11.28.2023 Grateful

Woah, oh I want to know,

Out and about in Siesta Key - wearing my Ciao Bella charms

Where does the time go?

- The Grateful Dead

I'm not sure how it got to be the end of November, let alone almost 2024...but here we are.

In October, I spent another wonderful weekend with my girlfriends, some of whom I've known for almost fifty years.  My love, adoration and gratitude for these women is unbounded...and even just a few days with them restores my soul.

It didn't hurt that we were in Siesta Key with gorgeous weather and beautiful surroundings.

We ate, laughed, walked and took yoga on the beach - where the sand is like powdered sugar - and for a weekend I ignored all my adult responsibilities and the outside world.

I know how fortunate I am - to be able to get away, and even more to have not just one but an entire circle of friends who have known me most of my life and love me.

Ciao Bella charms
from Bamboo Jewelry

I didn't buy any jewelry souvenirs on this trip either (you'll recall I came home empty handed from my jaunt to DC) - it wasn't for lack of trying - but I had just scooped up the fabulous silver necklace from Pat Areias in Carmel on our California vacation.  

I'm not sure I can ever top the souvenir from our inaugural trip to St. Thomas a few years ago.  I bought two of the charms when we visited St. John, and ordered a third - the compass rose - as a way to celebrate a post-Covid return to traveling.  Whenever I need that "girlfriend feeling" I wear these charms - I can definitely feel the love, and maybe even the warm Caribbean sun.

I don't use the word gratitude lightly - I do, truly, have a lot to be thankful for - but we all have tough days and on those days I find that reaching for a particular piece of jewelry can make a difference.

Me - and my jewelry - at the Austin Studio Tour

Most of my jewelry represents tangible reminders of the things that make my life good - a person, a place, a joyous event, an accomplishment.  

Jewelry became my creative outlet before Covid, and I've missed it - but I'm happy to report that it's back in my life.  I participated in the East Austin Studio Tour with  the Creative Jewelry Collective -a group of fellow artists from my days at Creative Side, and I'm going back to the bench in 2024.

I've registered for a metalsmithing techniques course in the Jewelry Department at Austin Community College - and I can barely contain my excitement!  

The class doesn't start until January - but given the way time flies, it will be here before we know it.

I'm hoping to squeeze in one more post in December and looking forward to having lots of new things to write about in the future, so stay tuned!

Until next time.