jewelry – Tell Me Your Story

My Year Of Creativity (December)

Unedited

The sun has set on 2025 and a new year has begun. Will 2026 be a year of color, with rainbows after a storm? Maybe the sunlight will shine on a field just right, and the glorious hues of the grasses grown will pop? Or the days could be dark, full of angry storm clouds overhead. Although it might be hard, on the darkest days beauty can still be found…the year has just started and what lies ahead is yet unknown.

Nursing a cold that appeared on New Year’s Day, I am reflecting on a year that is now past…in the greater scope of things, 2025 (for lack of a better word) sucked! Last year might have been spent in blissful ignorance, if knowledge of Project 2025 hadn’t urged me to listen to the news. Without tuning in to current events, there would have been little awareness of the chaos that our current administration has set to the world order. In our area things seem to be unchanged. My social media feed would have consisted solely of jewelry reels and hobby sites. Last year a choice was made to see life beyond my own backyard.

In December 2024, I decided that my 2025 New Year’s resolution would be to complete one creative project a month. The year ahead looked like it might have hard changes. For many people the prediction rang true. Being aware of what was taking place within our country caused me to have many negative emotions. The reason for my new year’s intention was this: having something to focus on, would clear the noise that might be rattling around my head. As last year’s door started to close, my husband asked if I thought the creative outlet helped. “Yes, sort of”, was my simple answer.

Paying attention to what was happening, gave me an understanding of where our country seems to be heading. The direction the U.S. is going is very bad. Currently, the one thing that has consequences for me is this: If Project 2025 were to fully go through, my rights as a woman would be severely diminished. As a white female in my late 50’s, turning the clock back to a repressive age might have little bearing, but it would affect our daughters. Equal rights are being challenged: since the overturning of Roe V. Wade reproductive freedoms have been rolled back in many states. In November 2025, the U.S. Department of Education reclassified traditionally female professions (social work, public, health, nursing, teaching…) to non-professional; possibly this is the beginning of time going backward for women. Many more freedoms have already been taken from other populations in our country.

Working on artistic endeavors last year allowed for an escape from the outside chaos. At the beginning of December 2025, there was doubt that I would complete this last month of creativity…one day, during the second week of the 12th month, my knee went out on me while swimming. At first, barely any weight could be placed on my leg and the thought of standing to solder any of my pieces seemed impossible.

Rest was needed because a large portion of my extended family was going to St. Thomas for the holidays. The trip was to celebrate my mother. She is turning 85 in March. I wanted to be in the best walking shape possible when our vacation began. Much to my chagrin, not loving to sit still, time was taken to mend. Bored with the wire wrapped, beaded necklaces, a chain made of wire (that required no soldering) was started.

Early in the month, a class to learn the art of decoupaging shells had been signed up for; this craft of decorating objects with paper was something not done in years! The workshop, was held upstairs in an area that had no elevator. Luckily my knee was stable with a brace and I was able to attend the class:

Two, imperfect, ring dishes were made. An art (lost by me) has now been recovered.

The third week of December turned out to be a busy time: We had the first “big” snow of the year; One of the projects I had started working on in November, was almost finished: a hawk pendant; Another piece, also started in the 11th month, was ruined: a bezel set stone; Lastly, my youngest daughter and I took an enameling workshop.

Experimenting with enameling: front and back of pieces

A few days before we flew to St. Thomas, my chain necklace was finished and the hawk pendant was painted with patina.

On December 24th, it was time to depart for the long planned trip. Although a few months before our matriarch’s actual birthday, this period was chosen because it was the best time for many of my mother’s grandchildren to attend. Unfortunately, we each had one adult child missing. Although it didn’t feel like a winter holiday, it was the first (and probably the last) Christmas that my mother, sister and brother have been together in about 3 decades. A beautiful location had been chosen: the property where we stayed was on a cliff. There were many Iguanas on the rocky shore. Cats and jungle fowl live together. We only stayed for five nights, but there was time for town, the beach and a day of snorkeling. Mostly, for those who don’t see much of my mother, there was the opportunity to celebrate her. This holiday was a nice way to end the year!

12th Month Complete

With this post, “My Year Of Creativity” ends. On my own, I plan to continue to create and write. What form the anecdotes take on this blog is yet to come. Hopefully, some of you will “test the waters” and share your story. Remember, this is why the site was created: for you to tell your tale. The only rule for the narrative (whatever form it takes) is that the account needs to be true…

Author’s note: The new year has already started ominously. Yesterday, I woke up to the news that the our country launched strikes on Caracas, Venezuela. President Maduro and his wife were placed in U.S custody. Although the Venezuelan president is a dictator, the fact that he and his wife were taken has serious implications for the world order. To better understand this please watch Heather Cox Richardson: the last six minutes are the most important.

Heather Cox Richardson:

How U.S. taking out Maduro matters to the world:

Despite the early bad news, I wish you all the best in the year to come and leave you with this:

“Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances”.

-Viktor Frankl

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

My Year Of Creativity

January https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/02/01/my-year-of-creativity/

February https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/07/my-year-of-creativity-2/

March https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/30/my-year-of-creativity-march-2025/

April https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/05/18/my-year-of-creativity-april-2025/

May https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/06/06/my-year-of-creativity-may-2025/

June https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/07/11/my-year-of-creativity-june-2025/

July https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/08/08/my-year-of-creativity-july-2025/

August: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/09/14/my-year-of-creativity-august-2025/

September: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/10/21/my-year-of-creativity-september-2025/

October: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/11/08/my-year-of-creativity-october-2025/

November: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/12/12/my-year-of-creativity-november-2025/

My Year Of Creativity (November 2025)

In early September of 2024, my husband and I went to the Delaware Art Museum’s sculpture garden. Quite taken with The Crying Giant, by Tom Otterness, he became a subject for many photographs.

There have been so many days since January 21, 2025 that I have wanted to put my face in my hands, just like this colossal, yet gentle, figure. The dismay and disbelief over what is happening in this country feels monumental; in the early months there was the desire to weep and, to due lack of sleep, sometimes the tears came.

The mournful sculpture was created in response to the events that transpired on September 11, 2001. That day, which is commonly know as 9/11, terrorists coordinated attacks on the United States. They were part of an Islamist extremist group from several Arab nations. Sadly, Islamophobia began almost immediately on 9/11/01. Hate crimes increased. People, couldn’t see the difference between a religion and an act of terrorism by zealots; this made me sad.

The seeds of bigotry have always been in the soil of this young country; all it takes is a little rhetoric for it to germinate and grow. For those who resided in this nation, it was a horrific time. However, the American people came together on that day and the time following. There was global support: nations around the world held vigils and offered sympathy. 38 large jets landed in Gander, Newfoundland, as planes flying into the United States were diverted. The Canadians opened their homes, churches and schools to the people from these aircrafts. Food and accommodations were provided to thousands of unexpected “guests”.

That day, just over 24 years ago, the attack came from somewhere else. Currently, the horrors come from within our country. Our allies have been pushed away; it is doubtful there are any countries who would rush to our aid now.

