When I was young, hopeful, dreamy and probably quite naive, I wanted to enrol into an artistic program at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal. I had no experience in actual jewellery, other that making friendship bracelets or silly necklaces, but I was obsessed with joaillerie.
You see, I used to follow my grandmother, Réjane McDonald, around when she was an artist for the Métiers d’Art de l’Estrie. Every year, around the holidays, she would have a table at the exhibition of the artists of my region. She made enamel on copper pieces mostly, and sometimes watercolours. I helped her as much as she’d let me, sometimes even making pieces to be sold (!), but mostly just holding her kiosk when she needed breaks. Every year, I looked forward to helping her hold her kiosk and listen to the “A Charlie Brown Christmas” album playing in the background for days on end. I loved it!
Another artist was there to exhibit his beautiful jewellery every year. I cannot remember his name… I think it started with R? He was definitely overly old for my young, childish self, but I toootally had a crush on him. Little old (young) me used to go chat with him and linger around his kiosk every break. I bought so many of his rings! The way he could make metal fold onto itself into such delicate and beautifully smooth shapes amazed me. That is definitely where my fascination with jewellery-making began.
Alas, as I was prepping my college applications, I was mostly told that art lead nowhere and that putting all my eggs in that basket would be disastrous.
I unfortunately listened.
Almost two decades and three university degrees later, I am still looking to art as my ideal path. Even after trying to push it to the back of my mind and trying to view it as a silly hobby that I could enjoy between all-consuming jobs, it is still my true passion.
Of course, this long, long detour has led me to incredible experiences and many muses along the way. Extra inspiration welcome!
But here I am now, finally trying to pursue it, and it’s apartment problems and an unplanned move that is delaying me, yet again! At least, this delay will be of only one short month, and not 20 years!
So, dear Art-Lovers, bear with me! I shall indeed soon register my business and open it all up to orders, I promise! We’ll all just have to be a bit more patient!
😉
One last thing, y’all – don’t wait as long as I did to say yes to your dream!