that as a teacher I need some more tangible things in my life. I’m a very tactile person, and so trying to do nothing but teach was driving me batty (not that teaching is ‘nothing’!). I needed something that I could do, and look back at and say, ‘look, I did that!’. It’s hard to look at a student and say, ‘I did that!’ It’s all so theoretical.

I minored in geology so that I could have some classes where things were concrete. Theories on Childhood Psycology (behaviors could be caused by this or this or this but you will never really know for sure) vs. Granite (this is granite, see how heavy it is? See the quartz, feldspar and mica? That’s granite, no question.)

So I started buying beads on ebay, went to the craft store and got some supplies, and found that the simple act of putting a bead on a wire was very therapeutic. Does anyone else have that reaction to art and the tangible-ness of it all?

The only pictures of what I’ve made so far are up on ebay with the pieces I’m trying to sell. I’m not expecting much, since they’re rather simple and amateurish, but I’m very proud of them. 🙂 (http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZstephschevy) <- If you're curious.

Anyway, I just wanted to see if anyone else had any thoughts about the importance of being able to make something in our lifetimes, and have something tangible to create.

/end ramble.

[Stephanie]

[Pegasi1978]

I don’t know about jewelery making being thereputic, but I know that when I do something like counted cross-stitch or make a “friendship” bracelet it’s very theraputic.

When my husband delpoyed the first time I spent part of our last days together making him a “friendship” bracelet to wear on his wrist. As I tied every knot I thought, “You will come home safe and sound”. He did and just before he deployed the second time I did the same thing. I also made a companion bracelt for me to wear both times, though I need to remake mine. Hubby lost his bracelet when he had to take it off for some reason, so I sent him mine to replace it since it was too big for me.

[Stephanie]

pegasi1978 wrote:

I don’t know about jewelery making being thereputic, but I know that when I do something like counted cross-stitch or make a “friendship” bracelet it’s very theraputic.

When my husband delpoyed the first time I spent part of our last days together making him a “friendship” bracelet to wear on his wrist. As I tied every knot I thought, “You will come home safe and sound”. He did and just before he deployed the second time I did the same thing. I also made a companion bracelt for me to wear both times, though I need to remake mine. Hubby lost his bracelet when he had to take it off for some reason, so I sent him mine to replace it since it was too big for me.

Aww, that’s so sweet!

[Pegasi1978]

It was something I felt compelled to do. When my instincts tell me to do something like that I listen to them. When I don’t things don’t turn out well.

[Stephanie]

pegasi1978 wrote:

It was something I felt compelled to do. When my instincts tell me to do something like that I listen to them. When I don’t things don’t turn out well.

I’m the same way. My mom calls it a sixth-sense, and says my grandmother had a very strong sense. I figure as long as it’s reasonable, why not?
Is your hubby home now, or still on deployment?

[Pegasi1978]

He’s still on his deployment. Has several more months to go. He hasn’t quite hit the 12 month mark, but the deployment will be longer than that.

[Stephanie]

pegasi1978 wrote:

He’s still on his deployment. Has several more months to go. He hasn’t quite hit the 12 month mark, but the deployment will be longer than that.

*hugs* I’ll be praying for his safe return.

[sunhawk]

I find that just about any artistic process that requires concentration and patience feels very meditative to me, which is one of the reasons I enjoy making art ^_^

[Jasmine]

Absolutely. I make jewelry as well, very basic like yours but having to concentrate on the number of beads, the spacing, calms me down. I’m making bracelets for all the women coming to our wedding…

And since I’ve gotten back into painting, the PYOs are perfect. I just need more of them now. 😆

[dragonmedley]

Painting the PYOs is very good. There’s the tactile involved because you need to pick it up, and the minute detailing in painting.

Read my books! Volume 1 and 2 of A Dragon Medley are available now.
http://www.sarahjestin.com/mybooks.htm
I host the feedback lists, which are maintained by drag0nfeathers.
http://www.sarahjestin.com/feedbacklists.htm

[twindragonsmum]

I’ve always been addicted to beads, rocks, glass, etc, It’s what my hubby calls “The Magpie Instinct” It’s really bad now that I have my wholesalers liscence and can go to bead/gem faires (which, if you live near Salt Lake City, Utah, the next is April 4). But my family has always been known to have rocks in our heads. When I’m not costuming, I’m designing and beadng for two diff. lines. One of my sisters is a geologist. My other sister is an archealogist/marine biologist that digs up dino’s (we get to go with her this summer). One brother is a mason who does the most beautiful waterfalls, walkways, etc. My Bro in OZ blows glass is his spare time and the youngest of us (another brother) just likes to rock hounding with his 4 year old son.

I’m a tactile person. I’m also a People person. I can’t just sit and watch a movie; I bead. Drives my hubby nuts “can’t you just sit still and relax?) Well, that is relaxing for me. I like the different finishes to the stone beads. Some have a waxy feel, some are slick, some are fairly rough but they all have differed characteristics. The one I’m obsessing over now is “Ocean Jasper” and if you can find a really good piece, it’s translucent with little orbs “floating” in it like lava lamps!

More later, gotta run the kids to school (good topinc, by the way!)

twindragonsmum 😀

tdm

[Purplecat]

For me, sketching and sculpting are both very therapeutic. I love the texture of the clay and how I can shape it to what I want. 🙂

[Stephanie]

Thanks for the replies! I have PYOs on their way to me. I’ve never really painted before, so it’ll be a grand experiment. My husband is going to do it with me – something for both of us to do together.

I can’t wait to get started!

[lamortefille]

twindragonsmum wrote:

I’ve always been addicted to beads, rocks, glass, etc, It’s what my hubby calls “The Magpie Instinct” It’s really bad now that I have my wholesalers liscence and can go to bead/gem faires (which, if you live near Salt Lake City, Utah, the next is April 4). But my family has always been known to have rocks in our heads. When I’m not costuming, I’m designing and beadng for two diff. lines. One of my sisters is a geologist. My other sister is an archealogist/marine biologist that digs up dino’s (we get to go with her this summer). One brother is a mason who does the most beautiful waterfalls, walkways, etc. My Bro in OZ blows glass is his spare time and the youngest of us (another brother) just likes to rock hounding with his 4 year old son.

I’m a tactile person. I’m also a People person. I can’t just sit and watch a movie; I bead. Drives my hubby nuts “can’t you just sit still and relax?) Well, that is relaxing for me. I like the different finishes to the stone beads. Some have a waxy feel, some are slick, some are fairly rough but they all have differed characteristics. The one I’m obsessing over now is “Ocean Jasper” and if you can find a really good piece, it’s translucent with little orbs “floating” in it like lava lamps!

More later, gotta run the kids to school (good topinc, by the way!)

twindragonsmum 😀

Did you ever post any of your jewelry for us to see/buy?

[Author]

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