Lessons form “Hillbilly Elegy”

 Ironically, I read “Hillbilly Elegy” by now vice president JD Vance to better understand my junior high and high school experience with bullies. 

Like Middletown, Ohio, Elyria, Ohio, had a large influx of Appalachian transplants. The lure to that rust belt community was the steel foundries and car plants that allowed a good union job and living wage to thousands of families.

Entering a junior high school in 1976 with only one other person from my elementary school was excruciatingly difficult for a shy person. The students at this school were tough and hardened by things I had never experienced.

The bullying began immediately. Me, with my “Dorothy Hamill” haircut and new pant suit my mom made were out of place with the long denim coats and big leather wallets with chains. Threats from girls who wanted to “beat my ass” and name calling ensued.

Even as I tried to morph myself into an eyeliner wearing tough chick, the abuse continued. I was “going with” a guy from West Virginia who introduced me to drugs, sex and threats by the time I was thirteen. He thought it was so cool I was such a “buzz hound”. I abused alcohol when I was home alone to ease my fears and anxiety. Somehow, I was able to raise myself up and out of that despair.

I left my hometown in 1982 with the plan to not return. That was beautifully accommodated by my father’s transfer to the East Coast. The good news is, I have a had wonderful life, a successful career that has allowed for early retirement and the ability to give back to my city through community art education.

The point is, there are many people in our country who are affected by the circumstances of their youth. Being bullied needlessly has created a person in me who is extremely empathetic to the suffering of others. It is our choice to use our experiences to create who we become.  I have sought to understand my former bullies and forgive them.

As for JD Vance, whose book explained a great deal about  the experiences of my classmates who bullied me, I see a person who has not healed at all. You’d have thought the introspection it took to write a book would’ve helped him be better. JD has had mentors and amazing opportunities that have elevated him. He has taken those opportunities to become the worst sort of sycophant and bully. President Trumps days will end as his age is advanced and cognitive abilities are in decline. JD Vance is a young man with years of influence ahead. While I know in my heart he is twisted by his early years, he should be able to behave with more wisdom and compassion than he does. He is the true danger.

These Boots

 Cowboy boots have always been among my favorite footwear long before I owned horses. Being a shy person, pulling on a pair of boots allowed me to adopt a tougher persona than I naturally felt.  

As an adult in the work place I quickly learned that women’s equality, which I had believed settled when I was a child, was far from it and was insidiously present in a “boys club” world. 

Who can forget Nancy Sinatra’s song… “these boots are made for walking, that’s just what they’ll do… One of these days the boots are gonna walk all over you!” Whether you are a cowgirl who loves your horses or woman who needs a little “kick ass” courage in this crazy world these cowgirl boots are for you!

“Ready boots… start walking!

#Etsy@cooperhillstudio

W I P

 

Work in Progress 

Since 1987 work has been primarily learning and honing my craft as a goldsmith. There have been long runs of casting cleaning and stone setting for a manufacturer. Drawing, designing, crafting, and communicating to clients for a luxury jeweler. Demonstrating, coaching, and critiquing students 

at a design school.

For the first time, working as an independent artist with complete autonomy over all the facets of my creations I draw from all my experiences to craft items and decide how to present them to the public. There is no rush to completion as this is the last and most treasured destination in my career. 

I have so much gratitude for the people I have met along the way who are engaging with me now to encourage my success. Their shared insights into how to make this dream a reality are invaluable. The beautiful work in progress here is a true celebration of how far this journey has brought me and all the beautiful experiences to come!

Heritage Jewelry

 Recently, my sister commissioned me to create a ring for her son, who was graduating from college. She wanted the ring to hold the idea of heritage. My father signet ring with a family crest on it provided the inspiration.

Having my fathers ring, with a running greyhound carved in bloodstone in front of me as I created the ring provided a lovely reminiscence, of his life and history. He received it as a gift when he graduated from college by his parents. Greyhounds symbolize, courage, vigilance, and loyalty. Certainly traits that we wish to possess. Interestingly, my father opted to wear is ring as his wedding ring as opposed to a traditional wedding band.

