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I feel I create my most magical jewelry when in an extreme mood whether that is feeling joyful or troubled. It's because I allow myself to be drawn in and focused on a story or idea. The past few years have had a few more such moments than some others.

I never played pool growing up, but we played a lot of board games and cards. Each of us played to win and for the most part we were gracious winners. I've met many that just hate games and I'm guessing it's due to how earnest we game players can be. For me joining in was a way to be part of the fun, but I'll admit if it's a game I'm not good at I'll avoid it.

Some time in my early teens I apparently found wire as a possible material for jewelry making!

When I first started knitting, my second handknit was to be an intarsia pullover for my husband in fingering weight. It was a Rowan pattern and gorgeous. Yes, my second project! No scarves for me! Why?! A glutton for punishment I guess. I'd successfully knitted a sweater for myself by Alice Starmore in worsted so thinking of my mentor's words to pick items you're excited about so you'll stick with them I selected the fingering weight project next, because it was gorgeous and I knew it would look fantastic on my husband!

A husband, who chronically has a bad back, that moved a ton of stuff in boxes from one side of our garage to the other so that I wouldn't be cold or potentially hurt my back. He also did it so California Closets could install some cabinets and organizational units, but half the stuff is mine.

While doing some cleaning of my studio I came across my first pierced and sawn piece from copper sheet. I remember Dawn Nakanishi assigning the project in the beginning metalworks class at Cabrillo College in Aptos. Every assignment would set my heart racing as I was out of my comfort zone of materials, fiber and seed beads, and hoped I'd be able to do as well as all the young students around me. It was SO MUCH FUN!