Doug, a maker's love affair with the Southwest

November 18, 2020

This is Doug. As a project, Doug is a work in progress. But as a steer's head, Doug has been hanging on a wall in my home for decades. The story is that Doug was picked up on my family’s land in WI. But I do not remember finding him. I stick to the story because visiting this magnificent land where my cousins lived -- a gorgeous, working farm complete with Indian burial grounds and cliffs of colorful sand -- was a little girls fantasy land. Many magical memories there, and I like to think that’s where Doug came from!

I don’t know why it took me so long to think of creating mosaic on Doug. I love the Southwest and all of the jewelry and pottery from the area. But I also really enjoy making mosaics...

Above is a table I made with the assistance of my kids at least 25 years ago and is still central in my home.

Long before I was a jewelry designer I was a maker. I walk into furniture stores and walk out. Boring! I love finding things at thrifts or salvage and remaking them. My entire world is filled with things I've either made or changed or invented.

The mosaic table was a vision. Not a clear one but in general a vision of a kidney shaped mosaic table. I looked and looked and finally bought a jigsaw, some wood and mosaic materials.

Why? I don't know. Art? Meh. But creative no doubt. And not something that can be extracted from who I am. Creative is what I am and what I do. It is just the way I’m wired.

As the Friday Facebook Live events have evolved I've been sharing the process of creating a turquoise, lapis and coral mosaic on Doug. I am so excited. I can’t wait to hang him back in my house when he's done!

I will plan to keep these various projects ongoing and share them on the Facebook Lives. Let me know if you have any requests!