Summer was crazy but successful as I worked as a chef de’ cuisine at Tonglen Lake Lodge for the 3rd season. I managed to do a week as an Artist in Residence at the McKinley Chalet Resort. My days off consisted of hiking and camping and several music festivals. Fall was great and I went back to Kodiak where I work as a camp cook at a hunting camp. Now winter has set in Cantwell and I am back to skiing and working in the studio to build up my jewelry stock for next summer’s gallery sales.
Never enough hours in the day
I used to think winter was for “catching up” but I am constantly battling with what to do with my time. Ski, concentrate on my health, drive all over Alaska and sometimes even fly to watch my kid play sports, make jewelry, knit, try to get better at pottery….. visit with friends…… there’s never enough time! We have been in a serious cold snap but today positive temperatures feel incredible!
Winter is over?
Winter was great and is actually still hanging on in the mountains but Spring is definitely in the air and I am busying myself with everything but making jewelry. My chef job starts next week and I am fulfilling orders for gift shops and galleries. Time just keeps flying by!
Winter has begun after a VERY busy summer!
This summer I cooked at a local lodge three days a week so I was very busy. Gift shop sales far exceeded what I was prepared for. This Fall I had an amazing opportunity to harvest a moose for my family and friends to share. I spent 3 weeks cooking at a camp in Kodiak and now I am finally home to start working on jewelry again. The snow is falling hard today and I just updated a few items on the website as it has been completely empty since Spring. I will spend the next few months watching my kids play sports, skiing as much as possible and working on restocking jewelry for next summer!
Catching up after COVID !
After two years of slow sales and unproductivity I am finally ramping up to supply seven galleries and gift shops this summer. Our family has had lots of family time since the kids have been homeschooling for two years. We have enjoyed the slower pace of life and the time we have had together. We were able to travel to Colorado and Costa Rica this winter and came home to LOTS of snow. Spring is right around the corner and I continue to struggle with finding time to create amongst all the other amazing things to do and of course responsibilities! I continue to be truly blessed in every way.
What COVID did to the studio
Covid hit in March and I stopped working in the studio. The kids were home every day and I decided to spend time interacting with them. It was all I could do to get every day chores done and spend time with them and I didn’t feel I could work with a good conscience. I thought it would be short lived but I have spent the past 6 1/2 months out of the studio. I guess it was a much needed break but being back in the last week has felt so good. I only have one coffee shop (The Alaska Coffee Bean in Healy) that is selling my jewelry and has been since all this started. I lost all business for the tourism season so now I have some good inventory for the coming times ahead! I usually supply 6 galleries during the summer months and none of them opened this year. A lot of my friends own businesses that rely on tourism and they are all struggling to keep their heads up. I am confident that more positive times are ahead of us and I am excited to get back to work.
A great summer of adjusting to the new horses...now time to create!
We had a great summer, spending the month of July going to and from Montana to bring back two new family members. What an adventure, and it continues. We had to spend the rest of the summer building a barn, feeder and fencing but we did find time to ride as well. We are pretty set up for next summer and all the adventures the new horses will bring. Now….all inventory is back from the summer gift shops and I am ready to start creating again.
Enjoying the metal work
Brass, stamped solder and garnet
I am really enjoying working with the metal and solder. Getting the inventory ready for the summer gift shop season!
Back at the production!
After being so busy this summer I am finally back in the studio and creating more items! I am now also doing pendants for those that don’t wear earrings.
Summer has been busy!
Summer has been so busy! I have underestimated....again.... how much the gift shops are selling for me. Therefore I am making jewelry every chance I get in between wonderful Alaska adventures. I am promising myself to buckle down next winter and be more productive! I sold everything on the website and all new creations are going to the gift shops until September 15th. After that I will be building the website back up with awesome new stuff! I can still duplicate to the best of my ability anything you see on the website. thanks for looking!
Hiking season is upon us
First I struggle with not wanting to work because I want to ski.....then I struggle with not wanting to work because the hiking is so good....the struggle is real! I am managing to keep up with the gift shop demands and summer is finally in full swing.
April 20th and a foot of fresh snow!
I have been wanting a change in weather so I can work in the studio guilt free and it sure did change yesterday. We got a foot of fresh heavy snow and now I have to shovel today. I did manage to get quite a few pairs of caribou antler earrings made for Karibu Gallery in the park.
Too Nice to work today!
Definately too nice of a day to be in the studio.... getting inspiration from the mountains today
Spring in Alaska
It's a beautiful sunny Spring day in Alaska and I am struggling with wanting to ski and needing to work in the studio today...... I will attempt to do both!