What a pleasure to spend time creating a piece of jewelry for someone so special at such an important mile stone in his life. Congratulations Riley as you graduate and move to your next step in what is sure to be an exciting career!

My Favorite Earrings

 Here I am, sitting in my garden, trying to photograph jewelry for my Etsy site. There is hilarity in trying to get images of jewelry being worn when you are the only person available. 

Being directly confronted by the aging that has happened at a very close range... silvery hairs threaded between my brown ones is challenging. Sun damage and wrinkles almost drove me into the house to add some concealing makeup. Then, of course there is the extra weight added by menopause.

In conversation with myself, I decided this is who I am, no need to conceal or filter. I prefer to go without makeup, be in comfortable jeans and t-shirt with some cowboy boots ( to make me feel confident when I am not feeling strong)! My favorite earrings I have made to date are my Glastonbury Festival Hoops...just a little hippie vibe from a bygone era!

Here I am wearing them and keeping it real!

#Etsy #cooperhillstudio

Natures Eternal Inspiration

 

Beauty in the natural world is a place of refuge for our spiritual selves and a springboard to creativity for the human mind. 

In Greek mythology Hera created the peacock from Argus, who had 100 eyes. The tail feathers represent the stars in the heavens and symbolize all-seeing knowledge. In Hindu faith, the peacock is associated with the goddess Lakshmi representing compassion, kindness and patience. In Christianity, the peacock symbolizes resurrection, immortality, renewal.

James Abbott McNeill Whistler's controversial "Harmony in Blue and Gold; The Peacock Room" is currently housed in the Freer Gallery of Art at the Smithsonian in Washington DC. Frederick Leyland had originally commissioned the artist to make minor changes to pull the room together, only to return to find that Whistler had become completely carried away. His claim was that he let his imagination run wild "I forgot everything in the joy of it".

There is certainly a place where we all meet and commune with nature, We find it in our gardens, on our vacations to beautiful places, a walk in the woods, and in our relationships with animals we care for who entrust us to keep them safe. 

By translating experiences and impressions into the medium of jewelry making I am allowed to find the same joy that Whistler experienced as he created "The Peacock Room". Contemplation of the natural world around me allows for peace to enter my mind, relax, celebrate beauty, and reflect another version of beauty back into the world.

Return of Happiness

 Like many people around the world, Covid-19 brought an abrupt change to my carefully laid plan. The job that I found deeply satisfying because I believed I could change peoples lives for the better was eliminated. My goal had been to work there until I turned 60, hopefully laying a foundation for an additional revenue stream for the organization, as well as outreach to underserved in our community. Art is the place where creativity can super charge entrepreneurship for self fulfilling success.

While job loss and separation from a community is painful and difficult, and the grieving process has its ups and downs, I am certainly among the most fortunate that there is solace in creating works of art. I spend my mornings studying gemology, working on sketches for designs I would like to create, and working at my bench. Healing is happening.

I share with you, my Lily of the Valley necklace. The flower is symbolic of the return of happiness, likely because of its beautiful fragrance and presence in early spring. We will survive the dark days of this sad time in the world... spring will come again.

New Life

Spring is the season of reawakening life and rebirth. It is no surprise that many religious systems have placed their heroes conquering of death in the season in which the world becomes lush again.
For me, the hope that a long winter (both literally and spiritually) is ending and new work will begin.
I have, with purpose, kept myself too busy for the last couple years after my Father's illness and passing. That busy-ness must come to an end, in order to re-engage with my creative life in the studio.

Purposefully, I am opening up time to allow the process of creating to begin. Returning to my business to build a new more sustainable model, that will allow more autonomy in my life. I look forward to sharing new jewelry, as well as hollow ware, and objects of art in a more direct way with my audience... I hope you'll all join me as I move forward.

