Rediscovering My Craft in Yellowstone's Untamed Beauty

Journey Through Recovery and Rediscovery

The months leading up to this cross-country adventure were a roller coaster. Fear, uncertainty and a reluctance to envision the future were part of life back then.

I learned what it felt like to shift my priorities from frivolous things to simply surviving and getting well. Day-to-day I did my best to keep things as “normal” as possible, especially for my young son.

So when I finally finished treatment and got the green light from my oncology team to travel, we were off on our adventure.

With my husband and our fifteen-year-old son in tow, we embarked on a much-needed trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. This journey was not just a celebration of recovery but an overdue escape into normalcy after a grueling year of treatments. I looked forward to the simplest pleasures…

… hiking without the shadow of fatigue

… creating special memories with my son, who’d been my brave companion through my illness

… soaking in earth’s natural treasures, far away from needle sticks, infusions, and doctors

Capturing Nature's Artistry in Yellowstone

One peaceful evening, driving back to our cabin, we made a spontaneous stop to explore a nearby trail that led us to a beautiful and unexpected sight — a fallen tree with a texture created by pine bark beetles. 

Beauty

The intricate patterns etched into the wood by these tiny creatures caught my eye and captivated me. The beetles had transformed the tree into a stunning piece of art that could only be found in nature. 

I couldn’t resist capturing this beauty with my camera, unaware that more than 20 years later the memory and these photographs would be the inspiration for my signature jewelry collection.

Crafting Resilience into Every Piece

Years later, armed with memories and photographs from that trip, I attended an etching workshop. Our teacher instructed us to bring in a personal photo to create an original etched texture. I knew right away what photo I was going to choose… the gnarly but beautiful log I’d photographed years before. 

The process of transforming this photo into a texture plate, and subsequently imprinting the design onto sterling silver was nothing short of magical. The result was the Yellowstone texture—a testament to enduring beauty and resilience.

Today, each piece in my Yellowstone collection symbolizes more than just jewelry; they’re a narrative of overcoming tough times and of celebrating life’s rugged beauty. The series features intricate textures enhanced by 24k gold keum boo accents and oxidized metal to deepen the contrasts between the warm gold and the cool darkened silver.

The Yellowstone collection is more than an artistic expression. It’s a reminder of resilience and the strength of the human spirit. It honors the inspirations we find every day in the most unexpected places. 

Explore The National Parks Collection

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