Tractor by Day, Torch by Night: How Jorie Became a Metalsmith at 67

Meet Jorie, a 70-year-old who lives on a farm in Iowa and went from doubting she'd ever learn metalsmithing to discovering a whole new passion. And these days, she describes her time at the bench as “the best drug in the world.”

Have you ever found yourself looking at a beautiful piece of handmade jewelry and thinking, "I'd absolutely LOVE to be able to make something like that"... only to immediately talk yourself out of it?

Maybe you've been dreaming of learning metalsmithing for years, but life keeps getting in the way. Or perhaps you've reached an age where you're wondering whether it's really worth starting something completely new. Surely that's something you should have started 20 years ago, right?

WRONG! And I've got a rather wonderful story to prove it.

I'd love you to meet Jorie, one of our fabulous Metalsmith Academy members who started learning metalsmithing at the age of 67, after spending decades dreaming about it.

Now 70, she's gone from wondering whether she'd ever be able to learn the skills she'd always wanted, to spending her evenings happily creating jewelry in her workshop on a farm in rural Iowa.

And when we asked her what difference the Metalsmith Academy has made, her answer was just three words:

"Believing in myself."

Oh, Jorie. You have no idea how much I love this.

Because while learning to make beautiful jewelry is obviously a pretty fantastic outcome, the confidence, independence and sheer JOY that comes from discovering what you're capable of? That's the really good stuff.

So grab yourself a cuppa, because I want to share Jorie's story with you. And if you've ever wondered whether you've left it too late to follow your own jewelry-making dreams, I think you'll find this one particularly inspiring.

Meet Jorie: Farm Life, Animal Lover and Jewelry-Making Superstar

One of my favorite things about running the Metalsmith Academy is getting to know the wonderful humans behind the jewelry, and Jorie is certainly no exception!

She lives on a farm in rural Iowa, where she helps her husband with the harvest, which involves "driving the tractor, hauling the grain wagons, and unloading them into the bin."

(I have to admit, I'm a little jealous of the tractor driving! I've always been like a big kid when it comes to tractors and diggers. Driving one is actually on my bucket list! 😂)

She's also spent several years as a beekeeper, has rescued many small animals over the years, and when we interviewed her, she was even raising a rescued possum until he was big enough to be released back into the wild.

Honestly, Jorie, is there anything you DON'T do?!

And somewhere between the tractors, grain wagons and animal rescue operations, she's managed to carve out time for another great love of hers: making jewelry.

And here's the interesting part... while Jorie only started learning metalsmithing three years ago, her love affair with making jewelry actually began decades earlier.

Thirty Years of Making Jewelry... But Something Was Missing

Jorie's jewelry-making journey started around 30 years ago, when she made her very first pieces: sea glass wine charms.

Like so many of us, she started by making something as a gift, and was a little nervous about handing over her creations.

"I was making it as a gift and was nervous about giving it. [But] The person was delighted!"

Ahhh, that feeling! Is there anything better than seeing someone's face light up when they realize you've made something especially for them?

I remember starting out stringing beads for my Nanan, who very kindly bought just about everything I made. Looking back, I'm fairly sure she was my biggest customer AND my biggest fan. Bless her.

For Jorie, that first little success sparked something too. Before long, people were expressing interest in buying her work, and she began developing her skills in wire wrapping gemstones.

But there was something she'd always wanted to try that felt just a little out of reach. 

Metalsmithing.

"My wire wrapping technique was becoming obsolete with the new ornate coming into fashion. I have always wanted to learn metal smithing, and wasn't interested in pursuing wire wrapping."

Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with wire wrapping (and there are some incredibly talented wire artists out there!), but I think a lot of jewelry makers will relate to this feeling.

You start with one technique, fall in love with creating things, and before you know it, you're looking at all the OTHER things you could make if only you knew how.

Suddenly, those gorgeous bezel-set rings, beautifully soldered chains and fancy stone settings are calling your name.

And that's exactly where Jorie found herself.

She'd been making jewelry for years, but the type of jewelry she really wanted to create still felt out of reach.

So, What Was Stopping Her?

Well, for starters, there was the small matter of living on a farm in rural Iowa!

When Jorie first wrote to us, she explained why she'd put off learning metalsmithing for so long:

"I have been a jewelry wire artist for the past 20 years, but metalsmithing has always been my dream. The schools were too far away, too much time from home, and too much money."

Sound familiar?

This is something I hear from aspiring jewelry makers ALL the time.

Life gets busy, so you tell yourself you'll do it one day.

But the problem with one day is that it can very easily turn into maybe I've left it too late.

"It Just Ain't Gonna Happen."

This is the part of Jorie's story that really got me.

When we asked her what she used to believe about herself before joining the Academy, she shared something that I suspect a LOT of people reading this will understand.

"I'm 70 and started when I was 67. I wanted to learn so bad and there was a constant voice that was telling me, it just ain't gonna happen. I admit, I had some very sad melt downs."

Oh, Jorie. I wish I could give you a big hug.

Because I know exactly how powerful that little voice in your head can be, and I've seen it hold back so many wonderfully creative, capable people over the years.

But here's what I absolutely LOVE about Jorie's story.

