EP 1: Jacob Alba Aka Llama The Jeweler | Cultivating Freedom Through Jewelry Arts

Jacob Alba AKA Llama The Jeweler is a very close brother and dear friend that Ive been blessed enough to get to know over the past three yeas. We've been on quite the journey together; from being roommates, to working together professionally in our collective studio space as Jewelry Artists and everything else in between. He has a background in digital fabrication, works professionally under the creative alias Llama The Jeweler as a jewelry magician and is an overall wise, curious person with lots of insight to offer the world. We discuss his recent journey of transitioning from the work force to being self employed via his art, the importance of community and more. Thank you so muhc for listening and enjoy the show!

Transcript

Jacob 0:00

Find people that really care, even if they can't buy your art, even if they're not, you know, artistic themselves, whatever else, just, you know, surround yourself with people that challenge your beliefs, surround yourself with people that support you, even if they disagree in your beliefs. And then use that energy to believe in that was

Bill 0:24

Jacob Alba, AKA our boy Lama the jeweler. And this is episode one of curiosity, clubhouse, welcome to the show and happy new years. My friends, we did it 2021 is officially behind us. And I would like to kick this off by inviting y'all just simply to feel into and appreciate all the great work we did in 2021. All the wins, all the strides, personally, professionally, all the challenges we move through and the growth that came with that we participated. We engaged in ourselves and in the world throughout 2021, we did it. You did it. I did it. And it feels damn good. So yes, reflect because if we're just continuously moving forward and not appreciating the efforts we put forth to, you know, reap the benefits of the fruits that we have received, that sounds. Masochistic. So love yourself, give yourself a hug, a pat on the back, a little smooch, whatever you gotta do to, uh, you know, treat yourself and show yourself some appreciation. But I'm very excited for 2022. I hope you are also feeling the same today. I have the pleasure of sitting down with a very dear friend and brother Lama. The jeweler we have, I don't know how many years we have known each other, but we have been living together for. Three at this point. And, you know, we cross paths via our similar interests and passion of creating jewelry arts. He went to the same trade school as I did new approach school for jewelers. And that's how we initially connected. He was curious about hearing what the school was all about and you know, my honest review about it. So he reached out on Instagram, we met for lunch and, you know, through that, he, he pursued the education. Uh, shortly after he finished schooling, he moved. You know, we, we go over the story of that a little bit in the conversation. We talk about his recent transition from, you know, working from someone else into being a self-employed independent artist and entrepreneur. We talk about the importance of community and how that contributes to one success. Uh, this was the first show that I have ever hosted. So it was, you know, a beautiful experience to do it with someone that I'm close with and, you know, move through that fear barrier and find more confidence in my voice and ability to hold a space in this way. There was some minor technical difficulties. Of course, first episode, we shared some bags, um, and also he has some great tips to offer any other independent artists that are also moving through a similar transition. Uh, As I know, and as he knows, and any other artists that is trying to cultivate freedom through their art, uh, and support themselves financially, it is no easy. It's not a cakewalk it's far from it. And it requires a diverse spectrum of skills to make happen. Jacob is a very skilled craftsman, professional jewelry, magician, a compassionate soul and friend to many, just a really great human with a lot of wise words and insight to share. So without further ado, enjoy the show. Y'all check, check, check, check. Are you in speak brother? Hi. Hello, everyone. And welcome to this new journey and endeavor and exploration of thought, expression, sharing, beautiful people, beautiful stories, what they are about. Um, today I have the pleasure and honor of driving in with my one and only brother, one of my closest friends, uh, a partner in creative pursuit and, you know, building our dream, um, and much, much more, which we are going to dive into. But. Thank you so much for sitting down and joining me on this first episode of curiosity clubhouse today. How are you

Jacob 5:43

doing? I'm doing good. Yeah. Uh, Lama the jeweler here. We have Lama

Bill 5:48

the jeweler here. AKA born is Jacob Alba.

Jacob 5:52

Yeah. That's my government name.

Bill 5:53

Yes. His government on his birth certificate. Jacob. What's the middle name? Samuel. Jacob, Samuel Alba, AKA Lama. The jeweler to me. Would you say that? So let's start by, where did the, the character of Lama begin? Like how did that implement into your life? And cause obviously it's like a personal thing that you picked up along your journey, but now it's your creative alias as well. So I think it'd be cool to start with how that be gone and like how that carried on into your profession and passion that is creating jewelry. Yeah.

Jacob 6:33

You know, I always wanted a nickname. I felt like growing up, I just wasn't like blessed with a nickname just because my name was so generic as Jacob, that people did the default, I'll just call you by your last name. And that was the nickname was just all, both my last name. And so for years I was always just like, oh, I want like, I want a cool nickname. I want, I want something that like, people can identify me with. And, uh, when I went to college, um, it's just like, everything was new. Everybody was new. I'm sure people had issues, remembering names or whatever, but there were a bunch of girls on my floor that were calling me Cusco. Who's go. Cause I looked like apparently Cusco from the emperor's new groove and, uh, um, that just, uh, evolved I guess, into Lama. And, um, there was one specific friend of mine who like, she was the one that. Gave me it, her name's Kelsey, but, uh, it just kind of grew into its own thing. And I was kind of just elated to have a nickname. Your wishes came true. I, yeah, I just was like, yes. I was like, good enough. Like, I'm not like, you know, steezy Mick BZ or something, but like, it felt, it felt right

Bill 7:54

to them and resonate right away. Did you find, were you offended that someone was like referring to you as looking like a cartoon Lama? Or was it like the essence of the cartoon Lama in the movie? Uh, emperor's new groove that they, well, maybe it was both, but I can say maybe you look like a lamb a little bit and as a compliment, you know, it's like, we all look like, I mean, I, I don't know what animal I look like, but

Jacob 8:14

I don't need it. Uh, but, uh, yeah, dude, um, I just, I, when it was Cusco, I was, I was like, maybe like confused at first and it was kind of just like, maybe I took it as like a, oh, like she just doesn't remember my name. But then like the whole, everybody started calling me Cusco and then it was like a, they know mine. I know they know my name, but like, it was, it became like an affectionate reference. So

Bill 8:42

it's playful and yeah, like you were saying, it's cool because you were looking for a nickname and something, because I feel like you are playful. And um, so then yeah, the name llama, uh, it's really, it stuck to it stuck for me. And at first I called you Jake, you know, like I'm not Jake, I'm Jacob, Ryan, you started developing Lama, the jeweler, your company and your pursuit as a independent artist. And now, like I definitely lovingly refer to you as Lama in Lama, the jeweler, you walk into the studio, I'm like Lama jeweler. What's good. Yeah.

