02.01.21 Galentine's Day...the Ladysmiths of ATX Maker Magic Valentine Show

I haven't had much creative energy for a while, which is why my first post of 2021 only appeared last week.  But, I'm back at it - and making up for lost time with new content two weeks in a row.  

In my wrap up for last year, I wrote about how important the Ladysmiths of ATX have been to me in terms of staying connected to the jewelry community, since I can't be in the studio right now...and because of that, I'm going to write about them again.

Meet the Core Team, my Galentine's, with whom I'll be celebrating - our ability to adapt, build community and make space for other makers during these very uncertain times - all this week.

These women are the heart of Ladysmiths of ATX, and I'm not sure how I would have gotten through 2020 without them.  

Our weekly core team meetings and monthly Sip & Smith events (all on Zoom, of course) were some of the high points of my year.

Chelsea is part of the original core team in the shop at Canopy.  From painting the walls in the Canopy trailer to updating the website, she embodies the "we can do it" spirit of the Ladysmiths...and does it all with a smile. In her own words, her work is "inspired by symbols, people, and language, each Fragment piece is meant to instill confidence and comfort."  Her jewelry and wall hangings are exquisite in their simplicity.

Natalie is our "jewelry connoisseur" and expert in all things organizational and marketing.  She designed the "Ladysmiths" logos and did the interviews for the fabulous IG Lives during our Maker Magic Show (she'll be doing them again this week for our Valentine Show).  When she's not supporting us, she's making the world a better place as the marketing manager for a local non-profit organization.

Like me, Charity came to the core team by way of the Canopy gallery, where she was showing her jewelry (this time last year) when Covid struck.  Her work is the epitome of "one man's trash is another man's treasure". She works in a range of materials, including discarded single use plastic. She transforms unwanted containers and bags into organic, gossamer like creations. Additionally, her enthusiasm for creating a virtual market for makers in the absence of in person holiday events was a driving force behind the Maker Magic Show concept.

...and because y'all showed our featured makers so much love at the end of the year with our Maker Magic Holiday Show, we're doing it again! 

The Maker Magic Valentine Show will run all week on the Ladysmiths of ATX Instagram. There are a dozen diverse, talented, Austin based women makers (including me) in the show, and they will be sharing their beautiful work.

In addition to the community and camaraderie, being part of the Ladysmiths has pushed me to continue putting my jewelry on social media and promoting it, even though I'm out of the studio.  It's hard to get excited about being a metalsmith when I haven't been at the bench or had a tool in my hand for almost a year.

Focusing on the themes of love and friendship - and feeling especially grateful for the support of so many women during period of social distancing - I'll be posting pieces with decidedly feminine details on my feed throughout the week. 

So whether you are a maker, a shopper, or simply someone who appreciates quality craftsmanship and creativity - make sure you are following the Ladysmiths of ATX on Instagram - so you don't miss anything!

Until next time.

12.28.20 2020 Hindsight

I am an optimist...sometimes to the point that it annoys my family...but this year has really tested my ability to see the glass as half full. 

As we approach the end of this year, I suspect I am not alone in saying I will be glad to see 2020 go...it been a year marked by cancellations, disappointments and stress...and yet, when I look back, I see it was not all bad.

I know by now we all have a love-hate relationship with Zoom (side note - I used an earlier version about five years ago, when I worked remotely on a project in Pennsylvania - trust me, it's much better now)...without it, and the ability to stay connected to my community, this year would have been so much worse.

There was no family vacation this summer, or Thanksgiving gathering at my mother-in-law's, but we've had a family Zoom every week since spring...and catching up with my kids each Saturday has been a joy!

This was supposed to be the year of my 35th college reunion...and when it didn't happen, my roommate (who you will remember from previous posts about my visit to Wisconsin and her son's fabulous wedding) suggested we have a mini-reunion with our dormmates...on Zoom...we did! It was really fun.

There have been no trips to the studio - of any kind - jewelry or yoga.  I haven't been making pendants at home, but I have been able to practice yoga with some of my favorite teachers - including two who have moved away from Austin and now live in LA and NYC.

Spending a few hours each week on my mat with these fabulous women - even virtually - has gone a long way towards keeping my body and my spirit healthly.  I don't know what I would have done without them.

Even though I haven't been at the bench - I have stayed very connected to the jewelry community through the Ladysmiths of ATX.

Joining them as a core team member and seeing them every week has been one of the things truly keeping me going.

The group made the difficult decision not to renew the lease on the Canopy space, and close the physical shop...not knowing how long the shut down would go on.  As a result there was no longer a physical space for our community to come together.

Since I signed up for a paid Zoom account (for other reasons...mostly weekly chats with my kids in the beginning), I started hosting a monthly online Ladysmiths social event - Sip & Smith - to connect with and support other makers in a virtual space, at least for now.

In June, in the wake of the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, our community of women makers came together in just a couple of weeks to hold an online auction that raised over $11,600 to support organizations committed to justice for women and LBGQTI+ individuals in the Black community...

and just this month we hosted a virtual market - the Maker Magic Holiday Show - on Instagram.

The one place I have been able to go safely - every week - is the Texas Farmers' Market at Mueller. Never have I looked forward to grocery shopping as much as I do now.  I've been meeting a friend (masked and socially distanced, of course), we park and visit while we take a Sunday stroll the few blocks to the market and back again.  

I'm so thankful for my community - they have made me happier, healthier and kept me sane - through this very challenging year. I'm also grateful to those of you who continue to follow along on the blog.  To be honest, it's been hard to write this year...in part because I haven't had anything to say about jewelry...but writing helps me to process the things going on in my life, and in the world around me.

I hope you are staying home, staying safe (wearing a mask) and that you, too, can look back on 2020 and find some small amont of good...and of course, that we can all begin to return to the people and places we miss in 2021.

Until next year.