The Animals That Shape My Craft
How animal friends inspire my jewelry
The Hawk: There is a Cooper’s hawk who frequents my backyard. Usually, I catch sight of him first thing in the morning on my way to do the farm chores. He is often waiting in the black locust tree near the bird feeders. I don’t love the reality that he is hunting songbirds, but he also catches the rats from time to time that like to eat the chicken feed and sometimes chew on wires in our vehicles, so he’s a welcome helper here on the farm. He is swift and incredibly graceful, and ever so patient. He will sit in the pouring rain for hours waiting for an opportunity and looking bedraggled and pitiful as he waits. He inspires me to be patient, focused and resilient.
The Squirrel: My little squirrel friend shows up most days to raid the birdfeeders. I once watched this brave and maybe just a little bit reckless squirrel square off against the Cooper’s hawk. The hawk seemed confused to have his prey ready to fight rather than run. In the end the squirrel went back to stuffing his face with bird seed and the hawk went back to searching for an easier meal. The squirrel reminds me to be brave, bold and curious.
The Whale: Every spring a small group of grey whales known as the “Sounders” take a detour from their northern migration up the pacific coast and head into the Salish sea to feed on ghost shrimp in the shallow warm waters before returning to the open ocean to continue their migration. This small group started taking this detour in the early 1990’s and has continued ever since. I am fortunate to live on an island right in the middle of their feeding grounds. These whales will come in close to shore to feed on the ghost shrimp so it’s incredible to watch them breach the surface over and over again. It's nothing short of magical. These whales encourage me to be resourceful and daring.
Each animal leaves a lesson that lingers long after its shadow has passed.
Each encounter becomes a photograph, a memory, a moment that I craft from silver.
Each piece of jewelry becomes a memento– a reminder that we, too, belong to the wild.