By the end of November 2025, the sun seemed to be setting on what was once a country that people from all over the world wanted to be part of. The current administration dismantled so much of what was good about this country; it has rolled back years of progress in medical, social and global relations. Racism, xenophobia, transphobia, antisemitism and misogynistic tendencies are becoming “normalized”. People in the highest offices in this country seem to think it is “OK”: to have people being taken off the streets by masked agents because of the color of their skin; for the leader of our country to verbally attack women in the White House press corps and make derogatory remarks about their appearance; that the man in the Oval Office suggested democratic lawmakers be put to death because they urged service members to disobey illegal orders…. NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE NORMAL!

Paying attention to the news in November, the endearing statue, from the Delaware Art Museum, kept coming to mind. For all the things mentioned previously, there was want to put my head in my hands.

Perhaps it seems like I spend the whole day listening to the news; this is far from the truth. For the most part, my life is full, yet many days are spent in the minutiae (swimming, walking, playing the New York Times puzzles…). In November I didn’t travel very far, most of the month was spent close to home. Time was spent with friends. Some afternoons were occupied by writing my October story. Other periods, following lunch, working on my creative project(s) kept me focused.

As the 11th month came to a close, my mother’s house was visited. The American Thanksgiving holiday was upon us. Knowing Mom would ask everyone at the table what they were thankful for, I began to think. Deciding what to say seemed elusive, as this country’s golden light continued to fade. Then, the realization hit me, although angry with the politics of this country, hope and joy could still be felt.

Hope was present because it was becoming increasingly clear that a majority of Americans are unhappy with the current events. Special elections in November and people speaking out were evidence of the American people being downcast. Joy surrounded me. I have to a loving family, good friends in my corner, a roof over my head, food on the table and the ability to create, learn and travel. There was still much to be grateful for!

I arrived home from my mom’s with one day to finish my creative endeavors. Many projects had been started in November. Only some were finished…

11th Month Complete

This is the first project finished in November. I had been carrying this stone around with me since April. There are three drilled holes, but one didn’t go the whole way through. My bead reamer didn’t help. I had to find a way to cover the holes. Bezel setting seemed to be out of the question, so I tried my hand at wire wrapping by following a reel. This was not as easy as the short film made it look; it turned out clunky! I will probably cut the wire away and eventually try something else for this stone.

My soldering last month focused around closing seams. These three rings are the product of this practice. They were supposed to be pinky rings.The bottom ring is too big. The top ring (which I like the best) is too small. But, like the *Three Bears,* the middle ring is just right!

This ring is made from the handle of this spoon:

My last endeavor to be finished was another wire wrapped necklace made at night in font of the tv. The final bead was place on November 30th.
Making similar necklaces all the time, is becoming tiresome, but repetition helps to build mastery of a skill.

My Year Of Creativity

January https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/02/01/my-year-of-creativity/

February https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/07/my-year-of-creativity-2/

March https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/30/my-year-of-creativity-march-2025/

April https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/05/18/my-year-of-creativity-april-2025/

May https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/06/06/my-year-of-creativity-may-2025/

June https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/07/11/my-year-of-creativity-june-2025/

July https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/08/08/my-year-of-creativity-july-2025/

August: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/09/14/my-year-of-creativity-august-2025/

September: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/10/21/my-year-of-creativity-september-2025/

October: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/11/08/my-year-of-creativity-october-2025/

My Year Of Creativity (October 2025)

Unedited

Authors note: This story begins with a continuation from my September story, if it is not read, you may feel a little lost, here is the link to that story: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/10/21/my-year-of-creativity-september-2025/

On October 1, 2025, I awoke at Ghost Ranch to two pieces of news: the first bit of information was not surprising: the U.S. government had shut down in the wee hours of the morning. The second fact was a text, from Kay, saying: “Sadly I have to go home. That’s the only remedy. I’m already in Albuquerque at the airport…”. The altitude was too high for my friend.

I was angry with myself for not staying at the hospital and taking Kay to the airport. Although grateful for the time we spent together, my heart broke for her. She had planned this getaway as a celebration for a momentous occasion in her life. However, my friend had given me a gift: being invited to travel with her, to this magical place, is an experience I will always treasure.

For me, the first day of October began well before the sun rose. Eventually people in the lodging around me began to awaken. The first person to greet me was one of the women from my class that had become a friend in the few days since we had met. She had traveled from Albuquerque to attend the silversmithing workshop. As I relayed that my roommate had left the ranch, my confusion over the high security in the Española hospital was also expressed. She was sorry Kay had departed. My classmate then confirmed that the bewilderment and somewhat of an uneasy feeling, from the night before at the hospital, was warranted: the unassuming town is considered to be the drug capital of the New Mexico.

Although Kay had left, I wasn’t alone. People at the ranch were welcoming and most meals were eaten with my two friend from class, one woman from Kay’s workshop, as well as various others that were met during our stay. The last three days at Ghost Ranch were busier than the first two; evening hours were spent the at the art studio.

Thursday night I finished my second piece of jewelry: a bracelet with a beveled stone:

Although, still quite a challenge, the process of setting a stone is becoming a little easier. Every time I take a class, in a new location, there are different techniques used; this time I learned to use sawdust underneath the stone to help make it sit properly.

Friday, October 3 was my last full day at the ranch. We had three hours of class that day. Knowing there was not enough time to make something big, I spent my time playing with wire. A ring was made:

This is a different type of ring for me. I am still trying to decide if I like it.

When classwork was finished, we broke for lunch then returned to clean the studio. That evening there was an art show displaying pieces form the various workshops which included: Introduction to Southwest Silversmithing, Visual Journaling, Batik, and Painting (in the style of Georgia O’Keefe?).

Pictures from the Intro to Silversmithing Class portion of the art show. My work is in the middle and those of my two friends are on either side.

Our time was almost over. I have traveled many places, in this country and abroad. The canyon, where Ghost Ranch resides, might be at the top of the list for the most beautiful spot!

Saying goodbye to my Texan friend on Friday night, I wished her well and gave her a hug. Very early Saturday morning, I bid adieu to my friend who lives in Albuquerque, also with an embrace and then was off to the airport.

The trip home was uneventful; there were no flight delays this early in the government shut down. I had time to watch two movies. One film, downloaded before leaving for New Mexico, was The Trial of the Chicago 7; it looked like a suspenseful drama. Shortly after the video started to play, I recognized the name Abbie Hoffman and realized this was based on an event that occurred shortly after my birth.

There were times while watching this historical American legal drama, that I could barely breathe. The protests that led to these men being charged were shown as peaceful. However, the people at the rally were met with extreme police brutality that created a riot. Everything about the trial was taxing and I wondered if Hollywood had sensationalized it. Apparently it was worse in real life. According to time.com,”The Trial of the Chicago 7 Is a Riveting Movie. But the True Story Is Even More Dramatic”(https://time.com/5900527/trial-of-the-chicago-7-true-story/). Bobby Seale was treated so savagely that I felt sick. You might wonder “why didn’t you stop watching the movie?”. The answer is simple: it showed a part of history. Our past should never be ignored for it is the only way to learn from humanity’s mistakes.

