We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lindsey Wing. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lindsey below.

Lindsey, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I am completely self-taught and have learned through trial and error, a little bit of YouTube and stretching real far back to a fine metals class I had as a Senior in Highschool (longer ago than I like to admit!) This means a whole lot of melted metal, some cracked stones along with a few curse words and tears.

Classes would have, and could still, help speed along the process, but finding the time is a real obstacle for me. I know there are online opportunities, but I’m a “hands on” learner. I would do so much better with an in-person setting. With two boys and sports and a full-time job, the time hurdle is something I haven’t quite worked out yet.

Understanding solder and how heat works has helped. For the longest time I couldn’t get a bezel wire to attach to the backplate; at least not in a way that would be found presentable! Understanding the tools needed and what is available makes various steps easier to work through as well.

Lindsey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m self-taught jeweler/metalsmith and have been creating jewelry since 2018.

I was born and raised in Vermont; I’m a mom to two super spunky, sports-loving, sweet and energetic boys and married to a wonderful, supportive husband. We have a houseful; three labs (dad, mom and pup – a real little dog family!), two cats and a bunch of fish.

I never really considered myself an artist or a creator, and was envious of family members that possessed that gene. My mom is a lovely artist and crafter, who can do just about anything in that realm that she tries – painting, drawing, sewing, etc. I have a cousin that makes amazing pottery and drawings. I remember being a kid and seeing her studio and just being awe-struck and wanting to play with all her pens and pencils!

It’s been a bit of a path to get to where I am. I have a full-time job as a VP at a community bank; my business is on the side and really my “passion project” if you will. My jewelry adventure started with faux leather earrings – they were all the rave a couple years ago and everywhere. I purchased a few pairs and thought, I could make these. I started working with stones and wire and making minimalist designs. I felt limited in what I could do. I had all these ideas for designs and creations, but didn’t have the skills to execute. It took me about 6-months to build the courage to go for it and purchase my first soldering set-up. I invested a few hundred dollars and got a torch, pickle-pot, solder, wire and a firebrick.

I’ve come a long way since then, but there is so much more for me to learn and skills to refine.

I love one-of-a-kind jewelry that can make a statement but also be completely wearable. I love letting beautiful stones be the center of the setting without a lot of added embellishments. I think my style is always evolving, but I love that a piece can complete an outfit, hold deeper meaning for the wearer and that it always fits.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I’ve had customers request custom work to celebrate milestones in their life – hitting a fitness goal, a work accomplishment or a personal celebration/anniversary. Knowing that I get to play a small part in something that will always be meaningful to them – something they will think about when they look at or wear their piece – is just super special.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I think the hardest thing to adapt for me with my jewelry is that there is no wrong way. I am used to there being a right and a wrong. My day job is filled with regulations, hard-number limits and requirements. With jewelry there isn’t any of that. There is no book to follow and requirements that necessarily have to be met. You can create what you want to. There certainly are steps and processes that make things flow better, and I am sure there are technically sound or correct ways of doing things, but you can still achieve beautiful works of art in your own way.

An amazing jewelry artist and teacher once told me, “Art is anything you create that someone else (or you) loves.” That’s it. I constantly struggle with whether or not I can call myself an “artist” and I have this up on my wall for those days that the imposter syndrome creeps in big time!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BellaGirlDesigns.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/BellaGirlDesigns
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/BellaGirlDesign