Anyone can learn to use the tools I use:  pliers, hammers, jeweler's saws, even blowtorches. I've come to that conclusion after years of passing along my art.

I spent nine of my jewelry teaching years at a Cincinnati women's ministry called Sarah Center with students old and young and from all walks of life. I taught mostly women, but a few guys, as well.

Many students were inner city residents, but just as many came from Cincinnati's suburbs, out of curiousity mostly, because they'd seen our little group at a neighborhood Art or Craft show or highlighted on TV or in a local newspaper . (Inner city women creating pretty jewelry was interesting news apparently.  Stereotypes, you know.)  Most of my students came to class accidentally, because they just happened to be in the building or walking by, or in some cases forced to.

I've had homeless people in class, forced by a local shelter to attend because they had no where else to go during the day. I've done outreach jewelry workshops for Halfway houses and support groups and children, in school and out. I've taught developmentally disabled adults and was once the extra cirricular activity teaacher at an adult jobs readiness program.

Accidental Artist-Rule # 1- No Copying off the person next to you

Each of these people walked away from their very first class with a pair of unique earrings, not exactly a work of art, but different from everyone else's in the room. Mainly because I let them select their own colors and asked them not to copy each other's work, which is, incidentally, the first rule of becoming an Accidental Artist.  

There was one exception to my no copy guideline. My favorite student was allowed to copy. "Teach me to make those," she would say, pointing at my earlobes when she walked into class. With little protest, I would usually do whatever she asked. At some point she decided to take my name and call herself The Nice Lady, "But I'm a nice lady too," she told one of my student's who protested. Eventually she decided to call herself "Lady K."

I would hand Lady K my earring and start my class. But she was 73, from India and spoke with the cutest accent; and I was taught to respect my elders, so she alone was allowed to copy. She's 83 now and still making jewelry.

Anyway, about not copying-

It's easy to make jewelry. There are classes at every bead shop. Your neighbor might make jewelry, even your cousin Sally; but to be an artist at it, to be different, you must..... be different.

Learn the basics. Learn from other jewelry artists, learn techniques and techincal skills. Study other people's work to learn what can be done. Learn, learn, learn. Then hone your skills and that will build your confidence to create what's in your head and heart.

Then take the techniques and skills you've learned and call on your  inner artist. Decide to create something different from everybody else's. Be patient and put in the time.

Don't worry about learning every technique. I don't do a lot of things but I love what I do. Don't worry about perfection. Who can be perfect?  Just try to be good at the techniques you choose.

Okay, I promised not to be so wordy this time. I can't help myself. Next time, I'll make it brief.

Peace & Love,

The Nice Lady

Those of you who have seen Niceladyjewelry listings on Ebay know The Nice Lady has stories to tell and observations to make. She has fun selling jewelry on Ebay and those little stories tell more about her than she could possibly say in a blog. Still she understands blogging is a good thing; and has decided to use hers to share what's on her mind.  

-So why do you speak of The Nice Lady in the third person?

The Nice Lady is sort of an alter ego for Carol's Creative, Artsy, Art Show personna. It was given to her about 15 years ago by Art Show patrons who would come into her booth. "Hey, you're that Nice Lady...and you make such beautiful jewelry," they would say. She liked the idea of being thought of as The Nice Lady so she put it on a business card. 

Like most women, she has run through a lifetime of personnas: Dutiful Daughter, Artsy Art Student, Motherly Mother, Ex Wife, Sixties Peace & Love Diva, Technique Teacher, Girl Scout Leader, Wedding Cake designer.

Then there's that serious twenty years she spent as a Litigation/Liability Specialist/Claim Supervsor for insurance companies. She was shy and quiet, and learned the art of slipping into a different frame of mind the first time she had to stand in the middle of the highway to take pictures of a horrible accident scene. .. all that gore and drama... Ugh. But that was ten lifetimes and several personnas ago. 

Like many women, in accomplishing this lifetime of things, The Nice Lady often felt on the outside watching it all go by. By observing herself, looking on as a third person would, she can describe the experience more fully.  (Ah, finally an answer.)

-So what do you hope to accomplish with this Blog thing?

The Nice Lady quit her insurance career years ago. She baked and decorated cakes, did Art & Craft shows and spent most of the past 10 years teaching her jewelry skills to women at a place called Sarah Center, A St. Francis Seraph Ministry in inner-city Cincinnati, Ohio. She's learned a lot over the years and passed along to many people her way of thinking about creating and selling jewelry. Now that you know all about her, she hopes to share her ideas with you.

You've probably stopped reading by now, The Nice Lady is a bit wordy. But if you haven't, please note that she will begin sharing her jewelry wisdom with the next entry. 

It will probably be in first person.