The next movie was a light hearted comedy. By the time my plane landed, my nerves were less strained. My husband picked me up at the airport and we talked about our lives since we had last been together. As I got ready for bed, still thinking about the movie from earlier in the day, I felt relieved that we would be in Canada for the next “No Kings ” protest. We were headed to Lake George, New York to spend time with our daughters and then on to our cottage in Muskoka for a week…

Plans sometimes need to be revised, as was evident the next day when my husband tested positive for COVID. We decided that I would head to New York on my own. Our trip to Ontario was canceled. Five days later I was on my way to Lake George. A relaxing long weekend was spent with my two daughters, the boyfriend of my eldest, and their dog.

Although disappointed that my husband and I wouldn’t be heading north of the border, the knowledge that my spaces in our home were a mess did not escape me. Between unpacking and repacking from my summer away, a trip three weeks after I returned home and then this trip, there was some organizing to do.

Traveling home on October 15th, from New York, there was also a decision to be made: would I join the next “No Kings” protests? Both the “Hands Off ” movement in April and the first “No Kings” rally in June had been attended. But this one seemed bigger and more dangerous.

The news was reporting of tear gas being deployed into Chicago’s peaceful protests. Reports of pepper spray being used on nonviolent opposition were also circulating. Knowing that in my county, both the sheriff and county councilman were clearly in line with agenda of the current administration (due to videos they had posted) didn’t make me feel safe. However, having listened to Heather Cox Richardson’s political chat the night before, her words ran through my head: “if you are worried about exercising your free speech and not using it, then you have already lost it”… A resolution was made that if a friend was going, I would go too.

Thursday, while unpacking, I got in touch with friends to see if they would be around for the protest Saturday. Everyone was busy. The thought of going to the protest alone scared me. Technically, a decision had been made because there was no one to go with. Maybe I gave up to soon?

Friday morning, the words from HCR were still in my head. Really, a familiar face was what was needed, someone known that would stand in solidarity with me. There were some like minded women that I knew, but was not close to. I reached out anyway.

In the end, I showed up to the “No Kings” protest. The smiling face of my first husband’s newest ex-wife was there to greet me. The two of us stood in solidarity with about 3000 other people, which had most likely doubled from the amount from June. We were there for America, to show up for our neighbors and to speak out against an administration that is trying to destroy democracy. I waved my American flag. There was joy and unity; chanting and singing; costumes and signs.

Signs and Costumes

“Offred’s” sign reads:

Now I’m awake to the world. I was asleep before. That’s how we let it happen. When they slaughtered Congress, we didn’t wake up. When they blamed terrorists and suspended the Constitution, we didn’t wake up then either. They said it would be temporary. Nothing changes instantaneously. In a gradually heating bathtub, you’d be boiled to death before you knew it.

-Margaret Atwood

…then the dinosaurs danced.

I was happy to be part of the “No Kings” rally, and thankful to stand with someone known to me. This time there was no reason to be scared, but what about the next time? Currently, in this country, we still have the right to speak our grievances but that could change. There is more to be done. In my own quiet way I am trying to push back.

For me, the final 13 days of October were uneventful. The news continued to report terrible things: the AI-generated bombing of excrement on protestors; a temper tantrum exhibited by tearing down of the East Wing of the White House; some of the administration moving to military bases; Snap benefits running out for millions of Americans….

My spaces at home were organized. A boring necklace was made as my creative project of the month. Now that I feel more settled, November will offer more creative time.

10th Month Complete

The necklace is somewhat of a choker style, perhaps a little small. The intent was to pick up the colors of the stone from the necklace I made in New Mexico.

My Year Of Creativity

January https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/02/01/my-year-of-creativity/

February https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/07/my-year-of-creativity-2/

March https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/30/my-year-of-creativity-march-2025/

April https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/05/18/my-year-of-creativity-april-2025/

May https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/06/06/my-year-of-creativity-may-2025/

June https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/07/11/my-year-of-creativity-june-2025/

July https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/08/08/my-year-of-creativity-july-2025/

August: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/09/14/my-year-of-creativity-august-2025/

September: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/10/21/my-year-of-creativity-september-2025/

My Year Of Creativity (September 2025)

Unedited

The Past

In the spring of 2018, I volunteered for an organization called “Girls On The Run” as a coach. The older group, Heart and Sole, is the one I co-led. The younger group, Girls On the Run, was led by “Kay” who was about six years younger than myself. When we first met, the younger coach and I discovered that not only were we born in the same month, but our birthdays were only one day apart.

The first season Kay and I only spoke about the running program. Spring season ended and we each went our separate ways. By the time the two of us started to coach again in autumn, my world had begun to crumble; I was trying very hard to keep it all together. At some point, early in the fall of 2018, Kay and I ran into each other in the post office. Our conversation turned from a normal, every day discussion to a realization that both of us had heavy things that were weighing us down. We decided to meet someday just to get to know each other better.

Although Kay was a pastor, and I didn’t attend church, it dawned on me that this woman could be a good friend: she was easy to talk to and we had some things in common. Between the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019 Kay and I began to go out for lunch, coffee, or walks together. Somehow, we were able to talk about anything and became fast friends. When we first started to spend time with each other, I paid no attention to the news of the country and the world. My focus was on the crises in my own family rather than current events. Kay wasn’t in the dark when it came to outside happenings and my new companion filled me in.

Our friendship took us on walks during the pandemic and (when the weather was cold outside) strolls in the mall. Sadly, Kay moved away in September of 2022. We kept up our camaraderie through texts, as well as phone calls. I still only paid half attention to the news, even when my life got better. In the summer of 2024, when “Project 2025” was the topic of many conversations, I began to take notice. Along with talking about our lives, I was now able to participate in a dialogue ,with Kay, about things happening in current events.

Present Year

I had been hoping to visit Kay late last spring and then the realization hit that it wasn’t going to work for me. One day, in early June of 2025, I received a voice mail from my friend saying that there was “an idea that she wanted to run by me”. As it turned out, my compadre had been looking at a few retreat centers where she might go, to celebrate her 25th year as a Presbyterian pastor. Among the places she was looking, was somewhere called “Ghost Ranch”, in New Mexico. Kay was inviting me to join her for this monumental celebration! There was a workshop of interest to her and silversmithing program for me. A trip was planned for the end of September. All summer I looked forward to the trip with Kay and traveling to a location that, until June, was unknown to me…

While away during the summer months, I kept apprised of what was happening in my home country. By the beginning of September, the current administration was into its 8th month. Democrats and former President Biden were still being blamed for things that were going sideways over half a year later. The juvenile words from the people in the highest office, speaking on our country’s behalf, were tiring!