Their Success Is My Success

         I had a  conversation this morning with my sister Sheila, who has been an education professional for over 25 years. She started as a grade school teacher, advanced to a literacy coach, and now serves a large school system as a supervisor for grades k-12. It is a huge job to implement new standards for teaching in an aging population of teachers. No one, and I mean no one, is comfortable with change. When it comes, the resistance to change is great, and the person appointed to deliver the message is "persona non grata" for sure. The thing to know about my sister is, she is absolutely passionate about her advocacy for best practices for the sake of the students. If she were the manager of your child school system, you would lucky!

I bring this all up because I am new to the teaching process. I certainly share my sisters passion for sharing and communicating information with students. I am still new enough that I am working out the rudiments of this communication process. I am self conscious in my delivery, especially in lecture mode when sleepy eyed students don't seem to respond at all to what my conversation is. I know they've been balancing lots of plates on poles like a circus act, but just the hint of a smile at one of my jokes to acknowledge they are breathing would help!

I also have heard the stories of my teaching colleagues, and been told I'm too easy on my class. I freely admit that I am unwilling to adopt a sarcastic tone with my students. I stay as upbeat as I can in my conversations with them. Their backgrounds are unknown to me, and it is to easy to misinterpret shyness for disengagement.
   What I love about the process, and get a chuckle over, is how exciting it is to see people who have never worked in metal before, make a really beautiful solder. It is like magic the first time they fit everything well, cleaned, fluxed, and watch the solder run perfectly along a seam. I am standing right beside them with my finger crossed, holding my breath as they are heating the piece and adding the solder!
   As my students progress from learning basic skills, to planning and executing their first complex projects, I am right there in their corner. If I can find a way to help them realize their goal, I've achieved something too. I have had to rethink through and find a way to talk about parts of the craft that are intuitive or second nature to me, deconstructing all the steps that take me to a finished product again. The result is, in my own practice as a craftsman, I am remembering details of the process that I have glossed over, and am again refining my own craft. It's been an amazing awakening, and I am falling in love with the craft again.
   My hope is, that I will always feel the benefit that teaching has brought in regards to my own craft, and that I will always be open minded and hear what people suggest to help me be a better teacher and communicator. I truly believe my students success is my own.

"Advance To Exciting Career In Jewelry!!!!"

  Those words "advance to exciting career in jewelry" used to make me laugh! That was how my boss at the manufacturer titled his want ads for bench positions followed by "no experience necessary...must be good with hands". At that time, I was learning the trade. My work would consist of days of long production runs performing the same task over and over again to hundreds of pieces! We had special names for some of those pieces. "The Dreads" stands out in my mind. They were little cluster earrings with a larger center stone surrounded by 8) .0075 diamonds ( for those of you not in the trade they measure about 1mm). I will never forget as long as I live, the day I tipped my tray of over 1200 of those tiny diamonds all over my bench and the floor, and had to find them all! CRAZY!!!

   I was reminded of those days today as I sat at my bench downstairs cleaning and polishing hundreds of castings to set and assemble for the upcoming gift buying season. The work is dirty, and anything but exciting. As the owner, CEO, artistic director, etc., etc., one would hope that these tasks would be handed to minions to perform. There's the rub in starting your own business. I am still at the stage where I do it all.  I often wonder what it is in me that would make a forty eight year old woman with a good paying job want to start from scratch? I remember being in the conference room with the woman who was my previous boss frustrated with me asking "why can't you just be happy collecting a pay check?". I don't know...I just can't!

  So that is how I spent my Sunday, cleaning and polishing castings. What gets me through the task is a vision of a viable business, where I can hire some students to work with me (we'll do the boring work together!) I have had many people tell me the best plan is to source the work overseas because the manufacture of jewelry is no longer viable in our country. I prefer to think of my business as an incubator where other creative people can train to develop their own micro businesses, hire a few students to help them and then pass it on!

My Favorite Tool

A couple of months ago I received an invitation from my alma mater to participate in a project in which I would do a short interview talking about my career and how my education at CCAD had helped me to achieve my goals in a self produced video. Because I am a little shy and not too tech savvy I didn't  participate. There were a series of questions that they wanted me to answer, one of which was, "what is my favorite tool?"

