Perhaps it is the changing seasons, but maybe it is something more. I can feel things changing within me.

I haven't been journaling, although I know I should. Time has been a precious thing around these parts lately.

Summer has wrapped up nicely. School has started again (not for me--yay!!) and it's been fun seeing all the new students, as well as returning ones. There have still been adventures--archery, hiking, ventures to the coast (on what was a 90+ degree day in Portland...and it was 20 degrees lower than predicted at the coast). September will be full of birthdays, weddings, and more adventures. I'm definitely looking forward to the slower seasons of fall and winter.

The studio is coming along, slowly. Between working two jobs, working out at the gym, and housesitting, I have rarely seen the inside of it. Yesterday was going to be a big push to get it finished, but we were waylayed by having to take our Siamese cat, Sammy, to the ER Vet. We spent 6 hours there. Today is full of two more vet visits, including one to an internal specialist.  Admittedly, I am struggling to maintain my normal levels of positivity while watching my cat suffer.

In other news, I have been thinking more about my business lately, and all the little things that make it tick. Rather, WILL make it tick. Which social media venues to concentrate on, redesigning my website/blog/etsy, etc. Retailers to pursue, designs, etc. Dave suggested putting wood laminate flooring down in the new studio and for half of yesterday, it was all I could think about. But, I'll be quite happy to just clean and seal the concrete floor and get set up again. Waiting to get set up is giving me the itchies to get working again!

Additionally, I have been thinking about salt. I am pairing up with a good friend (and metalsmith) to collaborate on a piece for Co:Operation Garnish--we are very excited!

More soon!

Summer is winding down here, and with those changes also come new beginnings. Specifically, a new studio for me! We are lucky enough to live in a 4-plex that has studios in the converted garages--one of which I have taken over and am in the process of painting. Admittedly, it's been a long process trying to fit painting in between two jobs, managing apartments, and working out so much. We finally have the coat of primer up and soon will start on the wall color--a beautiful white.

When I first walked into this studio, it was all plywood walls. My hopes of moving in right away were dashed--I knew immediately I needed to make this space my own and make it beautiful. Painting it white cleanses the surface, creates a canvas to build upon. Creates light.

(And living in Oregon, light becomes extremely important come Fall, Winter, and Spring.)

DW has been helping out a lot--caulking cracks and gaps, patching and sanding, installing base trim, and painting. I am so blessed to have such a supportive husband and partner--hopefully he will join me in the studio, working on his own projects.

After we finish painting the walls, I can move my bench in (and paint it before it's in its final place), as well as my hydraulic press, stump, and soldering station. I can't wait to get back to work again!

Thank you for reading.

If you know me well, you know that I am a Jill of All Trades.
Metalsmith, woodworker, nanny, house-sitter, pet-sitter, studio manager.
It all started when I returned to the U.S. from Australia and came back to school. I started nannying, thinking it would be a temporary gig (9 years later....), and slowly families started asking me to watch their pets and homes.

Staying in someone else's home is always a bit funny. There are quirks in each one. Kitchens without salt. Freezers without ice. Fridges without hot sauce (?!). Finding dishes, pots and pans, and cooking utensils can be an adventure. And there are plenty of weird noises at night.

This week I am staying with two adorable, fluffy black and white cats named Fig and Quince. They are lovely boys. The house is quiet and comfortable, with a HUGE back yard and lots of light. As much as I miss my husband and kitties, I love these weeks. I need these times to just be. Here, I cook for myself. I clean up after only myself. I boil eggs, make too many cups of tea, randomly bake things like rhubarb peach cobbler. I catch up on emails, phone calls, and books.

I sit in quiet.
I read.
I don't speak a word.

All I can hear is the kitten boys snoring and the whirring of the central air system.

Right now, this is bliss.

Inspiration comes to me from many corners of my life. I was recently tagged in a 'blog tour' by Amy Tavern, a friend and fellow metalsmith. I have admired Amy's work for many years--not only the end products themselves, but the process that she works through to get there. In more recent years, Amy has branched out in her use of materials and media, bringing her work and concepts to new levels. She recently completed a journey to northern Europe and residency in Iceland.

You can find her blog here and her blog tour post here.


Now, onto a few more blogs that I turn to for inspiration. As I said, inspiration comes to me from many corners. The blogs I read generally have little to do with my own artistic practice--I read them because they bring me joy or beg me to be more introspective with myself. I learn from them. I find comfort in them.



Jillian Lukiwski is a fellow metalsmith (The Noisy Plume) and friend who I have been in touch with for a few years now. Not only do I love Jillian's use of materials and imagery in her metalwork, but in her photography as well. I find so much vibrancy in her words and images--I often save time just to sit and soak it in. If we could all live life the way this firecracker does, the world would be a very different place.

You can find her blog here.




Brittany Chavez is a friend from Oregon College of Art and Craft that I met a few years ago. One thing I love about Brittany is her openness. She is a photographer and writer and has this spectacular talent of being able to make the mundane beautiful. Her writing is honest and vulnerable, often exposing things that people won't normally talk openly about. It is like a breath of fresh air.

You can find her blog here.


Sonya Scott is an incredible metalsmith and designer from Australia. In 2010, she curated a show called Reality Vs. Illusion for which I made three lockets. Sonya has an incredible design sense, and her work is subtle and effective. Her most recent exhibition work, Dripstone, tackled personal subjects beautifully and I cannot wait to see what she creates next.

You can find her blog here.

Thank you for reading!

Real life has been filled with many things...

Friends, who have barbecues, house warming parties, and surprise me multiple times for my birthday.

Gardening, where I find myself in constant battle with rose bushes, and hoping that my baby veggies will grow big and strong.

Adventures with my hubby where we play with horses or climb up hills to the almost-tippy-top.

Running, yoga, and the gym (need I say more? All that thesis energy has to have somewhere to go!)

And work, which is never just one simple job for me but usually the layering of 2-3 different jobs. I prefer to think about the more fun things.

Soon, there will be studio time added into this mix. I don't know how, but it will be.

You can find more here.