A change for 2007

Greetings once again; now that the holidays have passed and our resolutions are in our faces it is time to set our sights not just to the future but to open our eyes to now. Our sister-in-law is undergoing her initial chemo treatments for breast cancer, and last night her hair finally let go–now she is bald. This makes one realize, and in her words, that for many of us the next 16 hours, the next stretch of awake time, should be the most important hours of our lives. Those exempt thus far from such huge and monstrous situations have to strive to appreciate our gifts, and I personally plan to do that.

For those with the creative spirit in full bloom, the words fit soundly, too. The now is when we spend time looking around for inspiration and that means being open not just in heart but in senses and in mind. It’s also the time when we put our new ideas down in design, and even begin manifesting those into gifts of art while learning, appreciating and loving every part of the process. After these 16 hours are gone is when the next stretch of waking hours begins as the process of working on happiness cycles again.

And within those 16 hours change should come! Alone Star Jewelry is planning some changes in the near future that are intended to free us to be more in the moment with our art. We will begin to offer one-of-a-kind pieces instead of being faced with making those more complex pieces as many times over as we do now. Relief! As an artist it is difficult to be a mass production technician. For simply-made pieces reproduction is more easily accomplished, but for complex ones it isn’t. Even making simple pieces over and over again can prevent creative thinking, which is cumulative. An idea comes and in the best scenario should be expressed in finished form so that others can develop from it. That’s how an artist grows, and I think that a true artist can’t be without this kind of progression.

Also, think of it this way: would Picasso have reproduced Guernica because someone wanted a copy? Some media are for reproduction, as Picasso knew when he made prints of drawings. There is no easy way to do this with a piece of complex jewelry.

So look for our jewelry to be split into two categories at the website, and in addition we will set up a gallery for singular pieces that have sold but we still want to show off! Of course, since we take custom orders, by keeping these at the site they can conceivably be made again. Note: the slide clasp pictured above is not fully closed, which is why it sticks up in an unusual way.