04.21.2025 Rebel, Rebel

Circa 1980 - in Lands' End

I know many members of my community - hardworking, conscientious adults - who had what they would describe as a "misspent youth".  

I am not one of those people.

I was a nerdy, Jewish kid with parents who instilled deep, liberal values in me (and my brother).  I grew up in an upper class suburb of Washington, DC - had friends, and fun - but did well (really well) in school, didn't cut classes, break curfew or drink too much. 

I graduated from an affluent public high school and went to the University of Virginia when The Official Preppy Handbook was on the New York Times bestseller list.

Circa 2024 - in LLBean

I might have looked like a preppy (I'm using the past tense - however - I've worn the same basic wardrobe for 40+ years), but the truth is, I am anything but a WASP with deep roots and old money.

I am the descendant of immigrants - Eastern European Jewish refugees - and because they came to America three generations back, I am now a White Woman with privilege.  If you read my last few posts, you know I am very, very unhappy about the current administration and the ever disintegrating state of our democracy.

But how do I convey that when I'm walking down the street? 

With my conservative clothes, nice bag and jewelry - I look like I might have cast my ballot on the wrong side of history; that bothers me.

I'm never going to have a tattoo - no judgement, just not me - and I'm never going to be "cool" or "edgy"...

Photo credit: Vinylize

Side note: I have a very cool pair of sunglasses from a company called Vinylize - they make their frames out of old LPs - Oprah wears, them, QuestLove wears them, rock and roll musicians have them custom crafted from their own records.  I suggested to my kids that they made me cool, too.  Nope - the glasses are indeed, VERY COOL - but, sadly I am not.

I decided if I can't be cool, maybe I could do something a little out of my comfort zone - and let my jewelry do the talking. I got a second piercing in my ears.  

I wouldn't - or couldn't - have done it without the help of my friends.

When I decided I wanted to make a statement, so to speak, one of my best friends (and Sunday market buddy) said "me too" - and we made a plan to do it together.

Of course, I wanted diamonds - and because I am that problem child - I also wanted white gold (which often has nickel in it, making it less suitable for piercings).

A huge thank you to Zanny and Sirandyn at Eliza Page, who did the research and found the perfect earrings. 

Photo credit: Maria Tash

They sourced these beauties from Maria Tash, specifically because they have no nickel in them...and then Sirandyn did the piercing - painlessly!

To me, as I mark another year past 60, this feels like a not so small act of rebellion.

Maybe no one will notice, maybe they will (honestly, they are really sparkly diamonds, so they're kind of hard to miss). 

Hopefully, people will see an older woman trying to be on the right side of history; someone who is fighting with them, not against them and who believes personal identity and bodily autonomy are fundamental human rights.

Until next time.

01.23.2025 Do Not Let them Steal Your Joy

This is precisely the time when artists go to work.
There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear.
We speak, we write, we do language.
That is how civilizations heal.
I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, 
it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence.

-- Toni Morrison

Engraving bench at ACC

Three days into this new, hate filled administration in the White House, I went back to the jewelry department at ACC to start my metal engraving class. I left that first session feeling better than I have in weeks.  No amount of medication can match the surge of serotonin that comes from seeing my people and sitting at the bench.

When I got home, sitting at my kitchen table eating lunch, I remembered Toni Morrison's quote (above) about the importance of art...so I looked it up, again.

Our world is certainly bruised and bleeding. The people at the helm of our federal government are evil and full of darkness; but Ms. Morrison implores us to go to work, to create, to bring joy and light into our lives and into the world.

Being part of a creative community - engaging with fellow metalsmiths - is like plugging into a big battery. The world at large was no better at noon, when I came out of that first class, than it was when I first went in; but I was better. It was in that moment I realized how important it will be for each of us to have the things, even small things, that bring us light and hope as we find our way through what will be a very difficult and troubled time.

These oligarchs, these white men with more money than they can ever hope to spend, who can buy anything have no joy...and they want to steal ours.  

We will not let them.

Photo credit: Viasomatic

Part of the work, to protect and take care of those around us, is to take care of ourselves.  