Jacob 9:20

Um, the, the most important part about it, I think in my mind is just that, um, like it was a gift. Um, I view it as like. I didn't ask for it. I was given it. And so it holds like higher regard, you know, um, than if I just was like, Um, um, you know, I'm a rhino that's, that's me, you know, like if I just like

Bill 9:50

self-proclaimed herself Lama, it would be different. It would, it would have a different vibe

Jacob 9:54

and it's not like there's anything wrong with giving yourself nicknames or having that. It's just, um, it felt special to me, so I like it.

Bill 10:02

Cool. And then, yeah, so Lama the jeweler, uh, this is, this is a good segue into another topic of conversation that I think that. Audience would find valuable, but first let's start. How are you feeling now with this recent transition from, you know, being in the labor force and working under someone else and working under someone else's rules and for someone else's company and transitioning into, you know, being a self-sufficient independent artist and creator for a profession and a passion, like, what are the things you've, uh, the changes you've noticed in yourself? Like what, what are the lessons that have been coming at with this recent change? And, yeah, just how are you generally feeling about it and feeling about life now that you've, you know, you're stepping into the love that you want to share with the world.

Jacob 10:52

Yeah. Um, so just for back reference, like I did, you know, have like a formal education and then got more education. So I always, I went into that endeavor, knowing that I wanted it to make it a career and that eventually I wanted to be independent. So that was kind of like the goal from the offset or from the start. So it never really, like, it's not something that like happened. And then all of a sudden I was just like, kind of like dumbfounded or caught off guard or, um, you know, uh, I can't, I can't think of the right words, but it came, it came naturally. And, uh, it's, it's something that, you know, it's hard to not take a little bit for granted, cause I do sleep in late and I do all these other things where if you had more of a job job, like you'd be like, no, I have to wake up at this time and go do these things. And then, and then when that's done, I can do it. Yeah. That's the mentality. And so when you're doing your own thing in your mind, you're always kind of doing what you want, but you have to learn to move things from a like, oh, like once I'm done with these other things, then I can do what I want. It's more like you have to transition those things into things that you want. Do you know what I mean? So like, you have to want to work. You have to want to be at work and turn, work into something that, you know, you want to wake up and do. And like it's hard because you just have complete, you know, open freedom, open rain, but then you have all these new things, like, you know, time management, money management, um, figuring. Taxes, you know, writing your own books, you know, many hats. Yeah. It ends up becoming a lot more than you think it's going to be and very overwhelming. Right. And so I'm lucky I have a support structure underneath me, my family and my, you know, my sibling and all that other stuff where if anything fell through, that would be there. Um, but experience-wise, it's just, it's very freeing. Um, you know, it's, it's like a reality that you in when you work in normal, I guess a nine to five, like it's something, you know, exists, but you can't really like picture it. You can't really like, understand where it's like, you're like, uh, like people make jokes like on the west coast where they're just like, does anybody work? Because during all day long people are just like in the parks doing this, doing that through this and that, but the people are independently employed. So they're either working in the park or they're taking their midday break. Or whatever else. Um, I just feel like that's less common, um, in, you know, uh, more of these like rural tiny city, you know, like where we're at. Yeah. It's less common. Yeah. But I don't know. I feel like I'm adjusting fine. I like it. You are. I don't think I'm making as much money or as about as much money, but that's, you know, just time. Yeah.

Bill 14:23

I it's been, I have always wanted this for you, so, and like, it's, there's so many blessings involved with this transit cause we've been working together right now, uh, for the listeners we are in our old, uh, spare or our old art studio where we used to work

Jacob 14:42

for we're sitting right where your bench was. Yeah. Right where my bench was, we're sitting right now, right on the old saw,

Bill 14:49

laid off the ground. Yeah. We worked in this room for. About two and a half years. Yeah. About, and back to what I was getting at was how many blessings have come with you transitioning into a full-time entrepreneurship and, uh, being an independent artist and creator, uh, for me and both for you. Um, it's just been really great for me to have someone to like connect with and work with on a daily basis and like support each other because I found through my journey of being an artist and, you know, cultivating my business, uh, a lot of. A lot of the time I was working on, you know, building William Arthur jewelry was spent alone and I spent a lot of time alone. So that's hard. Yeah. Yeah. And it, it was essentially detrimental for my mental wellness. And obviously there was so many lessons gained through that. Um, you know, connection is so valuable to essential nutrient community. And I just feel so grateful to have like you in the studio with this new transition and Adrian and Alejandro and have this, this community around us and yeah, just absolute blessing. And I believe in you fully and, and just how you've propelled so far and like, It's cool for me to speculate, like why this has happened. Like you, you started getting business right away and I'm thinking I'm like, damn, like I was not able to get engagement, ring projects right away. Like for me it was like, I was just making things and exploring metal arts and cultivating my abilities and kind of just playing around hoping people would buy my things. But it's cool to see people like around you that love you, that are, that are supporting you like your family, your friends, people that you've cultivated personal connections with. So that'd be, I would love for you to speak on the value of, you know, being yourself in the world and, um, connecting with others, connecting with different communities, like, you know, you're in the video gaming community and all these different things and how that plays into. Um, having a successful business because I feel like that was a component I missed early on. I was spending so much time alone. I wasn't building relationships in the real world and therefore like people weren't seeing me and when people know you and see you and like love you, they're going to want to support you and your passions. So, yeah, I would love to hear like, do you, when you look at your business and like the early projects you got, do you attribute that to that specific thing?

