I’m still finding my niche and artistic aesticic. After a life altering experience finding who I am as a person and an artist is difficult. Perhaps always learning, always improving, always searching for new techniques is my niche.

Now waiting for shows to come around is the hardest part ( I can’t travel very far from home for shows)

I think we’ve all had to dig deeper, be more creative, in order to ride this out. This has definitely been true in my own family, and the creative outlet of making jewelry has been not only helpful and therapeutic, but made those “worry” days a little less worrisome. Creating is a tangible thing, sometimes almost a Zen place we can go with our art. The air is becoming fresher – I am anxious and hopeful to see how this year’s craft season turns out. Great Transition, indeed! 😀

One statement that particularly struck me was, “It’s not the Great Recession, it’s the Great Transition.” Tara, you perfectly put into words something I had been feeling for a long time.

Over the past 3+ years I’ve heard so many people talking about “these economic times” with a sense that they’re waiting for the economy (and everything else) to go back to how it was before.

But during those 3+ years technology and other factors have changed everything so radically that the clock can’t be turned back to pre-2008. So it’s up to each of us to spot the tremendous opportunities opening up now.

Thanks so much, Tara, for helping us understand our New Economy customers and the wealth of new opportunities that are closer than we think.

I craft jewelry with a faith message or theme by way of silver message beads and Christian-inspired symbols. I am so encouraged by what she offered in her interview, thank you Tara!

It means that maybe my ideas are not so crazy after all, that they came from a place that probably fits with how other women want to express themselves through jewelry.

I never make the same thing twice. I am always challenging myself to do something new.

It is fun to hear people say that they really like my pieces. I think a good piece of jewelry makes you feel good. Kind of like a hat. It lifts you up. We all need to be lifted up! Cathy

Believe me, the “I can buy that cheaper at Waaaaaaal-Mart” customers aside that we all hear from ad nauseum, these are the reasons people have been buying and continue to return to buy from me these past four years.

It’s great to have it articulated, because I think all of us who hand-craft or paint or sculpt have already been doing this and instinctively understood/understand the concept, but having it put into words validates our efforts in the face of the Old Economy we still live in and which quite often views us with hostility and suspicion.