Blog

The soul of a people is the arts. The art they make. The art they revere. The art they pursue. Art can provide political commentary, as does Picasso's Guernica in 1937, or speak to the human condition, as does the poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning....

04 February, 2009 /

The suitcases are evidence that the muse has been fed. A year ago I bought some new suitcases just prior to a family trip to Tuscany. Despite my preference for black in most things of apparel (t-shirts, pants, shoes, gloves, etc.) I chose not to purchase...

03 December, 2008 /

During the drive to Quirk Gallery in Richmond, Va., last week, fellow metalsmith Tara F. and I talked about the nuances of the creative life, or, the duties of having been created creative. Quirk Gallery is a fine contemporary craft gallery presenting wonderful work in a...

13 November, 2008 /

On my blog and website, you will see a badge that says, "I TOOK THE HANDMADE PLEDGE/BUYHANDMADE.ORG" I first discovered the Pledge on the website of another metalsmith, checked it out, and signed myself up. So, what is it? Buy Handmade is a consortium of nine...

22 October, 2008 /

Because memories are valuable, and heirlooms help us keep our memories and transfer the stories to the next generations, I am honored to assist families with transferring their heirloom jewelry into the contemporary world. We are able to preserve the memories and enjoy a contemporary...

18 October, 2008 /

When a baby is born, we count. Ten fingers. Ten toes. All is well. At this point, no one knows what will become the function and purpose of those fingers and toes. Will those hands become the hands of a plumber? a chef? a nurse? a...

17 October, 2008 /

There is a wall in my home studio where I find myself displaying quotes or images that inspire me. There are words there from Louis Armstrong, Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Madeleine L'Engle and my dear grandmother, to name a few. I wrote directly on...

11 September, 2008 /

I was not the first jeweler in my town. When I moved into my downtown studio 3 1/2 years ago as one of several resident artists in a collaborative environment, there was already a sign over the studio that read "Jeweler." The assumption was that all...

06 September, 2008 /