For months the “us verses them” in the U.S.political news, had been gnawing at me. The name calling for anyone who doesn’t align with the ideals of the current administration was getting worse. Non-believers were (and still are) considered the “enemy from within”. One of the beautiful things about this country has always been freedom of thought, why else would we hold debates before every election? People are not carbon copies of each other….we should all be allowed to have our own beliefs without be called a “foe”.

Although being revolted with the workings of the current government in the country where I reside, traveling home on Labor Day there was tranquility. After being in Canada for almost 2.5 months, I was feeling, calm cool and collected. On the horizon was the trip planned to New Mexico with Kay. As I drove and tuned into some news, there was very little information about the “Workers over Billionaires” protests that had been arranged. Mostly, I heard about the escalating tensions in Chicago…

Ten days after arriving home, came the incident with Jimmy Kimmel and what appeared to be an attack on our freedom of speech; it wasn’t even the middle of September and I was mentally exhausted by the ever terrible news! The anticipation of the upcoming vacation, with a friend that I hadn’t seen in over three years, kept me somewhat distracted. The planned holiday helped me focus on something happy. My creative project for the month became a gift for the confidant who would be traveling with me soon (scroll to the end to see what I created).

On September 25th, with the Government shutdown looming, my friend and I met in the Hertz rental car at the Albuquerque Airport. We spent one evening and two fun days sightseeing before our arrival at Ghost Ranch.

Sightseeing

First Evening: Old Town Albuquerque

Day 1

Petroglyphs National Monument

Museum of International Folk Art

Day 2

Georgia O’Keefe Museum

Georgia O’Keeffe
Series I White & Blue
Flower Shapes, 1919
Oil on board
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Gift of the Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation
O’Keeffe explained that she turned to flowers as subjects and painted them “big” to capture the attention of “busy New Yorkers.” She described her flower paintings as calls to “take time to see.” She also noted that her goal was not to replicate flowers as they appear in nature. O’Keeffe takes a subject historically associated with women and the home and destabilizes the experience of looking at it. Her enlarged flower fragments and folds often leave the viewer without a stable vantage point from which to navigate ambiguity between inner and outer structures. While drawing attention to the reproductive parts of flowering plants, O’Keeffe responded to eroticized readings of these depictions as female reproductive organs by stating:
“When people read erotic symbols into my paintings, they’re really talking about their own affairs.”

*Caption taken directly from the description on the wall, next to the painting in The Georgia O’Keefe Museum*

Museum of Indian Art and Culture

Bandelier National Monument

After visiting Bandelier, we spent the night in a town called White Rock. The elevation of the town is 6,375 feet above sea level. While this is a “moderate altitude” by some definitions, people living in low altitude areas might feel the effects. Having a slight headache before bed, I decided I was dehydrated. Kay felt “off”, maybe she was also in need of some water?

On Sunday, September 28th, my friend and I arrived at Ghost Ranch: the summer home of Georgia O’Keeffe. At the lowest level we were at an altitude of approximately 6500 feet. Up first, was a tour that started at the original entrance to Ghost ranch. We drove (and walked) on the dirt road that ran along the red hills and beautiful surroundings that artist loved to paint.

When our tour was finished, we ate lunch, then heard the storied history of Ghost Ranch. The land, encompassing over 21,000 acres, was once a place where dinosaurs roamed, cattle rustlers lived and famous people visited; this place has a long and rich past. The present holds different stories: people from all over the country (and the world) come to explore the land, the classes or possibly just the stillness of the impressive landscape at what is now an education and retreat center.

By mid afternoon we were ready to settle into our accommodations: a rustic adobe style building on top of a mesa. Soon our neighbors began to arrive. The women, in the rooms on either side our ours, were also taking the same silversmithing class as me. As the afternoon and evening progressed, I felt the excitement of the first days of college in somewhat of a camp like atmosphere. Most of all, the noise from the outside world was trapped outside the canyon…the destruction of our country’s political system seemed to be a world away!

Sunset outside the dining hall, as we wait to meet with the instructors and our classmates, after dinner on the first night.

Sunrise seen from the mesa: my first morning at Ghost Ranch

The next two days were busy: breakfast, lunch and dinner were all held at set times. Kay and I ate most meals together. She still wasn’t feeling quite right. My travel companion started drinking electrolytes on the advice of her classmates. Why didn’t I think to suggest this?

Educational programs were held from 9-12:00, the again from 1:30-3:30 (typically we stayed working in out space until 4). There was an option, for those in the silversmithing workshop, to return at night from 7-8. I did not work in in the studio either of the first two nights. Monday night, Kay and I along with our neighbors (who I became friends with), took the time to marvel as the sun set.

Sunset from the Mesa

*Every time I turned around, I saw beautiful textures and colors in the clouds!*

Unfortunately, by Tuesday morning my friend wasn’t feeling any better. She wanted to see the nurse, but each time she visited the health trailer, the professional wasn’t in…

On September 30, my first piece of jewelry was finished by the end of class.

The pendent on this necklace is an overlay; this is a technique where a design, cut from one metal is soldered on top of another piece of metal, I used silver for both pieces. The back was run through the rolling mill with a pattern, then once cut, soldered and finished, I used patina to make it black.

I decided to go on a hike before dinner, as there was a short, easy hiking trail close to the art center. Kay wasn’t feeling up to it, so I gave her the key to the rental car and we made a plan to meet for dinner. What should have been a three mile hike turned into about half that. Alone I walked in the majestic landscape.

Reaching a creek bed with no definitive trail on the other side, I turned back. Better to not push my luck knowing there were signs of a mountain lion and bears on the property, not to mention rattle snakes and tarantulas!

Turning back was fortunate. When I reached the nurses station, The visiting practitioner was there, I contacted Kay and immediately she went to see the nurse. Sadly, the altitude had really gotten to my friend; it was decided that I would drive her to the emergency room in the nearest town with a hospital: Española. Kay thought that going home might be what the doctor would recommend, so we went back to our room and packed up her belongings. My travel companion said that she wanted me to stay and finish my class.

Not sure I would be able to drive the five hour, round trip, to the Albuquerque airport after being in the emergency room that night, I expressed this to my friend. She said something akin to: “You are not going to stay in the emergency room with me, I know how long these visits take.” She went on to say “If I can return to Ghost Ranch I will get a a hotel room for the night”. Lastly she said “If I need to fly home, I will get a ride to the airport.

We arrived at the unassuming town somewhere around 8, it was after dark. Toting my confidant’s backpack and rolling her suitcase, I followed behind Kay as she walked through the emergency room doors. There were signs on the doors that I see in city hospitals: “No Firearms, No Weapons”. Thinking this was strange for a town in the middle of the mountains, I proceeded to go through a metal detector, setting the alarms off. Nobody stopped me.

My friend was admitted and we said our goodbyes. We both hoped that her health was okay and I would able to pick her up the next day.

Feeling badly for my friend at the hospital, I arrived back at Ghost Ranch shortly after 9 that Tuesday night….

