2024 has been a tumultuous year so far, full of twists and turns, switchbacks, and unexpected expenses. Intermixed with all of the good things is an equal balance of things that are constantly making me check myself, question my decisions, shuffle aside dreams in favor of money, and have to constantly remind myself that nothing is permanent. This too shall pass.
It hasn't all been bad. I am making good progress in healing my body, which is the goal for this year (Word of the Year: HEAL). I work in a wonderful atmosphere with lovely customers and coworkers who I adore. David and I go on walks at a nearby lake, and on adventures regularly. I get to spend time with family and loved ones. All in all, things are good, but consistently fielding hits to the bank account and dreams is definitely draining. In addition, we live in a generally chaotic shared household, and it is wearing on us.
So, lets take a little trip down memory lane of the past 6 months and pull out the good things to boost us up, shall we? I want to be real here, but not completely down and out!
In February, I flew to Australia for the first time in 20 years, to visit a dear friend who is living with Aphasia. I stayed with her for a week, navigating her world and going on little adventures with her and her family. It was heart warming but difficult at the same time, and impossible to put into words.
I am so grateful I got to spend some time with her and am absolutely planning on visiting again next year. With Aphasia, which can turn into dementia, there's this feeling of racing against time. Racing to get things in before the really hard parts start. Heart warming + Heart breaking.
After staying with my friend, I headed up to Adelaide for a week to spend time with old Uni friends and visit the city that I lived in for three years. I also managed to squeeze in a few art shows and Fringe Festival performances! It was wonderful.
I was welcomed back by old friends with so much joy and grace, it felt like coming home. I visited the South Australian Gallery, the Museum, Zu Design, Adelaide Central Market, Rundle Mall (of course) and the Jam Factory--all places that I frequented and loved when I lived there. My friend Jess took me to a winery and to Hahndorf, which I had never been to. My friend Simon (pictured) took me out for drinks and for a bite to eat on separate occasions and introduced me to a whole new group of Adelaide jewelers and artists. My dear ex, Mic, gathered me up in hugs, shared stories of the last few years, and visited the place we first met. The city has changed, but has also very much remained the same. There are cultural shifts that have taken place, which was interesting to witness, and yet so much was just familiar Aussie goodness. I will definitely share more details on those adventures soon!
As soon as I arrived home, I got to work in the studio to make jewelry for the upcoming Gathering of the Guilds and NW Jewelry & Metal Showcase. I made a great collection of work, in a variety of colors, and truly enjoyed my time at the show. I especially love running into old customers and meeting new ones!
This Prehnite ring is one of my favorite creations for that show, and sold right away.
The spring was filled with lots of work, playing in the studio, starting the process of buying a house (very difficult with our low budget, but we're trying!), and visiting with friends.
At the beginning of May, I took my mom on a little trip to the coast where we spent the night and I delivered work to Shearwater Gallery in Cannon Beach, OR. My mom hadn't been to the coast in probably a decade, so it was a real treat!
We walked along the beach at Manzanita, ate great food, visited Seaside, and got to see my dear friend Drea Frost (a fellow OCAC Alum) at Shearwater.
In June, I increased my hours at Chemistry Jewelry, and significantly slowed down my jewelry practice. I also started working with a personal trainer. Because of the busy-ness of my days, I decided to withdraw from participating in the Boise Art Museum's Art in the Park this year--I just knew that trying to squeeze in full time work plus making inventory for a show wouldn't pan out. We went through some very stressful times in May and June, and I definitely needed to prioritize some rest for myself.
Much of that time has looked like going on walks, taking Ziggy out for adventures, and creating fun chains in the studio when I have time. I am considering this year a "slow-down" year, and I'm pretty okay with it. My studio set up is not what I want it to be, and it's become more difficult to create work, but I am hopeful for the future. As much as we tend to want our lives to move in this upward and forward trajectory, sometimes there are dips and resets, and that's what this feels like.
