Welcome to the gilt trips podcast. I'm your
host Kendra Lockhart as a goldsmith and gemologist
I'll be speaking 24 karat on all things jewelry
metals and gems Join me plus a few friends to
demystify both materials and designs as your
private jeweler. Let's tune in on these topics
and get golden And that's a wrap We got golden
for 12 months, recorded in two cities and listened
in 30 countries. So now what? What's next for
me is to dive into my new role. One of the reasons
that I was out in New York was going through
a boot camp of sorts and executive training.
for a position that I've taken with the company
I'm currently working for. And the beauty of
it is that it solved the problem of not being
in the middle when it comes to knowledge and
giving and teaching and collaborating. Those
are tough things to do when you're the most experienced
one in the room. And I can't say how happy I
am to start off a brand new year knowing that
I've locked arms with incredible talent and knowledge
and passion and adventure. What's also on my
horizon is to expand educating others. This has
really brought me back in touch with one of my
great passions, which is growing myself while
growing others. And I do have an open invitation
from a colleague to format workshops and courses
within the jewelry industry for the next generation
of talent. You don't get to be good or even great
overnight. And with the world moving as quickly
as it does now, It can be incredibly challenging
to play the long game and develop yourself year
after year into a craft like this. As you've
heard for almost a year, these stories don't
come from an overnight process. And lastly, one
of the reasons that the podcast is coming to
a conclusion is that I've been invited to fulfill
an idea of going on to bigger media. And I will
be working with a new team, stretching old skills
in a completely different format and exercising
my second passion. As for guilt trips. The 2025
projects that I have on deck, now that I've completed
40 episodes here, will be the fact and folklore
gem deck that I've been working on for a number
of months with a brilliant graphic designer from
Scotland. And I look forward to taking all of
my gemology education and repackaging it into
the duality of science and the magic of gems
and jewels. Speaking of the number 40, later
this year there'll be a book. Guilt Trips is
set to become a memoir of commissions and I'll
be explaining the behind the scenes on 40 of
my favorite projects and perhaps you'll even
get to meet the clients that found me and made
me their jeweler in their words. I've got some
special thanks to share, and I can hardly contain
that I have so many to give. Of course I want
to thank my industry for decades of choosing
me. As I've said, this was not the adventure
that was my plan A, but what a brilliant alternative
it's become, not just for where my art skills
needed to go, but where my soul needed to run
free and The space that allowed me to meet so
many beautiful people within my trade and out
in the world finding love and choosing one another
every day. Nothing can replace that. My deepest
gratitude to the international web and to the
technology that made me aware. of just where
this is being heard and enjoyed around the world.
I'd love to thank all of the listeners in the
following countries Russia Saudi Arabia Spain
England Norway Sweden Netherlands France Czech
Republic Germany Italy Switzerland South Africa
Colombia Mexico, Canada, Japan, China, Philippines,
Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Hungary, Denmark,
Finland, Puerto Rico, and the United States.
I'm sure there will be more even after this episode.
And lastly, the wonderful souls who have really
poured into me so that I can give myself. Thank
you, Devesh, my colleague, who applied what he
learned from here into the role that we've both
held. William Staffey, for guidance on equipment.
Portia Booker, you've been such a wonderful mentor.
And thank you, Heather Goucher, for the introduction.
Katie Skinner for showing me the big picture
around my wisdom, my voice, and calling me a
thought leader. Kristin Kubik, I appreciate the
short time we've worked together as far as your
growth guidance and helping me vet my strategies.
Kaz Taylor, you are one of the most gifted art
directors I've had the pleasure of meeting. and
I can't wait until our collaboration is complete.
Merrick Kent, for being a wonderful cheerleader
and sharing this with your son. To Melissa and
Alondra, who never cease letting me know that
I'm their favorite artist. And to Snoop Dogg,
for the inspiration of thanking yourself when
you've accomplished something. To Demetri in
New York, when I was recording from the Big Apple.
Thanks for keeping the conversations deep as
I wrote my chapters and episodes at a late night
spot. And last but not least, my list wouldn't
be complete if I didn't say thanks to a unique
kind of opponent who was secretly my fan in denial
and was the whole reason this project came to
be. It's been entertaining. enlightening, amusing,
and endearing to have this be the solution to
an unreasonable request. With that, I wish you
all a spirited year. May it be filled with lessons
learned, wisdom gained, adventures being had,
and more of what your heart desires. Thank you
for listening and learning with me. I would love
you to share this project with people finding
rare beauty in today's world and throughout our
times. Until the next episode, keep your own
story sparkling.