(To be continued)

9th Month Complete

This is the present I gave Kay. The pictures were taken quickly the night before I left for New Mexico, so unknown to me they were really poor pictures! What ever I was wearing at the time, reflected in the silver of the crosses. Some manipulating was done of the photographs to make them look a little better. Only the center picture was left in color; the reflection of the hue from my shirt is still somewhat there.

**The gift Incorporated some symbolism of Christianity and the Presbyterian church:**

The Necklace
Made of 12 turquoise beads to represent the Twelve Apostles. Next there are sets of 3 beads to represent The Trinity. Each set of tree is subtly broken into 4 groups to represent the Four Evangelists.

There is no meaning behind the turquoise beads, they just felt right as I was making my selection.

The Crosses:
I learned that the Presbyterian cross is typically a Celtic cross. The first cross I made was too small for the circle to fit on. The Second one, to the right, I felt was too large and awkward. The third cross, on the left, had some issues as well, but I was able to make it work.

There is no question that this gift was made by hand!

My Year Of Creativity

January https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/02/01/my-year-of-creativity/

February https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/07/my-year-of-creativity-2/

March https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/30/my-year-of-creativity-march-2025/

April https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/05/18/my-year-of-creativity-april-2025/

May https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/06/06/my-year-of-creativity-may-2025/

June https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/07/11/my-year-of-creativity-june-2025/

July https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/08/08/my-year-of-creativity-july-2025/

August: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/09/14/my-year-of-creativity-august-2025/

My Year Of Creativity (August 2025)

Unedited

When summer begins (with almost 15 hours of daylight) I always think there is so much time to enjoy the days that lie ahead of me: to see people I haven’t seen since the summer before, or spend time with my loved ones at the cottage. I always expect there will be room in the months I am in Muskoka for endless kayak paddles or swims in the lake, but the moments seem to go by so fast!

In the past, the 8th month marked the beginning of the end of summer. This year however, at the start of August, the time left in this warmest season felt infinite. The month began with warm days and cool nights. With the perfect days, I expected to practice soldering my jewelry work after lunch. Unfortunately, an idea for my creative project was no where in my mind….

One morning as I was walking down the outside stairs from the bunkie, with my AirPods in, there was an on odd noise. Was it the creaking of the stairs? When I reached the bottom stair, the noise intensified. My morning news was muted so that the sound could be determined. The realization hit me: I was hearing a duck! I looked around the corner, and sure enough, there was a lone female mallard quacking in the direction of a loon on the lake. As I positioned my phone to take a picture, she flew off.

The thought of the duck flying away lingered in my mind. An idea formulated: I would use this picture for the back of a bezeled stone; it would add interest to the wearer, but wouldn’t be seen by others. My stone was picked out and a design was made by transforming the mallard picture to something I could use as a template.

While my work was being done, I listened to the news; it was never good. Unfortunately, horrible things were happening in the United States in August and it appeared our democracy had crumbled. Somehow, I felt fairly calm. Was I becoming somewhat numb to the news? Or were the sources where my news was obtained giving me hope and little laughter in the face of darkness? Probably all three of those things were somewhat true and possibly, the summer had worked its magic on me.

Just as it was reported that Trump was going to meet with Putin in Alaska, and Federal troops were going to be activated in D.C., my design started to take shape. The pendant back was cut out and the bezel wire was ready to be soldered on: it was time to use the butane torch.

I had planned to solder the pieces of the bezel cup together, at a table, outside on the deck. Unluckily, the weather changed to reflect some of the hottest temperatures I have ever experienced in our non air conditioned cottage. The temperatures had reached the low 90’s; there was no way I was going to add more heat to my surroundings!

Time, however was spent in and on the lake… away from the news. Just before leaving Muskoka, my sister mentioned that she had paddled into the nearby marsh. I thought it was too overgrown, so my kayak had not taken me that far. On one of those sultry August days, I ventured to the swampy area. As I entered the bay, the Water Lilly’s met me. Paddling on, a beautiful fairyland of Forget Me Not flowers, Lythrum, Pickerelweed, Duckweed and grasses lay ahead of me; it was well worth going out in the heat to explore! Sadly my phone was left at the cottage, so pictures would have to be taken at a later date…

Mid August came all too soon. I had soldered nothing by the time six days were spent away from the cottage! Traveling to upstate New York, my husband and I spent some extra time with our daughters, before moving our youngest to college for her freshman year.

When my husband and I arrived back to Muskoka on August 20th, there was only a week and a half left of my summer at the lake; there was so much I still wanted to do those last days! Yet, the promise (to myself) of one creative project a month had not yet happened.

For two days I tried my best to make a bezel cup, using the cut out pendant back and fine silver bezel wire. The project failed. The fine silver seemed to bend too much and I couldn’t get the wire to sit flat on the backing. My plans had to pivot, but I didn’t want to waste the metal…

A break was taken away from “jeweler’s bench” while the next step was contemplated. During this time, I went paddling to the pretty marsh. Pictures were taken. In the week and a half since I had last been the swampy area, some of the wildflowers had died back, but it was still pretty.

That afternoon, I decided to use the bezel wire (already soldered closed) to encase the stone. My project was no where near finished. Progress was interrupted the next day, as I attended a class to learn how to use resin. The four hour workshop, which was located an hour away from my cottage, was great! We made pendants (or earrings) start to finish: from making and soldering the wire frame, securing the jump ring on the the top and then layering resin and flowers together. I still had the recent kayak trip in my mind, so I chose flowers that reminded me of the marsh.

Driving back to my summer home, after my class, the realization hit me that in one week’s time I would no longer be in Muskoka.

As the sun rose the next day, it danced behind the clouds like fire in the tree tops. There was less than a week left, but the appearance of the “flames” in the sky, ignited my creativity for the following days and I got to work.

Cold weather seeped into Muskoka. I went in the lake once, during that period, for 40 minutes; the water temperature was about 68 degrees. Even for me (a life long swimmer) that was a little cold. Most days it was windy. Due to the wind there were no more moments spent kayaking, but there was time to for artistic pursuits.

One evening, just before it rained, my husband and I went on a boat ride. The clouds were majestic, the kind that always remind me of the summer’s end: fluffy and piled high; some looked like mountains rising above the islands, while others seemed to have heavens light shining from behind.

The final week was busy, but not fraught: my husband and I spent two mornings at nearby farmer’s markets; there were last visits with family and friends; and the promise made to myself, at the New Year, was fulfilled. By the 30th of August, the northern days were noticeably shorter…almost two hours less than when I had arrived. Perhaps I didn’t get to do everything I had wanted to do over the summer, but I was happy to just be there.

8th Month Complete

My Year Of Creativity

January https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/02/01/my-year-of-creativity/

February https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/07/my-year-of-creativity-2/

March https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/30/my-year-of-creativity-march-2025/

April https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/05/18/my-year-of-creativity-april-2025/

May https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/06/06/my-year-of-creativity-may-2025/

June https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/07/11/my-year-of-creativity-june-2025/

July https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/08/08/my-year-of-creativity-july-2025/

My Year Of Creativity (July 2025)

Unedited

In stories previously written by me, before my launch into My Year Of Creativity, there was mention that I spend time each summer in a place called Muskoka; for four generations my family has had a summer home here. Our cottage has a hemlock forest, that mingles with other trees, behind it and borders a lake.