Jacob 17:22

Yeah. You know, um, early on, I was surprised at the amount of people that were, you know, they, everybody knew when I went to jewelry school, I was like highly publicizing it. I was posting all the time. I was showing what I was doing and reflecting on it. It's like, you know, uh, kind of amateur work, you know, To me. I was excited and I just, I wanted to be there. I wanted to do it. I wanted to show everybody. And that really sent, I feel like it sends the energy out where I'm, I'm saying, look, this is something I like to do. I love it. And then when people think about jewelry or they think about this or whatever, I come to mind because I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll say what my dad said to me actually, uh, not too long ago, like maybe a year ago or a year and a half ago where I was like, you know, just working job, a job, questioning myself, being very upset with, you know, um, my progress, which happens. And, um, my dad's like, yeah, you know, how many, how many, you know, how many jewelers I know you, that's it, you know? And, uh, it's kind of dumb and it's funny, but it gave me, you know, a different perspective where, you know, there's a lot of people that'll have jobs that. You'll you'll meet a few of them, but you know, it's hard, harder to come by. And I guess a jeweler is one of those, um, uh, what was the question? I don't know, for

Bill 18:57

sure. It's easy to get lost. It was like, how do you see, you being you in the world and just being like a very connection oriented person and building relationships out of love and like just being you and, really like how that plays into others, supporting your craft and your love. Because like I was saying for me, I was like, so reclusive that I was neglecting relationships and I didn't see the value of just like. Being in different communities, other things I was passionate about, you know, like fitness and stuff like that, or like disc golf and like, uh, personal development communities and how that would feed back into my business based solely based off of people just loving me. So them wanting to support me. So yeah, I think the question or unless you have a

Jacob 19:44

no, I mean, you, you hit it on the head. I feel like the interconnectivity of our interests is where our true value lies. The intersection of thoughts is really where, you know, everything really lies. You can, you can isolate and you can be the best, anything, but it's not, it's not going to reach certain levels or it's not gonna reach the certain people, or it's not gonna be in certain ears or areas that it could be. Whereas, you know, if you're just. You know, you're out and about and you like biking and you always stay biking and you're like, Hm, I wonder who else likes biking? And you end up finding, you know, for example, you know, the, the biking Milwaukee group in Milwaukee and all the people there also have tons of other interests as you know, like public, you know, uh, buildings and housings and developments and stuff that they're interested in. And it, it just, it interconnects the community. And then the same thought when they think of jewelry, they think of you, you think of biking, you think of them. And it, it builds a sort of like community reliance based off of just solely interests, just interests and. I feel like that's helped me. I feel like you brought up the, the video game thing.

Bill 21:09

Yeah. Yeah. Tell us about, uh, your other passion of video gaming and like, do you feel like with your passion and creative endeavors in jewelry, like, do you find some crossovers with gaming and the experience of working in jewelry and crafting and metal arts? Like, do you feel like they pair together in some unique way?

Jacob 21:31

You know, um, it's hard to find connections between them because in the video game, it's more of like, in my mind, like strictly like a lot of collecting and then just enjoyment of that entertainment. Uh, but being around that, like, I definitely have been like, you know, always thinking like, okay, well, how or why. Can I contribute to this community or, you know, what about this community do identify with the most? And like, I went to the gaming convention this weekend, you know, and, um, I went on Saturday with my friends, but then I actually ended up going back on Wednesday by myself. And that's, that's mainly what I wanted to do was kind of go by myself just so I can go build connections with some of these, you know, store owners, shop owners. I can just pull up and buy a game or trade some games, say, Hey, are you local? Where are you from? You know, blah, blah, blah, what do you collect? What games that guy was telling me, he collects, you know, Dreamcast and um, people just want an opportunity to talk about what they like, you know, and not all the time, but you know, if you open up that window by saying, blah, blah, blah, Hey, or like, do this, do that. I love this. I like this, that this. They might not identify with the thing that you love, but they might identify with the love and they'll say, well, oh, well, I like this, that, this, that. Um, so I mean, it's hard to find interconnectivity between it besides like, you know, hyper customizing stuff. That's still, that's still, you know, that's still on the come up and I'm, I'm excited in the future to just, you know, continue collecting, continue. Yeah. The

Bill 23:21

only things that you love, man, and just living with you and, you know, cultivating a relationship with you. I found that just like, naturally you like always, you're like, magnetised towards love. Like you flow with love. It sounds like abstract, but, um, I'm curious, like all these different things you do, like, and like, maybe you're not like totally intentionally like. You seem to just naturally do the things you need to do to cultivate love in your heart and to feel good and to be a positive individual video game biking, connecting with others, taking Kurt for a walk, all these different things. Um, do you approach these things in a way like, oh, these are bringing value to my life or is it more so like, you're just going with the flow you're, you're being, you're going towards the things you feel drawn, polled magnetised to, and then all these things that you're doing to, you know, make yourself feel great. And like I said, it's probably not even that you're approaching these things in this way, like sometimes.

Jacob 24:23

Okay. Okay. You know, I just, I put a very high value on my relationships that I know. Yeah. Like higher than, you know, money, you know, higher than. Time. I mean, time is, you know, whatever, but it's like, it's the thing where it's like, my friend asked me for help. Am I willing to help him? Yes, I will sacrifice a day. You know, if someone desperately needs it or if my friend really, if I think that he needs it, like I'm, I'm willing to sacrifice a day or an hour or whatever, because you know, in the long run, it's not something that's gonna, you know, maybe change their life, but it's something that will make them feel better and that'll change their life. And that's how I view it. So it's, yeah, whether it's, you know, building habits or like doing things with people or, you know, whatever else it, in my mind, I always try to make it, uh, you know, um, conscious decision to take the other person's. You know, feelings into account, which is compassionate. It's easy to say harder to, harder to do, especially when, you know, you have, everybody has their own overwhelming feelings of like, you know, tiredness or like, you know, whatever laziness or, you know, apathy towards other things or other people. Yeah. But whenever I get that way, I just, I, the only thing that really helps me feel better is selflessness. Selflessness is the one way that I really can help myself feel better. And it's um,

Bill 26:06

what'd you say you actively pursue selflessness when you feel low as a means of like raising yourself back up.

Jacob 26:14

Not, I wouldn't say consciously, it's probably like cleaning my room. If I have to make myself feel better, it's going to be cleaning my room or cleaning the house. Uh, you know, I'm, I'm kind of that compulsive, uh, where I'm like, if my space is clean, then I'm not crazy.

