Fairest of Them All

On Saturday, my sister and I headed out to the OC Gem Faire. While there I got to thinking about all the associations we have with jewelry. Buying a ring for a woman means you love her; exchanging rings means you're married; wearing loads of jewelry can mean you are wealthy; buying lots of jewelry parts means you make your own. And the list can go on.

One of the biggest preconceived notions about me (as I've learned from attending work-related events) is that I make jewelry. While this isn't entirely false (I have created a few pieces with the help of instructors) I don't really make my own jewelry, nor do I make it often. I am definitely a buyer of jewelry as opposed to a maker of it. In fact, my experience at Art Camp taught me something about myself: I am not the most patient creator. I like instant gratification when it comes to creating, and jewelry is not always the best art form for people who feel that way.

So you can imagine the overwhelming sense of pride I felt as my sister spent money, carefully chose her beads, and measured the feet to be cut off the chain she purchased. My sister is patient. She is careful to deliberate, and when she makes a decision it is informed. I have talked on this blog about associating jewelry with my mother (the original jewelry maker in our family). But I realize now that my sister is slowly sinking into my mother's shoes; I am losing her among the strands of metal chain and beads.

Love is not always best symbolized by a ring. Sometimes it is represented best by those parts that make up a piece instead.