Over the last several summers, the birds that I have heard or seen, seem to resonate with my mood. In the summer of 2019, the Loons, with their mournful cry reached out to the sadness in my soul. Between the summers of 2021-2024, there were many sightings of my favorite bird: The Great Blue Heron; this magnificent bird can stand for long periods, calmly waiting for its prey. Those years, the peaceful patience of those wonderful birds was felt by me as the crises our family had gone through began to settle.

This summer, I have been in Muskoka since mid June. Upon arrival, my mood was full of anger and dismay as the rule of law in the United States seemed to be crumbling. As I started to unload my car, at my northern home, the call of the Raven reached my ears. These birds are extremely intelligent and look somewhat like large crows. They have a call that is not gentle, resembling my state of mind. Have you heard the “grunk” of a Raven? Looking up at the hemlocks in the forest, I took this video so their sound could be recorded.

“This is what my creative project will be for the month of July, I thought: a Raven Pendant”. At the time the recording was being filmed, the realization struck that green beads were also going to be worked with, to reflect the colors in the forest.

In early July, my family came and went in waves. When there was spare time, I worked on my pendant. Despite several mistakes, the pendant was finished in mid July. My Raven looks more like a crow or a blackbird, so another attempt at this bird might be in my future. The necklace took longer. By the end of the month, I could finally feel myself leaning into the land and nature that encompasses Muskoka….

________________________________________________

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The Land That Is Muskoka: Through My Lens

Muskoka is located in Ontario, Canada. This part of Ontario is a district municipality, with over 1000 lakes. The lakes and rivers were carved in prehistoric times by retreating glaciers; it is in the southern tip of the Canadian Shield. The land is marked by boulders and bedrock; windswept trees and dense forests; and lakes….so many lakes!

*https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dqpuopoachKJ6eYMK2uHrW_hExtp88e4/view?pli=1*

Just as the natural elements are embedded in the land, I am rooted to Muskoka. My parents met here. I spent the summers of my youth in this beautiful land. By my mid 20’s, I came up for only a week or two each summer. When my youngest child was 7, and I was in my mid-40’s, we started to spend more time in our beloved summer home. During the years my kids were younger, we stayed pretty close to our cottage.

The year the world locked down, we couldn’t cross the border; this was only the second summer in my 50+ year that I hadn’t stepped foot in Muskoka. When the land borders reopened in the summer of 2021, a few members of my family took advantage of the good news and drove to our cottage for what little time was left that summer. Our property had barely been touched for almost two years; it seemed like a fairy land with moss covering the road that lead to our cottage, as well as the path to the beach. I had always loved the beauty a of Muskoka, but it wasn’t until the summer of 2021 that I truly appreciated the grandeur and magnitude of the area.

In the summer of 2022, with my youngest daughter, I explored areas in Muskoka (and beyond) where I had never ventured. The next year, with my husband, there was more travel around the region. During those outings, I gained new insight to the beauty beyond “cottage country”. Please join me in a trip to Muskoka:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

_________________________________________________

…today is August 8, 2025. I completed my green necklace on July 30th, with the clasp being added August 1st. Although I keep myself apprised of what is happening south of the border, the time I have spent here has provided respite from the anxiousness felt at home. Like the past few summers, there was hope for a summer of wonderful creations made by me; this hasn’t happened. Time has been spent with family and friends, or by the water (as the temperature up here seems to be increasing every summer). There is no current plan for my August project, so we will see what happens.

Seventh Month Complete

My Year Of Creativity

January https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/02/01/my-year-of-creativity/

February https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/07/my-year-of-creativity-2/

March https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/30/my-year-of-creativity-march-2025/

April https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/05/18/my-year-of-creativity-april-2025/

May https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/06/06/my-year-of-creativity-may-2025/

My Year Of Creativity (May 2025)

In early May, my husband and I flew to Northern California. We joined our eldest daughter. She was beginning a new path in life and would be celebrating her 25th birthday this summer; this was an early birthday present from us to her. For 11 full days, we enjoyed the sun and surroundings. I was somewhat (but not completely) tuned out to the state of affairs within our country. The world around me went on, as life should.

Our travels started in vineyards to the north of San Francisco,

Sonoma Valley: Bartholomew Estate Winery

Then we traveled west to the sea,

Day trip to Bodega Bay

On our way back east to the wine country, for one more night, we stopped at a redwood grove:

LandPaths Grove of Old Trees

After three nights in The Sonoma Valley, down the coast we went, through a redwood forest that was devastated by a record breaking number of lightning strikes in 2020.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Look at the top of the trees, and compare them to the first redwood grove we visited. This picture shows new growth and resilience in nature.

On we Drove to stay in Carmel-By-The-Sea.

Some early mornings and late afternoons were spent at the nearby Carmel River State Beach:

Day trips were taken from The Carmel River Inn:

Day 1:

Monterey Bay Aquarium and some of the surrounding area:

Day 2:

Harbor seals and other wildlife at Point Lobos State Natural Preserve:

Then the Pacific Coast Highway took us a little farther south to Big Sur:

Day 3:

Our last day staying in Carmel-By-The- Sea we went on a 17 mile drive: Pebble Beach:

Do the Nesting Brandt’s Cormorants live harmoniously with the sea lions? What happens when the eggs hatch, do the sea lions have a tasty snack?

We ended our trip to spend time with my sister and brother-in-law in San Francisco:

In and around San Francisco

**Area of silence at the De Young Art Museum**

Our trip was amazing! However a realization struck me: if I wasn’t paying attention to any news, the state of our country would appear normal….

It wasn’t until the third week in May that I began my creative project for the month. The focus was on a knotted necklace, made a few years back; it was rarely worn, as it was too long for me. I loved the beads: they reminded me of the sea, sand and colors in shells.

The necklace was taken apart to find a new form.

In the afternoons, those last two weeks of May, I worked on a second project. For some reason, I wanted to try my hand at a pelican pendant. While I sawed, soldered, sanded and did other things to transform a piece of silver, the book ‘The Prince of Tides’ played through my AirPods. The book was read years ago. In April, when I began listening to it, there was a need to to listen to something that I was familiar with. The audio book is almost 26 hours long. When I was near the end of fashioning my pendant, just over 2 hours from the end of the book, one of the characters quoted this:

“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. – That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”

Thomas Jefferson

The Declaration Of Independence

This made me take pause. I had forgotten this important piece of history. Scrolling back, these words were listened to again. If I am not mistaken, The Constitution was created to uphold the principles set forth in The Declaration of Independence. The government is changing. As Americans, we should have the right to stop the movement toward a facisist or theocratic nation; after all we are (currently) “The land of the free and home of the brave”…

Emotionally and mentally, I am in a different place than March or April. Maybe almost a month of traveling (back to back trips to Western Maryland, Toronto and California) helped me. My head continues to be kept above the sand: I listen to the news, but not as much. When something is heard that seems over the top, they are fact checked.Two people with an online presence, Heather Cox Richardson and Robert Reich, help break down the news and explain what is happening for me. By the end of May, I was beginning to have hope. The courts, organizations, and people were pushing back against what is happening in our country. I choose to believe that our nation will be as resilient as the trees we saw in the redwood forest…..