What is my favorite tool? I really didn't have an immediate answer because there are so many tools that I work with. At 48 years old, it should probably be anything that magnifies what I am working on! Optivisors, loupe, microscope...anything that helps me focus on those pesky little details that have gotten fuzzier over the years. The truth is that my favorite tool is the torch. It is where the magic of my craft takes place. I can anneal hard metal and make it pliant, take solid metal and make it liquid, and join two unrelated objects using solder that is alloyed to melt before the objects I am joining. It is amazing and often intuitive in processes...I love it!

What makes me laugh, is how afraid I was of the torch when I was first invited to use one. I am sure the fear was initiated by my first welding demo in a sculpture class in college. My instructor was a burly, irreverent fellow who started the conversation with all the ways you could blow the sculpture lab up because the equipment there didn't have the appropriate flash back valve protection! (At the rate of the tuition they probably could've afforded to do a better job with safety...) I was so intimidated that I chose a different means of assembly for my additive project!

Fast forward to my first day as an apprentice at the jewelry manufacturer that had hired me just out of school. To myself I remember thinking....anything but the torch! At 2:00 on my first day when my supervisor announced that it was time to sit down and learn to solder posts to earrings, I almost ran out the door! As he was demonstrating the technique to light the torch ( and I was thinking "without blowing the place up"!) and solder thin tiny posts that don't take a lot of heat to heavier pieces that need more (  I was thinking, you gotta do this 'cause you can't humiliate yourself by asking your Dad for money to pay the rent!) I don't think I ever would have imagined that I would ever love what you can do with a torch so much! I tell the story about tangling with that crazy torch that day. I must have melted two dozen posts to get 6 soldered on, and almost lost it when I knocked my jar of color saver over and caught my bench on fire! The woman sitting next to me laughed, reached over to pat the flames out and made some crack about they'd be calling me "Chernobyl Chris". I still wonder how I got it together to go in the next day and start all over again!

I kept showing up, and have learned to use that magic wand better than Harry Potter and his wand! Even with the addition of the laser, which I know many of my young associates prefer, I still prefer a torch weld  for assembly of parts even with platinum (absence of gems allowing). It is like so many things in life,  if you can move past your initial fears ( which are often produced by misinformation), and be patient, you may find that thing that you feared most will become your greatest ally, or at least your favorite  tool!

Getting Our Bearings

This morning I woke up for the first time in forever that I have no pressing deadline I need to meet for tomorrow. No drawings, no item of jewelry, no anything! I fixed breakfast for my husband and myself and chatted to him about this miraculous thing of "how I could spend my day doing something I've been wanting to" because all my short term obligations have been met.

He and I are in the same boat. We are both artists who serve two masters. We have day jobs that provide the income that we need to live the life we want, and our vocation, the things we create that feed our soul. Often, the jobs that provide our income take precedence over the latter for obvious reasons. This is my husband's busy season in his landscape business, so that is running his life right now. As we finished cleaning up from breakfast, and he was preparing to head over to his studio, I asked him what he was planning to work on today. He is engaged in a series of wood block prints that are compelling and beautiful. I have to laugh a little, because if he'd asked me the question, he'd have got a very specific answer about what I was going to do, and in what order! Not him though. His calm and not specific answer was "I'm going to get my bearings".

Isn't this what we are all doing in our lives? It seems that we are all, no matter what stage of life we are in, getting our bearing to move forward. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of giving a workshop for the metals students at CCAD. Some of them are graduating in a couple weeks, so are at a point in life where huge changes and unknowns are on the horizon. That those individuals were able to contain themselves and focus for four hours on trying to learn the rudiments of gem setting is no small task! In addition to learning a new skill set, they had a few questions about my job. What was it like? What's the biggest diamond you ever set? They were checking a little to help get their bearings for what life outside of school could look like.

