Ornaments made by Claflin Jewelry Studio staff for sale. Photograph by Candais Crivello.
This past weekend several DFPers and I took a trip to the jewelry studio in the basement of the Hop. For most of us, it was our first time stepping into the studio, much less making jewelry.
If you’re curious about the jewelry studio, now is the time to go. Schedule a time in your planner and go with some friends. If you’re like me and don’t get around to it until senior year, you may regret passing up the jewelry studio for watching YouTube or playing Farmville all afternoon—save that for your 2 a.m. procrastination.
The jewelry studio offers much more than expected. You can make beaded bracelets and earrings, but metal engravings, rings, and soldering tools also (with supervision). Not everything that comes out of the jewelry studio is girly and froo-froo, either. It can be anything whatever you imagine. It doesn’t even have to be jewelry. Just check out some of the samples that are by the window or inside the studio; there’s a wide array of styles you can make.
You can also come in and fix broken jewelry or take apart your old jewelry to create new pieces. And, if you’re feeling really creative, you can probably bring in normal objects to turn into jewelry. That way, you can not only make something cool, but can also take pride in being sustainable. By using things you already have, you not only recycle and give use to your broken pieces, but you also save money on material costs. The studio accepts cash or DA$H for any costs, which are pretty reasonable. A simple silver ring, for example, only costs about three dollars.
Although I realize I’m waxing poetry on the jewelry studio right now, I know it’s not for everyone. First, it can be difficult to schedule a time to go to the jewelry studio while you’re busy with classes, organizations, hanging out, and living the Dartmouth life. Although the jewelry studio is open on Saturdays, it isn’t open on Sundays. The hours are pretty flexible during the week though it might become difficult to keep going to the studio during midterms and afterwards.
Secondly, if you want to make a super-amazing-extravagant-detailed-10-years-of-skill-necessary jewelry piece, you can’t do that if you only go to the jewelry studio once or twice. Generally you start with something simple, like a band ring or simple beaded jewelry, though you can elaborate on the first piece of jewelry you’ve made by adding a stone or engraving on it. If you want to get serious about making really stylized jewelry, you need to make going to the jewelry studio a commitment. You get what you put into your time at the studio. Like everything else, you’ll benefit the most when you do put in that effort.
Lastly, jewelry making isn’t for everyone, and that’s O.K. You might find that you absolutely hate making jewelry, that it’s too cumbersome, or your appreciation for jewelry stops at wearing it. Still, if you’re curious about the studio, it doesn’t hurt to try it. Find out if you enjoy it and spend a few hours in the afternoon or evening. At worst, you’ll come out with a shiny new ring, bracelet, or pair of earrings. You might even find that the woodshop next door or the pottery studio across the bridge in Norwich may be more your thing. Finding a new passion can be a fulfilling lifetime joy.