Fifth Month Complete

I still need a lot of practice on my silver pieces; especially work on my sanding and polishing

My Year Of Creativity

January https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/02/01/my-year-of-creativity/

February https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/07/my-year-of-creativity-2/

March https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/30/my-year-of-creativity-march-2025/

April https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/05/18/my-year-of-creativity-april-2025/

My Year Of Creativity (April 2025)

April was long, yet at the same time it is hard to believe May is half over. I have been traveling for the better part of a month. No creative project has been started; we’ll see what happens…

On April 1st, I decide to devote my creative work (well most of it) to a color that calms me. A little tranquility was needed because sleep, something I have always taken for granted, had been “shallow” since mid January. I had been struggling with the use of a CPAP machine, having been diagnosed (in late December) with sleep apnea. I am one of those people who has this sleep issue, not because of being overly heavy, but just because I have a small airway. The lack of sleep, in combination with the anxiety and fear that I feel due to what has been taking place in our country, was starting to weigh me down.

Blue, and shades of it, has long been my best-loved color. Although I tend to wear a lot of black, I have always found this color calming. Maybe this is because swimming is one of my favorite activities. Shades of blue can be found in many bodies of water. Where there is water, I can swim. On the very first day I began to devote myself the the immersion of blue: my first fired pot, from pottery class, was painted various hues of my favorite color:

Although I felt peaceful after my class, the ongoing news (of our economy spiraling; public institutions being dismantled; DOGE having their hands on everything; good works being defunded…) was not helping my overall frame of mind. Saturday, April 5, I did two things that helped my mood: the first activity was joining a group that was removing invasive plants in our area; it felt good to be working outside and focusing on something different than politics! The second thing I did was join the “Hands Off Movement”, a peaceful rally in our red county. Just as in February, standing among strangers united for a common cause, I felt empowered. That evening, the necklace I started in March (not blue), was finished.

I think of many of my creations as prototypes; there is always room for improvement. The clasp on this necklace is on the front, and interchangeable closures were made with different beads.

On April 7, my husband suggested we visit the Smithsonian. We hadn’t been in years. When my spouse presented me with this opportunity, I jumped at the chance. In March, the President Of The United States announced an executive order to try and make changes at the Smithsonian Institution; it was important to me to see these places, once again, before the “restoring of Truth and Sanity to American History”. The first museum we visited was the National American Museum of History; this had always been my favorite museum. Then we went to the National Museum Of African American History; the last time we were in Washington, DC, was shortly after it opened, and it was hard to get into. Unfortunately the day was getting late, so we only stayed at the second museum for a short while. As we left D.C. I was overwhelmed by how far we had come as a country and, at the same time, was filled with trepidation that our predecessors mistakes might be covered up.

April 15th, I received my second finished piece from my pottery class:

My plan for my creative project in April, was to immerse myself in learning how to make a bezel from start to finish: soldering bezel wire to a metal base, sawing the form out, filing, sanding and finally setting a blue stone. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any bezel wire.

Instead of jewelry work in the afternoons, I decided to look at a file box my father had kept for me. The early years took me back to first grade; this was the era of “Free To Be You And Me”( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_to_Be…_You_and_Me). I found solace in reliving my younger years. A story was written and published in mid April:

The Dabbler
https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/04/21/the-dabbler/

Many years ago my sister had been on a trip around the world and brought beads back. Then, a few years back, she gave them to me. At night, I worked on a necklace for my eldest sibling. The stones I chose to work with were blue; they were hard to work with as they were chipped stone of different sizes and shapes.

Meanwhile, current events continued to weigh me down. In mid April, I awoke to the news that the president decided to sunset all environmental regulations made in the last 100 years:

Presidential Action

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/zero-based-regulatory-budgeting-to-unleash-american-energy/.

Presidential Action more easily explained

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/17/nx-s1-5366814/endangered-species-act-change-harm-trump-rule

Mentioning this to my husband, he politely told me he wasn’t in the mood to hear any type of political news. Respecting his request, my rant remained silent. In fact, I tried hard not to talk about anything political for almost a week…

The 4th Tuesday in April, during pottery class, I received my finished vase and painted a large pinch pot (see pictures at the bottom of the story):

At the end of that week, we spent two days with our youngest daughter Appalachia. I had barely listened to the news for 5 days. Time was spent in nature and I felt happy and relatively calm.

The day we arrived home from our visit with our daughter, we found out one of our own was touched by DOGE. A job that was a volunteer position, where only a stipend was being paid, was dismantled. I was seeing red! I was angry, but at the same time so sad. Why were good works the target of our new government? What happened to empathy?

I packed for a three day trip to Toronto, the day after the news hit home. While packing, my AirPods played the streaming sit-in of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Cory Booker. Realizing there were still people who could make a differences, pushing against the destruction of the United States, relieved some of the feelings of the day before…they were making “Good Trouble”.

The last three days of April, I traveled to and from Canada, with one day in between (to attend a remembrance for a family friend who had died). The necklace was finished the night before I left for the memorial service:

The large blue pinch pot made and the stages:

My Year Of Creativity

January https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/02/01/my-year-of-creativity/

February https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/07/my-year-of-creativity-2/

March: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/30/my-year-of-creativity-march-2025/

“The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience….. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”

– Carl Sagan

The Dabbler

Unedited

Last Tuesday, shortly after my three hour pottery class had ended, I found out that it was “World Art Day”. Apparently, every April 15, the fine arts are recognized and awareness of creativity worldwide is promoted. In 2012 The IAA/AIAP and UNESCO started this day of celebration, to coincide with Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday. Finding out that I had unknowingly marked this special day made me happy.

From an early age, I wanted to be an artist: my passion was to do anything creative painting, drawing, sewing… The dream never came to fruition. Dabbling in the arts is what I have done throughout my life. Here is my story:

There was not a great deal of talent when it came to figure drawing, but I didn’t notice or care.

My favorite pastime when I was little, was sewing. I learned to use a needle and thread at a young age. Many hours were spent creating plush animals.

At the age of 12, I made my first earrings by drilling holes in two Canadian dimes with a push drill. Not really know how to insert the drill bit properly, at one point the drill slipped and the bit went through the flesh of my middle finger. I persevered and finished the holes the same evening. They earrings were basic, with some metal ear wires.

I remade these earrings, probably in my early 20’s, they now belong to my youngest daughter.

In college I had no idea what my focus of study should be. Stupidly I chose English as my major, because I loved to read and write, art was my minor because creating had always been a part of who I was.