Conversely, I wanted to give a workshop, to find out what it's like to teach and share some of the knowledge I've accrued over my 27 year career in the jewelry business. As I move forward into the next stage of my life, what will help me find the best balance between earning enough money to care for myself and my husband now and in our old age, and feeding my soul? My heart, wants to be more deeply engaged in the artistic side of myself. There is a part of me that believes my studio business is the best place to find that, but the barriers to the model I first engaged in are high. How to modify that model is one question. Where does the "day job" fit in my life? To be relevant and successful there, I have learned, requires my full time presence, plus some of my studio time for design processes. The pay is good, but the cost to my artistic heart is very high. Where teaching and helping other fits in, is that it seems to help me reinvigorate mentally. I always seem to be able to enter my studio with a fresh perspective on what I am hoping to create. The question of what role teaching can play in my life is a big one. Could it replace my day job financially? Would it become burdensome when the novelty of something new wears off? Can I balance all three things for the perfect balance of earnings, creating, and giving that will give me the life I've always wanted?

So back to my day of no pressing deadlines. As usual, my longtime partner has it right. This is a day where I will follow his lead. I will head to my studio, play around with my projects that are on back burners, tidy up a little, and try to get my bearings for what is next in my life.

CCAD Art Sale

   Big fun for me yesterday! At the invitation of my boss, I attended the CCAD Art Sale.  For those of you who haven't followed, CCAD is my alma mater. I moved to Columbus 30 years ago to attend this small art school and never left.
   I no longer live on that end of town, so have been only peripherally aware of the changes that have occurred at the school since I left. New leadership, more buildings, better communication with the community that surrounds the school. What was amazing was the quality of the work and the sophistication of the ways in which the students are representing themselves.
   Technology is certainly a boon to artists who are creating beautiful items and images. Everyone has their own websites by the time they're in their junior year. A reminder to me of the importance of updating and making my own current! (Working on it now...hoping to have it complete by June!)  My favorite was a young lady who had graduated, and rather than wait to find a publisher, is self publishing and marketing her own children's books! (Guess what my future nieces and nephews will be getting for Christmas!)
   I left the event to head back to work, but felt buoyant from being enveloped in all the creative energy of young people who haven't been told they can't, or aren't good enough, or right for that promotion, or all the things they will face in life that can grind you down. Next week I am teaching my first (hopefully not my last) stone setting workshop at CCAD for the students there who aspire to work in the jewelry industry. I hope I am able to give them one more tool in their arsenal to create beautiful objects. I know that whatever I can give to them, I will receive back in their fresher point of view!

Salad Days

I feel like I have entered into the magic period in life they call  "Salad Days". That magical place where good fortune seems abundant. My studio business is five years old, and I have reached the point where I can finally clear all debt. I have plenty of merchandise, and money in the bank to grow. It is unbelievable that I started my business at the beginning of " the great recession" and have any notion that I can continue in business at all!

 I have more custom work in my day job than I can figure out how to do. While normally that would be a source of great anxiety to me, we've added an employee who works in CAD. She is the greatest partner I could have ever asked for. Her ability to interpret designs and create models is a huge gift that frees me from much of the tedious work at the bench. She is talented and patient not to mention a pleasure to know. It makes that part of my life much more pleasurable.

As if all those things don't make life joyful enough, there is more! I have just  received confirmation that I will be giving a stone setting workshop at the Columbus College of Art and Design in April. With all I am busy with in life, I'm sure there are those that don't understand why I would want to add more. There is  something special about sharing information and helping others to grow. I've visited the college on two occasions to give critiques for the competition hosted by the Diamond Cellar. On both occasion I have found inspiration from the creative energy of these young artist that has helped me to return to my own work with a fresh point of view. I am looking forward to giving these students another skill set in their arsenal to grow in their own creativity! I look forward to this being something I can do with regularity, and hope that the process will help to give me open eyes were my own designs are concerned even as my experience can help others in their work.

Spring seems to be determined to come early this year and the awakening completely matches my mood.
After years of worry that the economy brought, and doubts as to how I would find success on my chosen career path, I feel like the winter is ending. The birds are singing, and the flowers are coming up! Welcome Salad Days! I love you!

Why DO I do what I do for a living?

I know most people can relate to the question "Why DO I do this for a living?". It's inevitable that we reach that point where one more straw and the camel's back will break. That's the last week of my life working on this bracelet in fifteen minute increments, between interruptions, as the due date loomed closer and closer!

