2021: A Little Lady and The Sea

It took some time to try to formulate the right words and thoughts for this year. Trying to encompass all the thoughts, feelings, and raw emotions in a few words is a Herculean task.  Recently, Jay and I took a morning to sit by the beach to try and let the ocean do what it does best: calm us. The ocean has not only provided me with calming thoughts and inspiration this year, but also many valuable lessons. The greatest lesson aptly came this very day.

Last year brought us monumental waves and this year they continued. The feelings of anxiousness and worry that often came with those waves were often expressed through my designs. It became an outlet where I created beauty from chaos. Each collection became an ode to the place that taught me so much; and as we end the year, it teaches me the most valuable lesson it has yet.

Sea glass is found along the shores of the ocean. It starts as sharp shards of glass that have been tossed and tumbled in the waves of the sea to then emerge as polished and frosted pieces of glass. Its soft edges and unique beauty so striking it is often admired, collected, and made into the most stunning and prized jewelry. As I picked up each little sea glass, I felt an overwhelming sense of emotion knowing that I, too, was like this glass. Tossed and tumbled by life’s challenges, yet remarkably beautiful in the qualities it has produced in me- more compassion, more empathy, more forgiveness, more faith, and most of all, more love. It has produced beauty through tremendous adversity, and for that I am grateful.