Bill 26:29

I, yeah. You know what I mean? There's a lot of value in a clean space and how that correlates to, you know, a decluttered mind. So there's a lot of value there. Yeah. Um, yeah, dude, thank you for sharing all that. And yeah, it's just been an absolute blessing to like, get to know you, I've learned a ass load through our relationship, just living with you, how to be a better communicator, how to be a better communicator. Really. Yeah. How to be a better friend, like, you know, and just like the importance of communication period, because. There's been times where like, I'll like, I want something done, but I don't communicate it. And then I ever repressed those feelings and those thoughts. And then like all of a sudden I'm being passive aggressive in small ways, or like my negative energy is leaking out towards you or another person. And then overall it doesn't, you know, it doesn't feel great whatsoever. So like, yeah. Yeah. I just feel very grateful to have this journey with you dude. And like, there's always like more layers to uncover and, you know, you're just like an absolute blessing of a room.

Jacob 27:31

I mean, it's your roommate and a great friend and a great brother. I like the dialogue and it always gets hard with, I mean, and anybody could relate to this. If you've lived with roommates where it's just like, you know, what's up with the dishes. I don't know. You know, what's up with the trash. I don't know. Like, you know, uh, it's, it's always a bunch of stuff where it's the, um, Who like who notices it the most? Who cares about it the most, but then it also takes acknowledgement. So if one person is bothered or notices it more than the other person is just like, okay, you got to just sometimes accept it. Because if, you know, if someone says something's dirty and you're just going to be like, no, it's not, it's all interpretive. And so if someone says something's dirty, or if they think that they want to do this or that, or the other thing, sometimes you just have to take their word for it and, you know, yeah. Whether or not you think that's the truth, that's their reality. And so you just roll with it, you know, whether it's, you know, anger or confusion or frustration, I think every single thing, uh, boils down to, uh, miscommunication. Yeah.

Bill 28:43

Communication is everything. And that's of. Takeaways I've had home. Like I was saying with our relationship is like, well, cause I just grew up in a family environment where, you know, there wasn't the best communicate of efforts. You know, I was a child and you know, I have two siblings and you were a child. I was a child at one point, man. I was a little, a little tyke and really, I mean, you know, everyone was doing the best they can. Um, my mother is an absolute being of love and light and unconditional love. And, um, you know, like I was saying, there just, wasn't really a, um, value of communication instilled with me. And it's a skill and ability that we develop over time. So like, just reflecting back on like our real, like just going through our relationship, the ins and outs and living together, making sure everything's flowing properly. We're good on good, whatever, all these things, it made me reflect on like my upbringing and like how much. Lack of communication. There was not to anyone's fault. That's just how it unfolded. But, um, yeah, that's like one of the main things I've picked up with you, how to be a better communicator and how, how, yeah. Like it always comes down to communication, like any pursuit in life and like anything you want to conquer and any goal you want to make happen, like there's going to be other people involved.

Jacob 30:01

So it begins or ends with communication. Yeah.

Bill 30:04

Yeah. Wow. That's powerful. I mean, it always begins or ends with communication. That is so true.

Jacob 30:09

So, you know, and I mean, actually that's interesting, you just were going into childhood, so I might as well bring it up because you know, you're talking about the environment that you're brought up. Like I, you know, luckily was very supported by, uh, my mom, my mom and my dad of course. Uh, and they let me be expressive. I'm not sure to the extent that they were bothered by me or, you know, whatever, but, um, Without, without like being too disparaging on myself. It's definitely a, I was a cry baby. Um, is it still recording? Oh yeah, we're good. Okay. Uh, I definitely was a cry baby, you know, uh, in class, you know, at home, you know, around in that's the thing around groups of people. And so I always had this like large feeling of, um, like embarrassment or like, I was like, there was something wrong with like, I was, I would ruin everything basically like everybody else is like, like we're like we're out trick or treating. Right. My parents got me a Charmeleon, a Pokemon, you know, outfit and we're out, uh, you know, whatever. And 15 minutes in I'm crying, you know, And I don't, I don't think it was, I reflect on it and I'm just like, I don't know why I'm crying. I didn't know why it probably was something stupid, like my ass itched or something, you know, who knows. But it was just that patience that I feel like my parents had, whether or not it was conscious or subconscious, um, the patients to like, let me have my emotions and to acknowledge my emotions, um, definitely carried into adulthood and I can still be a cry baby. Sometimes a child,

Bill 32:06

the child, the young Jacob, a little baby boy. Jacob's

Jacob 32:09

still in there, man. I'm overwhelmed, dude. I'm a type of person that sometimes I can be easily overwhelmed for sure. Um, but it's, it's almost ironic in a sense where tiny things were overwhelmed me way more. Then heavy things, heavy things. Usually I'm able to just fall into the like, oh, this is the default choice. Like, this is what you should choose in my brain. Whereas with tiny things where sometimes it doesn't matter. Like, I mean, when you really boil it down, not to say, be like, actually it doesn't matter. But like when you boil it down all the way to like, whether or not, if I, you know, decide to lay down for another five minutes or not, like, doesn't matter, you know? Um, and it gets to that extent where it's like, I have to battle with myself, but, you know,

Bill 33:00

yeah. Yeah. I can relate to, uh, letting the mind run a muck and letting overthinking get the best to me. The shoulda woulda coulda or, you know, the self critical illness. And I was wondering if for the listeners, like you seem to be a person that is. Primarily upbeat and positive and shows up in the world like that is like cognizant of like the energy they bring into a room. So with that being said, and you know, all of us experiencing this, these like inner voices and things that can be overwhelming us and all that. Um,

Jacob 33:43

yeah,

Bill 33:45

I was getting at something y'all, uh, bear with me, my first podcast as a show host and yeah, I hope it's recording. Honestly, the squiggly

Jacob 33:55

lines went away.

Bill 33:56

All right. Y'all well, that last question until I got lost in the sauce, and then we thought it wasn't recording, but now we're back. We had some tough technical difficulties and we're going to be picking up and maybe a slightly different area, but Lama had a thought that you'd like to share.