I pride myself on my flexibility with people and keeping a positive attitude while I'm working, but as the deadline approached, and the inner grill to the bracelet had not arrived back from the caster, I could see my calm slip away. Then the nights that I couldn't sleep through started. When I did sleep the dreams were epic searches to find the one class I've missed all semester, or my locker in high school ( the last place I'd ever want to be again), or some crazy work dream where nothing is going right and I'm sitting naked at my bench. I got to the point, when I was remaking the catch for the third time (it should be easy, I've made a million!), and someone wanted me to drop everything to look at something for them, that I started thinking "I cannot stand this another second"!

Happily, I finished the bracelet today. The catch works perfectly... the grill installed beautifully...the opal set easily, and  it polished up to perfection! As I cleaned the bracelet off after polish and held it complete, it was no longer the difficult bits and pieces that needed to be fabricated and assembled. It was it's own complete object, whole and beautiful. It didn't reflect the struggle or worry that had brought it into it's own. I chatted with a few people about it, called the client to arrange for shipping, and started to relax again.

So this is why I do what I do. Because I am a maker of things, at the end of every project I have something tangible, durable, and beautiful to show for the efforts I have made.

Connections

I've been accused for many years of being a person who over analyzes things. It's true and I have no problem owning it. It comes from being an introvert and the feeling of always being an "outsider". Why
am I not comfortable in that group where everyone else is relaxed, laughing, and grooving on the collective vibe? It's just how I am, and at 47 it's probably not going to change!
   Last night while working in my shop with a friend, she asked me if I was familiar with the music she was playing. I wasn't, but thought it was pretty. The conversation continued with her asking what I do listen to. (This is where the over analyzing comes in.) So, I started listing the artists that I enjoy most. I am most drawn to singer/ songwriter music, often with a folk, bluegrass feel to them. I love the way my favorite artists craft the words. They have a turn of phrase that makes me stop and say "good line". Definitely, without the music behind, the words are poetry!
  I also find I am drawn to the subject that the artist is speaking of. Iris Dement is one of my favorites, as she write songs about her life, how she relates to the process of aging and changing, loss of parents, working and balancing life. Her work speaks to the reality of my own life. Ten years ago I was working in my studio listening to her song that expressed the sorrow of her fathers impending passing. I was wrestling with my own fathers illness, and looking for the strength to become his kidney donor. She, like a dear best friend, helped me make the choice, through her song! I'll never be able to thank her, but I'll always love her for her words!
   To me, this is art at it's very finest. I love a song, a book, a painting that lifts that veil of separation, and let's us see we are all the same. We all have the same needs, suffer the same losses, lose our youth, and move on to the next sphere.

The Whole Life

I just returned from vacation. I recommend it highly to everyone. There is nothing better than stepping out of our normal surroundings and daily life to rest, reflect, and recharge. Crucial, especially for those of us who are dependent on our creativity for our living.

I have to say that even as I had stepped away from my daily life, I didn't really completely stop working. I had a good giggle when one of my co-workers had sent me an email, then chastised me for my prompt response, telling me to stop working! I know that for many people it is easy to compartmentalize their lives, for me that has never been the case. Life, work, play, friends, family all blend together for me into what I think of as a whole. The ideas for some of my favorite designs come to me when I'm far away from my bench! I am looking forward to sitting down at my bench to bring  to life the scribbles I added to my sketch book while I sat on the beach and watched the pelicans in their follow the leader game!

Collaboration

My work as a custom jeweler offers me the opportunity to go where my imagination may not naturally go on it's own. It is a unique collaboration where a person entrusts me with their collected gems and dreams of a one-of-a-kind heirloom piece.

My most recently completed project was a particular joy for me to create. The client is a lovely lady who I've enjoyed a warm relationship with for years. We share a passion for beautiful jewelry and have enjoyed exploring the latest fashions in the cases of The Diamond Cellar.