The studio art classes were my favorite. My sophomore year, I took silk screening. I spent hours in the art studio working on my projects. The process of figuring out what the image was going to be, preparing the screen and using the inks in layers, to create a print, was so much fun!

This was a project for class, I think we needed to choose something from current events, so I chose the AIDS Crises, as there were still so many questions around this disease.

This picture of my print is poor. The words around the figure say this:
Top: Is the blood Supply Really Safe?
Left: Can You Touch Someone Who Has AIDS?
Right: AIDS and “straights”
Bottom: Will you get AIDS from kissing?

At the very bottom:
“‘ THERE ARE NO MORAL OR IMMORAL DISEASES….
ILLNESS IS NOT A PUNISHMENT FOR SIN”
-HA. Katchadourian

I studied in London my junior year of college. The first semester I took a photography class, this was before digital cameras. The pictures were shot in black and white, as part of the class was learned to develop the film.

Here are a few of my photographs:

I became a volunteer with the Jesuit Volunteer corps, late in the summer, after graduating from college. My job was working with young children in a federally funded research project. Apparently, I continued not try my hand at some simplistic renderings …here are some things I found from that year:

I worked for two years as an assistant teacher, then went back to school and received my Master’s Of Education. My course of study specialized in teaching through the arts. The idea of this program was to incorporate art into every aspect of learning. Unfortunately, I found this was hard to do in public education and in most school settings.

I had one great year, teaching Kindergarten at a day care, where I created my whole curriculum and was able to use what I learned in school. The pay was poor, the hours were long, but I enjoyed the work. At the end of the year, I moved to another state.

The year before my kindergarten position, I spent substitute teaching. For a little while, one evening a week was spent at a quilting class. Once again I found myself working with Fiber Art.

Time went by. I focused on teaching, was married and separated with a child on the way. Just before my daughter turned one, I found myself spending hours in my garden while she was with her father. Gardening was therapeutic and I had no desire to go back to teaching, thus landscape design caught my interest. The fall after my only child (at the time) turned one and my divorce was final, I started taking classes that would fulfill my need for creativity and perhaps lead to a future career.

Various projects worked on throughout the class.

I loved the classes, and did well on my projects. Then I learned the hard truth of working as a landscape designer: “You need to be able to sell yourself” and that wasn’t my strong point.

Just after 9/11, the year I took my landscape classes, I met my husband. We were married a little over a year after we met. Life went on and there was little time to think or work on my own creative endeavors. Lack of artistic undertakings didn’t phase me because, despite some hard times, I loved my life and my family.

In 2018 life took us on a roller coaster ride By mid 2019 I found myself needing a creative outlet, and I started working with beads and jewelry once again. Many necklaces were made between 2019 and 2022.

During COVID, along with the beginning of beadwork, I started crocheting a king size blanket; it was finished it late in 2020.

In the fall of 2022, I discovered a jewelry center that offered classes, My first class was a four week class teaching us how to saw, rivet and patina silver nickel. Ee could create a large pendant or key chain. With that class I was hooked!

I have continued to take metal classes and work on jewelry in my own time. For now, wearable art is my creative outlet of choice.

Many different artistic pursuits have been tried over the years. I have never stuck with one long enough to perfect the art form. This is why I call myself a dabbler. Could I call myself an artist if a focus was chosen and continually practiced? Perhaps. Maybe if my newest pursuit continues, in 20 years (at the age of 76), I will allow myself the title.

My Year Of Creativity (February 2025)

(unedited)

Well over a year ago, knowing my enjoyment of beading, my husband said to me: “You should go to the Tucson Gem And Mineral Show”. The summer of 2024 came and my spouse asked: “have you looked into the show in Arizona?”. My response was “No, but I will”. After a little research into the largest gem show in the world, I told my other half that it looked overwhelming and it probably wasn’t for me. He was surprised and then said “Aren’t there any jewelry workshops you can take?” I did some more investigating and found that he was right….

At the end of January, my husband and I traveled to Arizona. We spent a few days in Sedona, hiking and touring the high desert. The colors of the ancient red rocks, once under a sea, were breathtaking! Walking through this desert was somewhat like walking into a painting.

When our time in Sedona was over, we drove to Tucson. I spent a day and a half in two workshops, but neither of the things I made could become my creative piece for the month.

The first day was a water casting class. Water casting is a process where metal is melted and cast into a bowl of water, the water essentially freezes the metal to create an organic form. We made “cups”. This process was learned, but so much more was involved: hammering the metal; making a bail (the piece that attaches a pendent to a chain); then soldering everything (including a bezel cup) to the transformed silver shape; lastly, the gemstones were secured.

February 2, 2025: Water Casting

This piece couldn’t be my creative project for the month, as it wasn’t solely my work. I needed to use a bail that the instructor had on hand. My connector was too small; this is something to work on: finding the sweet spot where the chain fits through the loop, yet the bail isn’t too large. The class ran overtime by at least an hour. The last things to place were the gemstones. My bezel work is slow, so I had help to complete the pendent.

The second day, was learning to solder fine chain; this was a shorter class, with the same instructor. I had been looking for a class like this. We learned how to attach a jump ring to a premade chain, by soldering it together without melting everything. Again, this workshop provided much more than just learning the initial process: a hammered circle was made; it was attached to the chain where I had soldered the jump rings, then the circle was fused shut. Finally a bezel cup was joined to the circle and a gemstone was secured as very last step.

February 3, 2025: Soldering Fine Chain

Our workshop went overtime by about an hour or more. Once again, help was needed securing the stone. Since I had some help with this necklace, it also couldn’t be my creative project for the month.

Although the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show was as overwhelming as it looked, I would absolutely go again, if only to participate in some wonderful classes! Attending only one location was my goal. However, my husband and I decided to go to one of the “Big 3” together; it was the 22nd Street Mineral & Fossil Show and well worth the time.

My spouse and I spent a few more days in Tucson, exploring the area and the desert that surrounds it. The Sonoran Desert has a very different landscape from the high desert in Sedona; the colors are mute in comparison, with rugged mountains, and plenty of cacti. The arid landscape is beautiful in its own way.

After over a week away, our time in Arizona came to an end. Once settled back into routine, I wanted to practice my soldering skills and make something special for my daughter’s birthday; it needed to mean something to both of us….

Along with the dinosaur-like bird from my January story ( https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/02/01/my-year-of-creativity/ ), I had two more metal cutouts that sat on my workbench for months. These pieces of metal were from jewelry made last summer (the first being the heron pendant in my last post).

Each time my youngest came home this past fall, she said: “you should make something with those”, referring to the tree and the bird. As I mulled over what to make for her birthday, I realized that the tree was somewhat a symbol of the many adventures we had together.

One of many road trips taken with my youngest child in the summer of 2022. This was on the Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada. Do you know which tree I used for the wearable art?

For my daughter’s present, a necklace and pendent (both applied with patina) were created. The bail is too big, but eventually it will be fixed.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”

-Saying attributed to William Edward Hickson

2nd month complete

(The story took longer than anticipated, but the present was finished on February 21st)