We’ve shared jewellery designer Anna Ruth Henriques’ latest achievement, but of note, too, is her feature in the February issue of JCK Magazine – the USA’s largest jewellery trade publication – where she pens advice to her younger self.

AS PUBLISHED IN JCK MAGAZINE:

Dear Anna,

Letter writer: Anna Ruth Henriques

Location: New York City

Years in business: Six

The first thing I should tell you: Whatever you do, don’t pass up the opportunity to take that jewellery wax-carving class in New York. It will be the serendipitous beginning of your career. As an artist, you’ll be used to working with your hands, and at first, you’ll make interesting shapes and discover the world of seductive gemstones. Over time, however, you’ll find a way to make it more meaningful. You’ll see that jewellery can hold higher meaning than mere adornment. You’ll make work that enhances the wearer; not just visually, but also spiritually, through the meaning behind each of your pieces. You’ll see that your jewellery can be empowering, healing, and protective, and that as the stories behind each collection become known, you’ll see your intention has in fact reached your wearers.

Your first collection will comprise rock crystal amulets with hand-painted insects set in 18K gold webs, a small spider hanging from each. The spider will become your symbol for creativity, independence, and self-sufficiency attributes that you’ve always encouraged in yourself and your friends. The web will represent the threads of connection between all people to each other, to nature, to the Earth.

In that first collection, you’ll draw symbolic insects such as a hornet zooming to the sky, its wings spread wide in the shape of a cross. You’ll name that piece Resurrection for the person who is starting anew, to encourage transformation. You’ll paint a bee with tiny hearts, named To Be or Not to Be, to remind its wearer that sometimes we are just not in control, and to allow space for any possibility. You’ll send images to the jewellery buyer at Barneys. Without hesitation, they’ll purchase your line.

At this point, you’ll wish for a mentor. You’ll think you don’t have enough experience to counter people with knowledge. Well, you don’t! But you can learn on the job as you have with everything else! Have confidence in yourself and follow your instincts as they never are wrong. You’ll paint an eye into your jewellery and name it the Eye of Intuition to remind yourself and others to trust your own intuition. Don’t second-guess yourself, and stand firm on what you know is right for your line.

Last, don’t be afraid to do the trade shows. Without a doubt, they are the best way to expose your work, launch new lines, and figure things out. You might think to yourself, how in heaven’s name can I put a booth together? But the fact is that you just will. As so many will say to you until you do: You are the best person to represent yourself!

Love, Anna