Her visit to the store one afternoon this summer was the beginning of this most enjoyable project. She arrived, as many customers do, with a sandwich bag of old rings and half pairs of long forgotten earrings set with sapphires and diamonds. She had seen some vintage style jewelry in a recent fashion magazine and had fallen in love with the idea of a "spray" brooch.

I would never have thought to create a brooch because they have not been a much requested item, but think they are fabulous. They can add great drama to an outfit! It was a lively conversation and a quick game of "tic, tac, toe" where we drew out rough sketches to make sure we were on the same page. From the notes I made that day, I made a formal rendering to scale, giving her a solid view of what I was planning.

I loved the whimsy of the curving lines and the challenge of organizing the mismatched gems. I loved designing an object that reflected the richness of a bygone era. Best of all was the response last week from my client when she came in for the final unveiling. There is no question that we worked together to create this beautiful brooch and without her as the catalyst I'd have never had the opportunity to walk that path!

This Creative Brain

It's not unusual to find myself in the middle of the night, wide awake. At times, it's the effect of too much caffeine, or wine. In those cases I wake up and I know immediately that I am paying the price for too much fun. This night is different. Sleep has been interrupted by the crazy, creative mind. It's like auto pilot that won't shut off!

At 1:00 I woke up and remembered I had received notice of acceptance to attend my first trade show in Las Vegas. I had the typical range of emotions to doing something totally new and out of my comfort range, from excitement to terror! I thought about the conversation I had with the producer of the show about booth display, and that was really all it took. I've been building my booth display in my head now for four hours! The robins are starting to sing, and I have a million ideas about how to best display jewelry, to entice buyers into my booth. If only Joanne Fabrics was open right now. I could use all this creative energy and build it immediately before I am scheduled to arrive at work at 9:00.

The irony is that my brain is rarely in sync with the clock or the calendar. When I am working at the store, my brain wants to be in the studio creating. When I am in my studio, I have to wrestle my brain away from the due dates and responsibilities at the store. Somewhere

in between lie the grocery shopping list and the bills to pay. Oh to be able to head over to the Container Store to find the perfect filing organizing system and install it to organize all thoughts to the appropriate place and time!

Inspiration

Inspiration

I am often asked what inspires my work. That question stops me short every time.

The act of designing jewelry is not a direct path for me. The things I create that I

love best, are rarely the items that sell the quickest, or fit into a trend that would bring

commercial success.

The Lily of the Valley Locket I created last summer is the perfect example. It is dear to me because of the memory it evokes and the process that brought it into being. I will not set the fashion or jewelry world on fire making such items, but some things are good for the soul.

The design evolved over the course of a year. It began on a day in my studio when I was frustrated with a task I was working on. (Probably assembling the handmade catches I use in my limited edition pieces, they take extra patience!) It was a warm day in late spring. I grabbed a sketch book and went out into the garden to soothe my mood. Sitting on the stone wall in the sun, next to a bed of flowers I started to sketch what I saw. These little drawings are purely for the pleasure of observing beautiful things and translating them.

I can still remember the breeze in the hemlocks, and hear the argument that is always going on between the small red squirrels that live there and their arch enemies, the

bigger, gray squirrels who live in the gingko tree. The blue jays usually come along to add their two cents. One of the churches bells chime, signaling the time in fifteen minute intervals.

From that day I evolved a small drawing of lily of the valleys in a graphic design, with the intention of creating a print to make my own little note cards. I want to do a whole botanical series to include daffodils, irises, and bleeding hearts as well. I'll get to that one day!

Almost a year later, I found myself looking for some new thing to work on. I often thumb through old sketches and books. I knew I wanted to make a new locket. I love the special intimacy of lockets because they hold what is dearest to you inside. When I came across the drawing I had done the year before it seemed obvious a relief carving of the design I had planned for my note cards would work beautifully.

I had a professor in college who used to speak of the transcendent nature of art. At the time I really couldn't grasp his meaning. Through the process of life, I am beginning to understand. I find inspiration in the beauty of nature and the world around me. I am dazzled by the way other artists translate that beauty into images and objects. Through my own craft, I wish to translate and communicate the beauty I see.