All-INKlusive - What does a successful INKer look like?
Oooh we’re full of the good questions, aren’t we? Just what does success look like for an INKer? Well, that’s open to debate. Achievements can be personal, only relating to yourself and on however small a scale you decide it to be. Just look at me… for example, I got up this morning and did not internally scream for ten minutes into the bleak, dark void inside my head. I even delayed contemplating having a shot of delicious peaty whisky until well after 11am. To me, this is an incredible achievement.
The best way to do this is simply to ask previous INKers what they thought about the course and gather all information available to us. You may have seen some the quotes from past INKers dotted around the INKubator Guide, each one little shiny nugget of joy and happiness! But I suppose there’s one person close to VI we can ask, someone who now nestles deep within Vinky’s bosom and snuggles in all warm and cosy. I’m actually being serious, she’s forever freezing this lassie.
Let’s ask our very own Lorna Romanenghi!
Hello. Who are you and what is your relationship/involvement with the INKubator?
My name is Lorna Romanenghi and I’m the Cultural Director here at Vanilla Ink
Well that sounds fancy… why don’t you tell us a little bit about your jewellery journey?
My journey into jewellery making, as all good journeys are, was not an easy straight road going from A to B… it was more like a winding road with loads of exits, roundabouts and forks in the road. I definitely didn’t always know I wanted to be a jeweller… however, I’ve always been creative in one way or another.
I was born and raised in a small town in the North of Italy called Crema where I was raised by a mad and wonderful musician mother and surrounded by other musicians. However, I was always fascinated by drawing… I would happily sit and draw for hours on end while my mother rehearsed, performed and thought. In fact, I was already addicted to drawing and painting well before I could read! However, being raised in a town where schools did not encourage music or art as it wasn’t seen to be a “viable career path”, I assumed this was just something I did to pass the time and that it would never go beyond being my “guilty little need to create”. So, as all good school kids do, I followed the advice of my teachers and ended up specialising in Psychology and Psychiatry. Fascinating, but not exactly for me! But then a recession hit Italy hard, work dried up for my mother and I had no prospects of a future, as affording university fees was definitely off the cards. My mother, being Scottish, decided to try our luck back home in Scotland and… yes, I won the jackpot! No spaces left for this year’s Psychology course you say Ayrshire College? But you have a space on the Arts and Crafts Course? Interesting! “Why not have a bit of fun for a year before going back to being ‘sensible’”, I thought. But then! First week: Introduction to Jewellery Making - everything clicked into place - it was like finally seeing the Matrix, I knew this was it! This was what I wanted, no, NEEDED to do! So… I did! I spent 4 years building up my skills and portfolio at college in order to get into Dundee University where I subsequently studied for 3 years.
Here I learned a lot, but I always felt that my making skills were lacking and definitely nowhere near where I wanted them to be… and then I came across Scott at Vanilla Ink. I came for one Stone Setting course while still at University and from that moment I knew this was the place I needed to be if I wanted to grow as both a person and as a maker. My skill level improved tenfold in just two days, but mainly I felt so supported, accepted and encouraged in a way I had never felt before. It instantly felt like home.
From then on I tried to book in for more courses when I could and be part of this amazing environment whenever I could.
Once again, after I graduated, Vanilla Ink was my welcoming home with the INKubator Programme! During this time I absolutely immersed myself in this amazing workshop, surrounded by incredibly talented people who always had time to teach me and help me grow in every possible way.
From the INKubator I was then asked to be the Jeweller in Residence, during which time I also found an unknown love for teaching! I then became the Lead Tutor & Workshop Manager, and before I knew it, I became the Cultural Director!
Awww what a fantastic story! You mentioned being an INKER IN 2020 - What led you to the PROGRAMME?
Once I finished my time at university, like most of my peers, I felt absolutely lost. It was that “ My degree show is finished! I’ve graduated! Yippee! Oh… now what?” kind of moment. I had no idea where to go or what to do - I had some skills, but not enough - I needed to learn more and understand just where I fitted in this jewellery world. Through my university and friends I was already introduced to Vanilla Ink and when I saw posts about this INKubator Programme thing, I looked into it… and it was a no-brainer. The Programme answered all the questions and fears I had about going forward. Not enough skills to be where I wanted to be, no business acumen and no clue where I fit, this course offered an answer to all these issues and oh boy, did it deliver!
did you have any goals going into the Programme? Did they change and/or did you achieve them?
