the picture above does not specifically refer to the post below… but these rings ARE being MADE BY HAND, here in THIS country, in MY studio, by MYSELF…

a couple of weeks ago i was approached by someone who had recently started doing the ‘big shows’ (acc, philadelphia craft show, smithsonian, etc) and whom i had met at one of them; they wanted me to make some components for their jewelry, prototypes that i would have fabricated directly in metal and would have then been cast and reproduced abroad… after several exchanges with drawings and quotes and a couple of in-person meetings (they are local), i produced an estimate for them for what i deemed a fair quote (also given that the pieces would have been cast for mass production AND outside of this country). after receiving a bit of resistance at my pricing, i suggested they look at jewelry suppliers to buy the components already made in bulk and even emailed them a couple of direct links with similar product they were looking for, telling them it would have been more cost-effective for them (and me) to go that route. but they insisted, saying they ‘really liked’ my work and wanted something ‘special’.. so i reviewed my estimates and emailed them back my quotes, which were pretty much the same as the first ones. they live in the best part of town, somewhere i cannot afford, they ‘design’ the pieces, but all the work is effectively made outside of this country by someone else… yet, they are in the ‘best’ shows here nationally, where the hand-made in the usa is usually a requirement (or, am i mistaken?).  today they decided they ‘cannot afford’ my prices and will turn abroad where cheaper labor is available… silly me, right? silly me… i make almost EVERYTHING in my studio and BY HAND, including the melting of some of my metal, the pulling of my wire and sheet, the fabrication… and am barely making it. so much for the made in usa.