Jacob 34:11

Yeah, dude, I had a question, um, because we were talking about this earlier. Uh, about me receiving compliments and how you're like, oh, I'm know, humble. Cause I'm just like, oh, like I get embarrassed. Can be deflective. Yeah. I mean, so I was going to ask you, um, so someone comes to you. I feel like, like I'm not, I'm not here to like, you know, give you a compliment either. I mean, I always will, but like, this is, this is not intended as a compliment. Just a question. Like how do you react when someone, uh, comes to you and is like, like you're William Arthur, like, wow. Like your, your work is like, holy shit. Like, dude, your shit, your shit crazy. Because I've had that. I'm not, not, I'm not saying people came to me to tell me my work was great, but like low key people were too embarrassed or nervous to say anything to you. And so they come to me and I'm like, oh yeah, bill. And they're just like, oh my God. His work is like, like, I they're, like, I've never told them, but like it's it's and it's something that I get where, you know, people are like, they want to compliment you basically. So how do you react when someone's like overtly? Like obviously,

Bill 35:31

yeah. Yeah. My response is just to like pretty much clearly state that I'm a normal human being going through the exact same thing everyone else is. And that my life unfolded in a way to where I was extremely fortunate, you know, amazing upbringing. Family environment, uh, grew up in a really nice area, had all the resources I need to thrive and, you know, cultivate my creativity and my business and all these things and had great mentors. So it's like almost like I don't even take credit for it. Like I do in a way I let them know. I worked super hard to get where I am and I put in the work and have the self-discipline to, you know, help bring these pieces together that are all these different variables. But in the end it's like a, it's like a co-creative effort. So like, So if someone's like, yeah. Approaching me and seems to be like baffled at my existence and like what I've accomplished, what happens. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And, um, you know, I just, I just take a stance of being humble and letting them know that anyone can do what I've done. And like I said, I've been very privileged and the environment I grew up in was very conducive to, um, unraveling my potential. So like, yeah, we're very fortunate. Yeah. We're very, very fortunate. Like it's hard. We can't take as a humble human being and really reflecting on our journeys, um, getting up to where we are or getting to where we're at, it's you, you can't really take credit for it all. Like we've had this conversation before. There's really no such thing as self-made there's degrees of being self-made. Right. But yeah. So my answer to that is. I let people know my journey in that everyone, everyone, anyone is capable of doing what I've done and what any other amazing creative I'm not even, wow. That sounded dumb.

Jacob 37:29

Know let's, let's, let's from a short skit. So, so we're in an elevator, you're in an elevator, you're going up 10 floors. I hop in and I'm like, aren't you like William Arthur? Like your work's like amazing. He called me bill. Wow, dude. It's, it's nice to meet you dude. Like I I've seen your work everywhere and you know, uh,

Bill 37:50

uh, I share gratitude with anyone that approaches me and shares love for my love. That is my work. So like, it's really just like. Uh, conversation and interaction around sharing love with each other. So like, I just appreciate that for what it is. I'm just like, thank you so much for like, sharing your appreciation with me of what I do, because that's such a great reflection. And it's like, you know, what we do is we make beautiful things and creating beautiful things is important. Uh, aesthetics is important, it brings a lot of value to people's lives. So for anyone to recognize that, and I just make sure to recognize right back at them that like, you know, thank you so much for tuning into what I do cause anyone that. Follows me on social media or like suppose comments on a post, shoots me a message of thankfulness or like appreciation. It's just a, yeah, it's just all love. It's all gratitude. And, and like, I love building communities. So like if I meet someone face to face, I'm like, yo, I'm here like holler at your boy. Like, shoot me a message. Let's connect. Here's my card. Yeah. And this is a great segue into, I would love to contextualize our relationship and how we met. And I would love for you to dive into that and where you were at in your life when you connected with me first. Gosh.

Jacob 39:06

So going back to the start, I think it really began with that kind of deep, uh, you know, community building idea that I had where I'm like, if I want to do blank, I have to involve myself in the community. There's no question, you know, you can say, I want to do blank and then go on the inner. Learn this, that this, that this, that, but you're learning from other people. Those are other people's experiences. These are, this is knowledge that whether or not you're, you know, uh, getting it directly from the source is coming from a knowledgeable source or on knowledgeable sport, you know, whichever, but it's, it's, there's so much value in looking for information that if you just keep looking and you just keep searching and you just keep adding things, you like, which at the time, when I was just starting jewelry, I was obsessed. It was like, I was in college. I was following a few jewelry collector groups, you know, art collector groups, and then they would post artists and then I'd go through, I'd follow those artists and I'd like their work. And then I would look at them and I'd see who they're following. And then I'd go through their follower. You know, it, it was basically just a super deep dive and I spent so much time. Honing in my Instagram specifically, uh, that that's the major way that I got connected with you was I literally was like Milwaukee. That's where I am jewelry. That's what I want to do. And anywhere where those two intersections mat, I was calling businesses, I was calling business owners. I was emailing anybody. I could find messaging anybody. I could find asking them, you know, what do you think of this? Or like this and that? Or like, or even just, I really like your work, you know, not getting responses, getting responses, it's all valuable. And, uh, that's how I ran into you. So then I was like, oh, there's a local young jeweler in Milwaukee. And he went to the school that I was looking at, going to a new approach. And so I was just like, Why not like, instead of just reading reviews online, I'm just going to go ask this dude what his opinion is, and then we'll just go from there. And that's literally what I thought. Yeah, that's it. I didn't think of it any deeper than that. And I reached out to you and that was it. And so I sent you a message and you were just like, yeah, I live four blocks away from you. And I was like, no way. So that was, that was the stars aligning for sure. Got to go meet you and really just see what you were working on. And at the time that was, it was very mind blowing.