She didn't wait until that voice disappeared before she started learning. She decided to give it a go anyway.

At 67 she took the plunge and started learning online, and three years later...

"It is wonderful to look back and see how much I've learned. I have a much stronger belief in myself."

I mean, HOW GOOD IS THAT?!

"Why Isn't the Solder Melting?!"

Now, I don't want you thinking Jorie's journey has been all sunshine, rainbows and perfectly flowing solder.

Like pretty much every jeweler who's ever picked up a torch, Jorie has had her fair share of frustrating moments at the bench. When we asked about her most epic fail, she told us:

"Why isn't the solder melting? So frustrating. Everything is clean and fluxed, but it just won't melt."

HA! Welcome to the club, Jorie!

For Jorie, the breakthrough came when she developed a better understanding of how to use her torch.

"I overcame it with a better understanding of the flame."

BINGO!

And this is something I'm constantly banging on about with my students. Understanding WHY something works (or doesn't!) is every bit as important as knowing HOW to do it.

If you're currently having your own "WHY WON'T THIS BLOODY SOLDER MELT?!" moment, I've got a little something that might help.

My FREE Getting Started Soldering guide is packed with 49 pages of soldering tips and techniques, including a whole section on understanding the flame (Jorie would approve).

Because trust me, you don't need to spend the next six months glaring angrily at your torch.

Progress, Not Perfection (And a Whole Lot of Patience!)

Another thing I really admire about Jorie is how refreshingly honest she is about her progress.

When we asked her whether there had been a particular moment where everything finally clicked, she told us:

"I'm not there yet, but getting close. It would be the star setting. There are so many facets to making it. From drills to gravers."

And when we asked about the piece she's most proud of making?

"I haven't completed that piece yet… but I am getting there."

I LOVE this attitude.

Because whether you're 27 or 77, learning takes time, and you're going to make mistakes (and the occasional piece that makes you wonder whether you should have taken up knitting instead).

And that's absolutely fine.

Jorie summed it up beautifully:

"My work may not be perfect, but I did it."

YES, YOU BLOODY DID!

Doing It for the Love of It

I also love how Jorie's priorities have evolved over time.

While selling her jewelry was once an important part of her journey, these days she's much more interested in the joy of learning and challenging herself.

"Selling is no longer a priority. Learning how to be a metal smith is my primary goal. For me it is learning about the tools, how to use them, and challenge my work."

Isn't that refreshing?

Jorie makes time for her jewelry whenever she can, explaining that while she needs to be flexible, she does try to schedule a "me day."

And when she's feeling a little unmotivated or needs some time away from the bench, her approach is wonderfully simple.

"Permission to take a break."

Can we all take a leaf out of Jorie's book, please?!

And I think Jorie's description of what jewelry making means to her now might just be my favorite quote in her whole questionnaire.

"I look forward to my time on the bench. It is wonderful to be out in my shop on a cool night creating. It is the best drug in the world."

Now THAT is a jewelry-making addiction I can wholeheartedly get behind!

From Ocean to Farm: Say Hello to Ocean Sage

Before I wrap up, there's one more lovely little part of Jorie's story I want to share with you.

Remember those sea glass wine charms?

Well, they were the beginning of something rather special.

Jorie has her very own jewelry brand, Ocean Sage, complete with an online shop at oceansage.com.

And there's a wonderful story behind the name.

Long before her days driving tractors in Iowa, Jorie actually lived on a 50-foot yacht, where she'd spend time combing the beach for sea glass and turning her finds into jewelry.

Her website sums up that journey rather beautifully: "From Ocean to Farm."

If you pop over to her shop, you'll find a collection of sea glass jewelry, gemstone pieces, tree of life designs and gemstone bracelets.

And while selling jewelry is no longer Jorie's main priority, I think it's lovely that she has this little corner of the internet dedicated to her creations.

It's a wonderful reminder that there's no single definition of success when it comes to jewelry making.

If you'd like to take a peek at her work, you can visit Ocean Sage or find her on Instagram at @ocean_sage.

Go and show her some love, and tell her Lucy sent you!

Think You're “Too Old” to Start Making Jewelry? Think Again.

I want to finish with something Jorie said when we asked what advice she'd give to someone who was thinking about learning to make jewelry but hadn't quite taken the leap yet.

Her answer was wonderfully straightforward.

"Take a class."

That's it!

Just give it a go.

Because here's the thing I really hope you take away from Jorie's story...

Three years from now, you're going to be three years older regardless. So why not spend those years learning something you've always wanted to do?

Jorie started at 67. If she can do it, there's no reason you can't too.

If you'd love a little help getting started, come and join us inside the Metalsmith Academy. You can learn from home, at your own pace, with step-by-step classes, plenty of support, and a whole community of like-minded jewelry makers cheering you on. 

And don't worry, you won't be left to figure everything out on your own! I'm in the member forums every single day answering questions, helping you through those pesky techniques and making sure you've got the support you need whenever you get stuck.

And to Jorie, thank you SO much for sharing your story with us. It's an absolute joy having you as part of our community, and I can't wait to see what you create next.

(And please give that little possum a scratch from me!)

Happy making, friends.

Lucy xx