Going into the Programme my goals mainly involved increasing my making skills to go from being a semi-competent jeweller to being an all-round goldsmith. I wanted to be able to open my own little business, make myself a little workshop and work away on commissions and collections. During my time in the Programme my goals did change somewhat as I was introduced to options and opportunities I had no idea even existed let alone considered! I discovered I like being part of a larger workshop, I found my love of stone setting and my love of teaching! I would have never found what makes me happy and what I'm passionate about if it hadn’t been for the INKubator Programme and all the amazing people I met because of it.
At the end of the programme, you were invited to be our INKer in Residence. Tell us a little more about that
Well… firstly imagine me jumping for sheer joy for about 20 minutes!
Okay, I did and it made me smile for about the same amount of time!
Basically, being the Jeweller in Residence meant I got my own bench for the duration of the Residency to use whenever I wanted, use of all the machinery and equipment in the workshop and have space and time to work away at all my projects. I also received monthly skills development on a 1-2-1 basis with Scott which reflected what I wanted to learn ( all mine revolved around Stone Setting ). In exchange for this I was asked to generally help out in the workshop… so win win! I was also given the opportunity to do some teaching and hone my teaching skills.
And now you’re part of the team that runs the whole place!
Somebody pinch me…
No, that’s weird
I cannot express the gratitude I feel towards my fellow directors Scott and Ellie for believing in me and encouraging me every step of the way. It really is a dream come true to not only work with amazingly talented people every day but to also feel like every time I come to work, I’m actually coming home! I am home with my amazing, weird and wonderful Vanilla Ink family!
Well, that’s me all emotional… Quick, answer this - What drives you to do what you do?
I would have to say that my main drive is being able to help people. Whether it be through teaching, helping a resident, being a sounding board, helping my colleagues or simply creating a piece of jewellery for someone that they can cherish for years to come. But most of all, being in a position to help people have an experience that they would otherwise be unable to have and potentially discover something about themselves or find a little bit of inner peace - that makes me jump out of bed in the morning!
Being involved in a CIC has allowed me the unique opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives by using making as a form of therapy. The change I have observed in people’s state of mind, mood and sense of achievement is breathtaking. No feeling can rival that of knowing that you made a difference to someone’s day.
Tell us something about Vanilla Ink that would surprise people
We will like you a lot more if you have a dog, and we will LOVE you if you bring a dog in with you! Also, be prepared that I will greet the dog before you. Furry creatures take priority!
Tea or coffee?
White tea
Cat or dog?
That question is wrong, it’s cat AND dog! Give me all the fluffies!
Meticulous planning or last-minute chaos?
Meticulous planning that inevitably fails, and then… last-minute chaos. But there definitely was a plan!
Best film ever?
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Favourite colour?
Orange, reminds me of the sun
Best season?
Summer, summer, summer AND summer! I’m a lizard and need constant external heat!
Night out or night in?
Night in… at my bench
Power of flight or super strength?
Flight…. however super strength might be handy to change torch heads after Scott THE HULK McIntyre puts them on!
Who was your first hero?
I know it sounds cliche but, my Mother. She is the most amazingly talented, strong and caring woman I’ve ever met. If I can even just be half as awesome as she is I will be very happy!
Favourite place you’ve ever visited?
City: Barcelona! It's an artistic and architectural paradise! I went there for five days, got stung by a Portuguese Man of War jellyfish on the first day and discovered I was violently allergic to coconut on the last day, and despite all that I still rate it as the best city I’ve ever visited, so that should say something!
Place: The rolling hills and glistening waters of the Greek Islands… just breathtaking! Nothing can beat unspoiled nature!
How many tattoos do you have?
None… however I do have a henna tattoo scar of a dolphin on my ankle from when I was 6 [long story]. It turned out it wasn’t henna, but tarmac so it burned through my skin and muscle and now I have a permanent little dolphin “tattoo”
What would be the signature dish that you cook?
Brasato and Polenta, just like Nonna used to make! However, it has to be said that I never make the same thing twice… I see recipes more as suggestions or inspirations instead of steadfast rules. My best creations usually don’t have a name, are referred to as “the tasty one” and will never be reproduced.
If you were a darts player, what would your walk-on music be?
Guns and Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Final Question! Do you have any tips for anyone thinking about taking part in the INKubator Programme?
Be a sponge! Immerse yourself in this environment and soak up everything you possibly can. Loads of opportunities will come your way to learn, have new experiences and be involved in some amazing projects.
My advice is to jump at every opportunity you can! Even if you're scared or don’t think you’re good enough because, I’ll let you into a secret, YOU ARE!
I’ll let you into a little secret too, Lorna… we think you’re one of the best wee people in the whole wide world. Thanks for taking part!
For more information about the Programme, you can download our INKubator guide. If you want to apply [of course you do], simply fill out the application form. You can also head to our dedicated INKubator Programme page on our website.