The last few years have been very difficult with the loss of so many loved ones in our family. Though others have been through it before, and others will after, nothing can prepare you for the loss of someone you love. My heart goes out to all of you who are going through the same process.
Through it all however, the last couple of years have been creative for all 4 of us. The kids are always busy building Lego cities; playing guitar and piano; writing and drawing both in school and out. I don't think they will ever have time to be bored!
Though twelve years have gone by in our fixer-upper in Kirkland, Jerry is still fulfilling his lifelong dream of building his own home. However, now it is his second job - he was lulled back into the Aerospace industry in 2005. We still get calls from people begging him to lend his creative touch to their projects and I know that the beauty he created in the 5 years of Gilbert Designs Architectural Accents will be treasured for years to come!
I am teaching art in 7 classrooms this year and absolutely love working with children from kindergarten through 6th grade. Their 'right brains' are still very active and it is wonderful catching them before they decide they aren't artistic (like so many of us have done). The kids art work is always more spectacular than mine - which is thrilling!
Now that my kids are in full day school, I have been teaching jewelry workshops in shows and other venues across the country (thanks to help from my mother-in-law and friends and neighbors who help my husband shuttle kids). I love being a part of such a creative, enthusiastic and inspiring community!
Mom always predicted that I would teach, as her mother did. After a very long, winding path I am finally completing that circle. As with all of the women in my family I have a very emotional response to color. Because of that, color takes center stage in my work. And along with technique and design, discussions of color and texture are woven throughout my classes.
I hope that my classes, which are designed for all experience levels, are spring-boards in each student’s creative process. My goal is for people to come away from my classes full of ideas and self confidence.
