Working Efficiently

Not that I'm an expert on the subject. You see, I KNOW what to do to be efficient, I just don't always do it.

There are certain repetitive tasks associated with making jewelry that are best done in an organized manner. For example, when I make earwires, it's best to spend a whole day doing it. It's silly to make just one or two pairs. A rhythm develops in my work and the efficiencies follow:

cut 50, 3" pieces of wire
make the loop in the leading edge -- 50 times
bend the wire around the knitting needle (or Sharpie pen) -- 50 times
hammer the top curve -- 50 times
file the ends -- 50 times
put 50 pieces in the tumbler for a while


See? After about 2 or 3 of each of these tasks, the efficiency becomes apparent. I only have to lift the hammer once for 25 pairs of earrings. I only need to lift the round nose pliers once. The same for the knitting needle and the Dremel (for filing).

What I have not mentioned yet, but will now, is that I'm stark raving mad at the end of the process. It's incredibly tedious, which is why I still use plenty of commercially available earwires in addition to making some of my own.



Another task that falls into this category is making simple earrings:

put beads on head pins -- 50 times
make top loop -- 50 times
trim excess wire -- 50 times
add these drops to earwires -- 50 times

Voila! 25 pairs of earrings done.


It's amazing that I have any sanity left.