From Hesitation to Creation: The Story Behind My Victorian Bat Necklace
This is a story about how a haunting, musical vampire saga inspired a Victorian bat necklace—or is it? That was the idea, but deep down, I suspect this story is really about overcoming insecurities, self-doubt, and maybe even an ounce of imposter syndrome. It was time to push doubts aside and finally just take action. Either way, this is my story.
So it was September, and I had been running my business, Charming Quail™ Jewelry Design, for nearly a year. I got it up and off the ground by building 3D computer models for other jewelry companies. They would send me their sketches, or CAD modeling requests, and I’d make 3D computer model versions of what they sent. They would use the models to then manufacture their jewelry. That helped get some cash flowing. But through all of that time, I had been sketching my own designs in the background, with the intent to launch my own jewelry lines.
Over that year of drawing my own designs, I had come up with a lot of beautiful ideas, but found myself wondering if each one really had a market, or if it did, was the design unique enough to stand out in the market, etc., etc. As you can see, the insecurities were just piling up. I had limited resources, and high personal expectations. I was worried about failing because I wasn’t sure how much the business could weather while I figured out how to succeed. It felt like everything was on the line as soon as I put money down to cast something—my business, my ability to support my family. And beneath all of that was the deeper fear: was I really a good designer? A good father? A good husband? A good contributing member of my community? I may not have said it out loud, but it was a storm of insecurities swirling inside, while I hoped to prove myself wrong, but worried I might learn that the insecurities were right. Have you ever felt that way?
Well, one day I was talking to my mentor, Franklin Taggart, and explaining all of this. He turned to me and said, “You can’t make sales with just sketches. If you want to sell your designs you have to make the real. Cast them. Show what you can do. You can’t sell anything if you don’t make anything. So stop over thinking it and just make something.” Over the next few days, Franklin’s words just kept wandering through my head. I kept hearing them over and over. So I decided it was time. The next design I came up with, come Hell or high water, I was going to make it. There wasn’t going to be any worry about who would buy it or if there was a market. It was just time to make something. Worst case scenario, I learn a lot about how to get my jewelry made, how to start marketing it, and how to handle transactions, all things that I can’t really learn until I make something.
Artist Sheri Lauren & Charming Quail founder Alex Reynolds hanging out at the Fort Collins Museum of Art for the art walk
The following Wednesday I’m sitting and brainstorming with Sheri Lauren, as we often do, and we’re chatting about what to do for the next Art Walk. Like I said earlier, it’s September, and October is just around the corner. So we started talking about spooky themes to celebrate Halloween. Sheri Lauren thought of her friend Jack Elliott who had been working on a Gothic, musical, vampire saga. She suggested we invite him to join us to perform, creating a haunting ambiance for the exhibit. It was perfect.
But we weren’t done yet. Sheri Lauren suggested we should do a collaboration inspired by this powerful musical saga. Brilliant! I came up with doing a bat themed necklace, to play off of the vampire theme. And Sheri Lauren came up with the idea of painting a black cat that could be the vampire’s pet, and the bat’s friend. Now a story was beginning to form.
After getting home I ran into my wife and shared all the exciting new ideas we’d come up with, including the chiroptera-themed necklace. She replied by saying, “If you’re designing vampire inspired jewelry, you should make the bat themed jewelry with a vintage, Victorian era style.” She suggested that the Gothic look of that era was very popular in vampire themed movies. Another brilliant idea. I love the timeless beauty of vintage jewelry.
The starting sketch of Sheri Lauren’s black cat painting
So I started researching what jewelry was popular during the Victorian era. Turned out nature, or animal themed jewelry was very popular then, as were amethyst stones. Well the animal theme couldn’t be more perfect, and the purple color of the amethyst stone was perfect for the theme of this jewelry design. I was even able to source a uniquely Gothic shaped, octagonal cut amethyst for the project.
But this is only the beginning of the story behind this Victorian styled, vampire inspired, chiroptera necklace. Be sure to hook into the Fan Feed to see the next chapter where I begin to draw the idea up and give it shape and more thought.
What do you think of how this Victorian bat necklace was inspired? And have you ever struggled with being held back by your doubts and indecision? I’d love to hear your story in the comments.
This necklace isn’t just a piece of jewelry—it’s the result of finally taking that leap. If you want to carry a symbol of taking that first step—of turning fear into creation—you can check it out here.