This year has been a trial by fire for pretty much most of us on this little blue dot of a planet we call home. Like many I had intended to do so much more but this year turned out very different.

We moved once in the earlier portion of this year, selling our home of 12 years, moving into my mother’s house, as we were having difficulty finding a new home. It was a hectic time but one of my little pleasures was the continued subscription to Jesse James Beads‘s Magical Mystery Bead Boxes. Enjoying the colors and shapes, pushing my creative style into different directions.

With a rainy Spring in full swing, I took inspiration from my potted garden to create different grey and pink toned jewelry pieces. My mother’s house went up for sale and we started packing for a second time.

When shelter in place orders came, everything was stuck in a holding pattern. Not knowing what to do, but not being able to do much of anything I found myself going to artwork for solace. Jesse James Beads released a series of Quarantine Beading Kits, which I was eager to buy and work on. With some findings from Beadalon I was able to make an early start on gifts for the Holidays.

I would work on making art, day and night, giving my nervous energy an outlet. Desert sunrises and the blooming wildflowers continued to be an inspiration. Sprinkled with making masks for my family and packing up the last of our things made for very busy days.

Silver Silk and More released a special Atlantis kit. Filled with golds, blues and greens it was a stunning collections of supplies. I found a sense of calm in a sea of uncertainty by creating these pieces while listening to the rain at night.

This set, that I ended up keeping for myself, would end up being one of the last pieces I would make before we moved again. I was getting increased tremors in my hands, more problems with my ability to walk, use my hands and losing feeling in my limbs. Once we moved a third time, my doctors were able to schedule surgery to work on my spine.

Recovery was slow but I could already feel my hands and feet, and walk with reduced pain. I started using wonderful journals from Rita Barakat as therapy and way to start testing my dexterity. At first it was simple doodles but it felt great to be able to hold tools without shaking too much.

A first true attempt at sketching after surgery, “Hope”, a goddess of Fall and the ever changing future. Originally I was going to try watercolor but found out I wasn’t steady enough, I went back to an old comfort, pencil illustration.

As I started to slowly heal and start unpacking some of my art supplies I found myself drawn to working with resin again. This time I wanted to give UV Resin from Let’s Resin a try. They had two different formulations and I found them both useful in different resin applications.

While my bones were still healing I found a new bead shop doing lives on Facebook, called Allegory Gallery, located in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. The owners, William and Andrew, were wonderful to watch. Sharing beads, treasures, design ideas and life stories. They were trying to keep afloat in these trying times while saving up to buy a permanent home for their store. They started a fund raiser called Little By Little, which one could, and still can, donate to via different options. I donated several times and ended up winning one of their wonderful prize packages.

Andrew created an stunning collection of paintings called Opal Girls, (available for purchase on their website) that I found absolutely enchanting. Inspired by his work I used some of the beads and findings I won from Allegory Gallery, to create this jewelry set. The lovely pendant comes from with a pendant from Cynthia Thornton owner of Green Girl Studios, Andrew’s sister.

In this coming new year I look forward to finding more businesses to support, and share with with you.

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!