We are all gemstones, polished by those who now live among the stars...
There is a “story” behind Storytelling Strands and some of it started before I was an artist. For twenty-five years of my life, I was in the corporate world, working as a manager and vice-president at a bank. My brain was always focused on numbers, not art. After the financial crisis in 2008, I was laid off and at the time, it was an extremely devastating experience for me. Without my job, I had lost my identity and didn’t know what to do next.
One day, after she saw me cleaning my kitchen floors with Q-tips, my daughter encouraged me to “get a hobby” to help me transition to my next chapter in life. I took a jewelry class and learned the basics of beading and wire-wrapping techniques. Needless to say, I was ecstatic about my new skill. I spent the next three years making gifts for family members and friends, while teaching myself more advanced techniques such as silversmithing and bezel setting. I collected beads and stones from markets in Denver and Tuscon, as well as from travels around the world, including Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and Peru.
Then, in 2012, my husband suggested I start to sell some of my work, so Storytelling Strands became an official business on December 15, 2012. For the next six years, I sold pieces on Etsy and at various shows and markets in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. Incidentally, the date of my business start-up honored the anniversary of our son’s birthday. He died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome but I am grateful to be able to donate a portion of the net proceeds from sales each year to local and national SIDS foundations and awareness groups.
Recently, in 2019, my husband was diagnosed with cancer. He fought hard with aggressive chemotherapy but died at age 60 that same year. He was my soul mate and the biggest fan of my work. We had been together for approximately four decades. With heavy grief after his death, I took some time away from my business to seek therapy and counseling. I attended one specific group session near my home and the speaker made a comment that I will never forget. She said, “We are all gemstones, polished by those who now live among the stars.”
All I could think about in that moment was that my husband was sending me a message to get back to my art. I re-opened my studio doors and in addition to my jewelry, I began to create crescent moon wall hangings based on the inspiration of this statement.
With every piece that I create, I consciously try to honor each gemstone in order to let the finished strands tell their stories. I now realize that stones, crystals and gems are healing, in some ways because they have their own history and story to tell. I am grateful they have been by my side during the most difficult times of my life...and my little home business has grown into something much more than just a hobby. It’s a passion that continues to bring me joy and happiness.
