We were lucky to catch up with Ruth Beer Bletzinger recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Ruth Beer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
To create a custom-made piece is both exciting and nerve racking. The excitement comes from the creativity that is part and parcel of collaborating with the customer to make something new. It’s inspiring, refreshing, educational, and often results in influencing my future designs. What’s nerve racking – oddly, in a good way and related to why it’s exciting – is the balancing act required to honor the customer’s ideas, be consistent with my own design aesthetic, and take into account and even stretch my technical skills.
All these things came into play when my nephew’s fiancée shyly asked me if I would make a necklace and a pair of earrings for her to wear on her wedding day. It was a truly touching moment. I felt honored; and, of course, I said yes! Then, she told me she wanted something with stones that sparkle. This was when the nerves set in since I didn’t incorporate a lot of stones into my designs. Fortunately, she made the request about a year before the wedding took place, which gave me plenty of time to practice setting stones. The result was wonderful! The bride loved the necklace, earrings, and, for good measure, a bracelet, too. Her joyful reaction meant so very much. And, she has inspired me to add stones to some of my designs. A lovely experience all the way around!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My journey as a jewelry maker started as a creative outlet while I was mid-career as a higher-education program manager. Working with my hands has always been a joy, and jewelry is something that’s appealed to me, even as a child. At first, I made beaded jewelry. It’s such an accessible approach. You can begin making lovely necklaces, bracelets, and earrings with just a few things: some nice beads, a couple of pliers; a side cutter; and, of course, a few basic techniques under your belt, specifically learning how to string, pearl knot, and make a wire loop. I took a few classes to learn these techniques at Accent on Beads, which was a local bead shop.
The idea that metalsmithing would expand the scope of my designs was very compelling, but the notion of using a torch felt a bit daunting. Finally, after I retired, I decided that it was time. As a result, I enrolled in a metalsmithing class at SilverWorks Studio and Gallery at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. It was amazing. The class and subsequent classes unlocked the door to new techniques, new designs, new confidence, and, just as important, a community of makers and a community of people who appreciate handmade things. I opened an Etsy shop; sold my work at local craft fairs; showed my work at Gala (a lovely handmade shop that was in Kensington, MD); and, began teaching jewelry making at Accent on Beads, at Gala, and at SilverWorks, where I continue to teach classes and work as a studio sitter. I feel incredibly fortunate and grateful! The journey continues…
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Although not technically a time when circumstances required me to make a pivot, there was a particularly fortunate time when I was handed a foundation that has given me the confidence to change and to make changes. It is a result of conversations with Dr. Norma Wagoner.
There have been and are so many people in my life that I look up to. Nonetheless, Dr. Wagoner is the person who has had an outsized influence on my journey. She is an extraordinary, effective, and compassionate educator with whom I have had the privilege of working and, over many years now, claiming as a dear friend. She became my mentor earlier in my career as a higher-education program manager. She coached me on approaches to thinking analytically, synthesizing information, and being creative. Significantly, she pointed out my capabilities, as well as shortcomings. In doing so, she taught me that recognizing my strengths is just as important as facing aspects that call for improvement. By acknowledging the former, I could develop the ability to address the latter with a sense of confidence. This was a paradigm shift in my thinking. Her advice and support were invaluable then and continue to apply to the present day with concepts and principles that affect so many aspects of work and life, including my transition to and journey as a jewelry maker.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that I actually get do this! As I was growing up, going to school, and then working, I never imagined that there would come a point in my life where my focus would be to create, sell, and teach jewelry making. It is difficult to express how satisfying it all is. But, that’s only half of it. The other aspect is having the joyful opportunity to meet and get to know people from different backgrounds, different countries, different experiences, different age groups, and on and on. To me, it’s a mixed community of artists, collectors, educators, lifelong learners, and people who just enjoy handmade things. It’s tremendously exciting and inspiring. I don’t know how else to put it, except to say: What a gift!
Contact Info:
Image Credits
— Photo credit: William J. Bletzinger
— Earrings worn in photo: Ruth Beer Bletzinger
— Top and scarf worn in photo: Radost™ by Martina Sestakova
Photo credit for all jewelry images: Ruth Beer Bletzinger