Jewellery Making Workshops in Norfolk: When Things Don't Go to Plan
Last Wednesday evening I was preparing for a stud earrings workshop when I discovered that the electricity in the shop had gone off.
It was one of those slightly baffling situations where some buildings had power and others didn't. The cinema across the road was fully lit, the people living above the shop had electricity, but the workshop itself was sitting in darkness.
After checking the updates from UK Power Networks, which suggested power would be restored later in the evening, and realising it was too late to guarantee that everyone would receive a cancellation message, I decided that the best option was simply to carry on and see what happened.
As any small business owner will tell you, sometimes you have to make decisions with imperfect information and trust that things will work out. Thankfully, they did.
The students arrived cheerful and ready to make jewellery, and together we embarked on what became a rather memorable evening. The wonderful Andy at the cinema kept us supplied with boiling water for the pickle pots, I spent a fair amount of time making trips across the road with kettles, and we even developed a contingency plan for the tumbler. Had the electricity not returned, Mr H was ready to take it home, run it there and bring it back again.
We had a surprising number of recovery plans. Fortunately, we also had a large plate of biscuits.
What struck me most throughout the evening was the attitude of everyone around the table. Nobody complained about the inconvenience. Nobody suggested calling it a day. Instead, everyone settled in, got on with making their earrings and treated the whole thing as part of the experience.
In many ways, it reminded me why I enjoy teaching workshops so much.
Of course, people come to learn jewellery-making skills and to leave with a beautiful piece of jewellery, but workshops are about much more than that. They are about trying something new, spending time with other people, sharing stories, laughing at mistakes and discovering that creativity is often at its best when things aren't quite perfect.
The earrings looked lovely as they emerged from the bench, catching what little evening light there was, but when the electricity finally flickered back on there was an actual cheer around the workshop table. Suddenly we could see them properly, sparkling under the lights, and somehow they looked even more beautiful than they had before.
The evening hadn't gone according to plan, but nobody cared. In fact, I suspect the unexpected nature of it is exactly what will make it memorable.
As makers, we often spend a lot of time trying to create perfect conditions. We organise our tools, prepare our materials and make careful plans. Yet some of the most enjoyable moments happen when we have to adapt. A power cut may not be an obvious ingredient for a successful jewellery workshop, but it turned out to be the thing that brought out everyone's humour and generosity.
The experience also reminded me how much small businesses rely on community. From the cinema lending a helping hand to students embracing the situation with good humour, the evening worked because people were willing to help one another. That's something I see regularly here in Fakenham. Behind every independent business is a network of customers, neighbours, friends and family quietly helping things run smoothly.
Would I choose to run another workshop without electricity?
Probably not.
Would I happily spend another evening with such a wonderful group of people?
Absolutely.
If you'd like to join me at the bench, I still have spaces available on upcoming workshops, including Stacking Bangles, Stud Earrings and Bracelet Chain Making workshops. You can find all the details on my workshop page.
I can't guarantee uninterrupted electricity, but I can promise tea, cake and a surprisingly robust collection of backup plans.
