Looking back on 2021
While we are usually focused on looking forward and reaching for new goals it is always a good idea to spend some time looking back on where you’ve come from. We can do this at any time but the new year is a great reminder to do so.
Exercise
Take 10 minutes to think back over 2021 and write around the following topics.
What are your notable events and achievements for the year?
What did you learn in 2021?
If you struggle to remember, do look out your diary or online calendar as that may jog your memory. And if this is an issue for you I suggest that you find a notebook (I use the back of my journal) and write the title Achievements and memorable moments of 2022. When you have an achievement - big or small, write a sentence about it that will help to remind you. I have found that this really helps me.
I wanted to mark the year myself by sharing some of the important milestone moments for me.
The Jewellers Retreat
Jessica Rose invited three Diploma students to her home for three days of making. They worked on a project a day with time constraints and support from a jeweller-mentor.
I loved being part of the planning of the show and Jess made me a producer which I was so happy about. I am also the business mentor in each episode alongside Jess and I interviewed the jewellers for their backstory slot.
I’m so proud of this show so do have a watch!
Management role
I work 3 days a week for Jewellers Academy. Since 2020 the business has been growing and my role as Community Manager has evolved. I am now the line manager for 19 jeweller-mentors and I have three administrative assistants.
2022 marks my tenth year of working for Jessica Rose.
Back to teaching jewellery workshops
In May 2021 I was so glad to get back to work!
The Arienas Collective reopened. More than 70 of you were waiting patiently (or impatiently!) for your postponed jewellery workshop.
Thankfully, by the end of the year we managed to clear the backlog.
A very special thank you to Lynn Powell, the founder of the Arienas Collective. She worked so hard to get people booked onto new dates.
And a thank you to you if you were waiting. It was all the more special to be able to teach again after lockdown and I think that getting together to be creative became all the more precious.
I have dates for the whole of 2022 now. And I’ll warn you, I don’t have as much availability as in previous years as my husband and I are planning to travel so do book in if you want to learn to use silver clay to make your own jewellery.
Anna Mazon masterclasses, October 2021
We were finally able to rearrange the visit of Polish metal clay artist Anna Mazon to Edinburgh. She taught four masterclasses including her very popular twig ring class twice! She also taught the two-day heart deco pendant and teddy bear masterclasses.
It was a joy to host her at the Arienas Collective and I know the students really enjoyed the courses. As did I, as I also attended them all!
Filming for Jewellers Academy
In December 2021 I filmed four new courses for Jewellers Academy over three days. I can’t share any detail just yet on what the courses are! I expect them to be released in 2022.
As you can imagine, it takes a lot of preparation and planning to film courses. I had lots of ‘here’s one I made earlier’ to make. And I flew from Edinburgh to Gatwick so I had to ensure that all of my tools and samples made it off the plane (they did - phew!)
On the Jewellers Academy podcast
The Jewellers Academy podcast started in 2020 and has been releasing every week since the start. It is my job to get guests for the podcast.
At the end of 2021 we reached the milestone of 100,000 downloads!
I was on the following episodes for 2021. Click the link to have a listen!
Five Reasons to Invest in Yourself (with no guilt!)
Five Essential Ingredients for a Successful Jewellery Business
We Made a TV Show for Jewellers - Introducing the Jewellers Retreat
Giving up my studio
It is easy to only put positive highlights here but there have been some negatives and I think it is right to acknowledge them.
On 1st February 2020, I got the keys to my first ever studio. I had planned to teach AirBnB Experiences and I did manage to do a couple of workshops before lockdown. Unfortunately, I was locked into a contract and had to pay for the studio for 14 months. I wasn’t able to go there much during 2020 and I was never able to teach there again. With distancing rules over teaching in these types of spaces, I reluctantly decided that I needed to give my notice and leave.
I did love my little space and I’m sure that the idea of Scottish themed jewellery making workshops would have been very successful at any other time! I was fortunate to get some government support to help pay the rent and I am grateful for that as without it paying could have been a struggle.