Bill 41:53

Yeah, it's cool. I feel like it really ties into what we were talking about before, like connecting with others and how that plays into cultivating the lives we want and the creative pursuits, like, uh, manifesting those things. And it's really. It's not even about networking. Networking's weird. That's transactional. It's about connection. If you're just like, what was your mindset going into connecting with me and all there, all these people were like, yeah. You know, people say to network and that's good for, you know, making connections and all that where you're like, I'm just trying to reach out, be myself, be authentic and connect and like, you know, genuinely just show up as myself and, uh, build a connection and just naturally let unfold. What's going to, you know, unravel from there. I think

Jacob 42:38

it's like a 50, 50, or even maybe like a little bit more on the, I was just doing what I think was I wanted to do. Yeah. But deep down it was, you know, obviously there's that, there's that little bit of like, if I want to be part of this community, I need to show up and I need to speak up. You can, you can be a part of any community you want, but if you don't say anything or if you don't meet new people or if you don't. Um, contribute. And at that time I wasn't contributing anything, you know, so I had to talk to the more people I had to, and as time goes on, that's going to slowly transition to, I don't have, I'm going to eventually get to the point where I know enough people that I hypothetically wouldn't need to meet more people hypothetically. And so then instead of me having to expend energy in order to reach out to people, it transitionally will change in order for people to reach out to me. So that's like in my mind how much energy I had to put out in order to be able to get a position where now people are coming to me, it's very, like, I value that very highly. And, um, I'm just gonna finish the story of us, like meeting basically long story short, you said, yeah, I do new approaches sick. I was like, dude, I knew it. And, um, Got some money together, got a little help from my mom and then figured out all that stuff, figured out the housing shut out. Vicky shot up, Jeff, shout out Vicki and Jesse. And they helped me. And I was, you know, even though I had, you know, normal college debt, I was lucky enough fortunate enough to be able to have enough money to go. And I went and yeah, I, like I said earlier, I like I was posting all the time. I was trying to get as much engagement as possible. I was trying to show all my friends, talk to people who went to new approach a long time ago, spending a lot of time with Blaine and drew, you know, doing extra work with drew behind the scenes, doing wax injecting and all that other stuff. Anything, anything I could do to spend more time there, anything I could do to like foster my relationships with them and. Um, skipping over like all the stuff that happened at school, although like connections, although like trying to like make Instagram groups with everybody where we can all, you know, share what we're working on or what we're doing and how we are, how we feel, you know, we still have that today, but there's probably only like, you know, seven active participants, maybe a little bit more. So it's dwindling a little bit, but the value behind that is still there. But when I graduated, it was not a time to rent houses. It was what November. So it was like no houses or wait. No, it's September, October. It was like at the end of November.

Bill 45:34

What year was that? That you were at new

Jacob 45:36

approach? 20 18, 20 18? Yeah, I think so. So then school ended and I'm like, well, there's no places for rent and I'm not going to move. In December, you know, like I'm just like, wow, I'm just going to go live with my parents until spring and then I'll figure it out. And, uh, I don't think it was the same day I came back, but it was like, one of it literally was like the day or day after, or the day after that, like you hit me. Yeah. Like a few days. I was like, yeah. So you hit me up and you were like, Hey, you need a place to stay. And I was like, wow. Yeah. I think the things that I said yes before I even knew. Yeah, the logistics. Yeah. You just offered it. I was just

Bill 46:23

like, yeah, I don't even know if I gave you the backstory, but for the listeners I was listening. I was living with another buddy at the time. Uh, my good friend, old, old buddy, Aaron Singh stuck. And, uh, he had a girlfriend at the time and you know, they ended up conceiving a child. So obviously like staying here was out of the question and he had to move out kind of abruptly. And I was thinking like, Hmm, like who like is even a possibility to live with. And like, I forgot who even ran through my

Jacob 46:55

dude. I don't

Bill 46:55

know. I just. It just, you popped into my mind at some point, I don't remember exactly how it all unfolded, but I knew that you were at new approach and you were likely going to be finishing soon. And like, obviously we have a lot in common and a lot to connect over and are on similar paths. I was like, damn, this would be perfect. Like got a homie to work with and co-create with. And, um, you know, yeah. Like you just, you just somehow popped into my mind. So I pitched you the idea and you were like all in right away. And, um, that's the

Jacob 47:29

power of connecting. Yeah,

Bill 47:30

yeah, yeah. And it all started with this decision. It all started with just a single Instagram message, looking for you to connect, get a professional opinion on new approach and just like, you know, hang out for a minute and like, you know, connect with someone else in your respective profession and, and craft and art. That is jewelry-making. So, especially when

Jacob 47:50

you reach out to someone and then you say, Hey, I just want European. People are people will literally give their opinion out all day for free to anybody that'll listen. Usually So someone specifically is coming at you and saying like, I like, I need to hear what you have to say. It, it gives people more value behind their opinion. It makes them notice

Bill 48:16

reinforces, like you're getting a, you know, it's easy to get lost in the mental to debate of certain things. And to get a firsthand account is like so crucial, you know, for any big decision. And I mean, you could talk to anyone from new approach. Everyone has really great things to say about it. One of the best jewelry school, technical jewelry schools in the world, as far as facilities and mentors and, you know, their approach from taking from someone from zero, a bench jewelry skills to like having the best foundational skills you can have in so many different areas of the craft. So like,

Jacob 48:54

And I mean, I was blessed because before I went to, I had, you know, done a little bit at college and I had worked for Robert for three or four months. And even though that didn't pan out the way that I thought it would, um, you know, I, I had, you know, a diff a decent amount of experience with wax working in casting injecting and all that other stuff, which is the same stuff I was doing at new approach. Yeah. So whether or not that benefited me early on at that time, uh, when I went to new approach, I'm like, yeah, I've done wax injecting and casting this, that, this, that. And Drew's like, oh, okay. I got you. You know, and it's the thing where it's like, you can put the work in, and then that month, that year you might not see anything later that year. You might not see anything. Yeah. But you know, that sort of experience and knowledge and investment in skills or investment in people always comes back around whether or not you plan on it or not. It's an investment in yourself. All of it. Yeah. Even negative. Yeah, people will negatively invest into themselves. Oh, for sure. You know, by impacting, you know, by refusing opportunities, not doing opportunities, you know, by not negotiating, like, like, um, relationships, like if a relationship gets tough, there are ways both people can diffuse it, you know, together. And, uh, sometimes it's just, you know, walking away from it, but just pushing and like staying when you know, something is worth, it is, you know, all up to debate and then it's all. Yeah. You never know. You never know if it's going to pay off or not. So yeah. I think a lot

Bill 50:36

of risk, yes. There's risk involved, anything worth achieving. There's going to be hardship. There's going to be challenged. There's going to be risk involved and

Jacob 50:47

probably going to.