I certainly don't have answers, but I do have suggestions.

Find a creative outlet - I love my classes, but I know not everyone has the same interests - or resources. Still, you can find something that speaks to you and that provides you with an escape from avalanche of headlines.

Put down the phone. Step away from the computer. Take a walk outside, try a new recipe, get a sketch pad or a coloring book...as long as you are doing it for yourself, and it brings a smile to your face.

My grandmother's engraved signet ring

Engage with your community - I hope you have folks who support and energize you in your local orbit, but not everyone does. As I said in a previous post, I'm not ready to give up on social media because it represents real and meaningful connections to people despite the virtual space. 

Try not become overwhelmed - my grandmother liked to say "no one eats an apple in one bite". Do what you can do, for yourself and for others, and know that it is enough.

The writer and activist, Rebecca Solnit, posted this recently...

You don't need to be the whole wall against fascism yourself;
you can just be a brick and if you can't be a brick,
you can be a dab of mortar
because there are millions of people ready to be bricks if they believe bricks are enough
or mortar if they get that just being mortar holds it all together.

Hold on to your joy, do not let them steal it, and know that we will get through this together.

Until next time.

 

02.24.20 Blue Wave

Postcards: January 2017

If you are a regular reader of this blog, or follow my social media, it will come as no surprise that I have not been happy about the state of political affairs in our country for several years...

I started writing postcards to members of Congress just days after this administration took office, then Resistbot came along, and I began sending regular electronic missives to Washington...and those fell on deaf ears.

I am now back to writing postcards, but this time it is not to elected officials, but to voters (who will hopefully send new people to statehouses and Washington in November).

Through a grassroots organization called Postcards to Voters, I've been writing cards to voters all across the country encouraging them to sign up to vote by mail, and participate in special elections for Democrats running in key races.  It feels much more productive than writing to Washington - where at best I get nothing in response, and at worst I get horrible form letters with canned language that isn't really related to my original message at all.

Stone Maven Designs on Etsy

At first I was printing the cards myself, from templates on the PTV website, but as I started following the organization and other writers on social media, I discovered makers who were creating cards especially for the effort!  I thought what could be better than supporting fellow artists - so I bought postcards from sellers on Etsy!

The first set I bought came from Stone Maven Designs, featuring great drawings of blue waves...and suddenly I was inspired to create some blue waves myself - in jewelry (of course).

I had already ordered a beautiful larimar cabochon and it seemed like the perfect choice for a wave on the back!

Just FYI - I'm keeping this one.

Then, I started thinking about how I could create a relatively affordable "Blue Wave" piece, so that I could donate a portion of the proceeds to progressive candidates and organizations.


I had some success with this concept during the 2018 election cycle when I created and sold several "Blue for Beto" pendants.

I ordered some pieces of vintage blue glass (which is a lot less expensive than larimar, lapis, kyanite or any other blue stone I can think of) and made a prototype.

These pendants are available, starting at $125 with a glass cabochon - more for a stone -  and with each sale, I will make a $25 donation to the (state or local) Democratic candidate or cause of the buyers choice.

The pendants can be customized in a few ways...

I can put a wave or a state cut out on the back;

the buyer can choose their bezel wire (straight, serrated or scalloped);

Shop on Etsy

I can make the pendant with our without an outer twisted wire ring or patina;

and of course, I can make them with a stone cabochon (price to be determined at the time the pendant is commissioned).

So...if you'd like to support the Blue Wave, click the "Shop on Etsy" link below the photo, hit me up with a comment here or DM me on Instagram.

Creative Dem on Etsy

If you want write postcards and support other makers, follow the links above to Postcards to Voters, and get your cards from Stone Maven Designs, Creative Dem or Mary Likes Postcards - all on Etsy.

Mary Likes Postcards on Etsy

Democracy doesn't just happen - it takes engagement from every one of us.  

Make sure you are registered to vote. 

Become informed about the candidates running for office at every level of government, and then go participate.

As Abraham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address (at a previous time when we were a very divided country), we are a nation "of the people, by the people, and for the people" - but only if the people participate.

Until next time.