Bill 50:48

There will be parts that you could frame as sucking for sure. There's going to be uncomfortability. There's going to be resistance because, you know, you're perpetually stepping into new things. You're getting what I like to call fun, comfortable. Um, and there's just so much value in like really understanding, um, what it takes to, or really understanding the value of, you know, uh, how do I frame this? Gather my thoughts here, uncomfortability is a, or stepping into uncomfortability and seeking uncomfortability as a means of growth is a form of self-love. And I'm curious, like through your journey of, you know, you want to, you got a four year degree. And do you know, then you had some time in between there trying to figure out what you, well, you were interested in jewelry and figuring out what you wanted to do and all that you found new approach we got in touch, you enrolled a new approach. Um, do you reflecting back on that experience, do you see like a lot of these moves as uncomfortable moves, like all these things you were stepping into, um, do you, do you view them this way? Or?

Jacob 52:02

I had a lot of people telling me that I was like doing weird shit, for sure. Yeah. I had people that were just, you know, I accepted an unpaid internship, you know, to do, to do jewelry that, you know, I mean, he was established at the time, but it's like, it's not something that. I was going to like propel me anywhere. You know, I was an assistant in this area and I just want, I just, I, I had like a hunger for it. You have to have a hunger for it. It's not something where, you know, you're going to want to do it. It's I literally will beat someone else to the punch and I will get there first and I'll do it harder, you know, not all the time, but, um, I don't, what were we talking about, man?

Bill 52:52

Where we're no, it's fine. It's easy to go far out and be tangential. And that's, what's cool about podcasts and conversation is like, it's really just free flow exploration and like, um, letting you know each, you know, you're, you're explaining something going into something and then I grab onto something from what you said, and then we, you know, carry on to the next topic. But one thing that you said that, um, I would love to dive into and something that relates to the intention of this podcast is like the things we are magnetised to the things we feel hungry for, the things we are drawn to, you know, humans are innately curious. We, we are, we have like a deep desire to know, like, where do you think, uh, your, the seed that is. Crafting jewelry, being a creative individual and doing that as a profession. Where do you think that started in your life? Do you re like reflecting back on your life? Were you creative from a very young age? Like what was the process of your creativity unfolding and yeah, I'd love for you to dive into, uh, and reflect on what that process was for you.

Jacob 54:02

Yeah. You know, early on I started with instruments, guitar, um, played a lot of sports. So I, I view that very creatively, like playing sports is a very creative thing, but it's more, uh, you know, I dunno physically creative, I guess. I don't know how to describe creative, but I started with sports and with guitar, and then I went to school and I learned band and I played trombone in the band and I did marching band. And then, you know, I was deep into photography. For a long time in high school, I was like doing film photography. I was, I was running the dark room in high school. So I was mixing all the chemicals and cleaning up after classes and yada yada, because the photo of teacher trusted me and I don't know where it exactly started, but my earliest experience with jewelry was in middle school. And in middle school, I took a jewelry class with some of my friends and I made a few pieces that are like open phase casts or like plate solderings, you know, um, just tiny things, but like still complicated processes, like, you know, sawing, filing, cutting, you know, and then putting pins on stuff or, you know, magnets or something or whatever. And like, even at that time, even in middle school, I can see how, if I would have just taken those few things and like just actually been super interested that could have propelled me. But I didn't focus on it cause I was too distracted. I was like, I have to go to my girlfriend's locker after class. Like I don't have time to think about jewelry, you know, or what I want to do in my future. I have to go talk to my girlfriend, you know, which, you know, that's, that's the time for that like middle school, high school. Yeah. But, um, that was my first experience with it. My mom kept all of those pieces. When I go home. I see all those pieces. See those pieces I'll show you I'll show you. They're really interesting. Um, but it started there and then it just disappeared out of my life. And then I continued into college and I thought I was going to do art. And I remember when I was initially going into college and my parents were like, we're going to help pay for blah, blah, blah, blah. Because they had saved money and they had a rental property and all this stuff and circumstances just ended up being totally different where that wasn't the case. And then. I was going to have to like pick up the slack and pay for a decent amount of my education, you know, myself, which would be just taking loans out. And so I said, well, like if that's going to be the case, if that's how it's going to be. And my dad said, he's not going to pay for any art at all. Which I think is a common thing where there's parents that are just like, art will not pay, you know, and they're doing it out of love. You know, I believe they're doing it out of love. They're not doing it out of hate, from a good place, right. It's from a place where it's like, I care about you. I don't know if this is going to work. I've never seen this work. So if I've never seen it, then it's hard for someone to be comfortable in it. And so I was like, you know what, dad, I don't care. You're not going to pay for it. Fine. And so after a year and a half or two years in college, I decided to pursue art. I went into graphic design, um, which was like Adobe illustrator, Photoshop, blah, blah. Did that for like a year you're in something. And then I applied to the program because you have to like do classes and then it probably had a program. So then I did a bunch of classes. I applied to the program and I got turned down, which is crazy apparently because they accept 90% plus of students, you know? And so I was at first, like, just like, like devastated because one of my, it was literally cause I had one class that was below a C grade. Um, you know, and so they're like, well, you can retake it next year. It's not next semester, but it's the semester after that. And I'm like, what am I going to do for T I'm going to paint it for another two years or another year of college, just to have the same degree that like, I'm not even sure if I want. And so that's where, like, I was just like, I'm lost. Like I don't know what's going on. And then the main thing that triggered my real route that I ended up just diverting into doing digital fabrication. Under Frankie flood at UWM was I saw a poster and I think things, I just never forgot that I just like always keep that where it's just like someone literally printed out a poster. It could have been Frankie. It could have been someone else in the program or whatever. Someone print out a poster taped to a wall for summer classes. I saw it after I was denied getting into my thing. And it was like, do you have extra art things? I'm like, I have extra art, you know, uh, credits and blah, blah, blah. So I took that poster and signed up for the classes and I'd never looked back. And, um, that led me into digital fabrication. Digital fabrication convinced me I should do jewelry jewelry. I graduated. And my final project was a jewelry project. And for digital fabrication, um, 3d printing stuffing, casting it just with my own 3d printer. And that just propelled me. After that I was like, I need more. And so that's why I, I went to Robert and then I worked under Robert and then, you know, I worked at a deli over a summer, um, beans and barley. I worked there for a summer and then after that just went to school. And so I never looked back and it never really mattered to me that I was, you know, working a job, this, that, or the other thing. But I had a goal in my mind and that's what really kept me pushing. So, I mean, that's, that's really the short and long of how I got into this long. Yeah, no other way to explain it. Amazing dude, lots of mistakes, lots of coincidences, lots of perfect timing. little things that just like a poster, like a DM in Instagram. Like these things are so menial, but there's, they hold so much. It makes me want to go back to our first messages and look at them on Instagram because I know it

Bill 1:00:24

had been fun to pull up. I know

Jacob 1:00:26

they're there, they're there. It's probably just me going like subdued. Like, do you have time to talk about a new approach? Probably something simple. Like, I just didn't want to him. I'm like, don't look dumb. Like don't sound dumb to this guy. Like you

Bill 1:00:40

were you and that's all you needed to be. And that's what like you continue to be. And that's why you're going to be successful is because, you know, we are all one of a kind and we all have a, one of a kind unique magic to offer. And, you know, a lot of us get in our own ways and we let society form who we are. And we, you know, we fall so far away from like being freethinkers and really like the creators of our own realities and our, and ourselves. So like, Yeah, just major respect on like always following your heart and, you know, just like listening to the whispers, you said you saw these little signs and you were kind of just following up on them and there's like so much, like what, like you were just curious, you were just a very curious individual and you were, you know, whatever intuitive sense was guiding you, you were listening to that intuitive sense, that feeling those little whispers from the universe, and that's a beautiful thing. And I think, you know, we all could take something home from that. Like, um,

Jacob 1:01:43

I mean like how many times have you seen a poster and you're, it changes your life? I don't know. Zero times. Yeah,

Bill 1:01:50

actually. I mean, you know, there's been times where I've seen art or a specific quotation on a poster. That's definitely taken me down deep rabbit holes and. My frame of thinking. So for sure, like, like little things can take us and take us down so many different roads and open up so many different doors. And, um, it's really just about exploring yourself and yeah. Um, like you've done listen to your heart and follow your passions and, um, and connect, connect be yourself. Okay.

Jacob 1:02:23

Can I say connecting is the most important connecting for sure. Yep. Yeah. Connecting and it's really easy to connect with people because everybody has a family. Everybody, everybody loves somebody. Everybody has fears. Everybody has insecurities. And not to say that you should play off of any of that, but like even acknowledging it is enough. People don't want you to know them inside and out. People just want you to understand.

Bill 1:02:49

Yeah. You know? Yeah. Compassion. It's, it's massive. That's what we need right now because there's so much division in society and people are just lacking understanding each other. We can disagree and still cooperate and yeah, there's a lot of merit there.

Jacob 1:03:06

There's a lot of progress without disagreement. Agreed. Agreed. You have to, you have to have two sides to a story in order to progress it. Yeah.

Bill 1:03:14

Yeah. And right now we are, we're coming to pretty close to the end here. So I would love for you to just share some insights and advice or any little nuggets you can give any other independent artists out there. Anyone that's looking to cultivate their own business or, you know, their own pursuits, which are going to create freedom for them. Like through your process thus far, what, what is it that you, you know, you'd like to share with others to help them on their journey.

Jacob 1:03:43

It's so hard to find like specific things. Yeah. I mean, yeah. Uh, case by case basis. All I can say is that you should definitely build, like, if you don't feel like you have a support system, you can build it. It's not, it's not something that you either do or don't have, you can build a support system. There's, there's people out there that care about you.

@llama_the_jeweler 1:04:05

There's people out there that care about your art. You know, there's even people that like, I don't even really talk to very much anymore or like, you know, know what's going on in their life, but I see their art and, you know, I support them. I support their art and I really care. Like that's, that's the sincerity is that find people that really care, even if they can't buy your art, even if they're not, you know, artistic themselves, whatever else, just, you know, surround yourself with people that challenge your beliefs, surround yourself with people that support you, even if they disagree in your beliefs. And then. Use that energy to believe in yourself because it's, it's really hard when your just making products and that's how you view it. Your, your, your end goal then is finishing a product when you're really connecting with it. Your end product is your relationship with that person. Your end product is the relationship with your art and getting all mushy about it or whatever. This is powerful. I really, I really think that it takes a lot of doubt and it takes a lot of uncomfortability to really get yourself to a place where you can say that, you know, that you really like pushed yourself through it. And, and the people that helped you through it will be, you know, they'll still be there. You know, when you get to the end, even if they've got. Not even if they can't physically be there. So I don't know, dude, that just got, I don't know why

Bill 1:05:44

that was. That was literally perfect. That was straight from the heart that was Lama the jewelry. Y'all mama, the jeweler. Thank you so much for sitting down with me today and being a part of my first podcast, my first experience as being a show host and thank you everyone so much for listening. One more thing. Where can people find you? Where can the people connect with? You hit

Jacob 1:06:06

me up on Instagram Lama underscore the underscore jeweler. Um, if you follow bill, you'll probably see me anyway. Um, otherwise, you know, hit me up. If you're trying to sell video games, you know, hit me up. If you want to just talk about, you know, whatever. Yeah, I do. I post on my posts. Uh, you know, they say, oh, like asking questions in your posts helps boost engagement, you know? And it's like random stuff like that, where it's like the little tips and tricks to boost engagement, where it's like, I don't want to be like, here's my ring. What do you guys think? I like being like, here's my stuff. Like, how's your Sunday going? Like, people are going to comment on your art and they're going to be like fire emoji, fire emoji, you know? Um, but, and that's great. It helps boost engagement, but even just having normal discussions is still fine on posts. I think it's all right. And it normalizes just having like a relationship with anybody. Yes. You can't do it with everyone, but yes, yes. Yeah. Reach, reach out. Hit me up. I'm not, I'm

Bill 1:07:13

not very shy. Wonderful. Yeah. Thank you guys. All so much. All the love. Thank you. All the smooches. And uh, I'll be back again. Cheers. Y'all see ya.