Bone Dust Woman

One of my earliest artistic memories is at about age 5 or 6 sitting at our worn kitchen table bending paperclips and wrapping them in pretty materials to create jewelry. These “stunning” creations graced the neck of my beautiful mom and anyone else who dared venture near. Reaching into my later years I suppose the story is much the same. Now it’s a different worn table, my mom has passed on, the materials are much nicer but the excitement is still the same with every piece I produce.

My family always had natural artistic talents. Fashion, sewing, cooking and music were the joys in life. Having a single mom we needed to make our own fun. I always yearned for a special talent like my brother who could sing and my sister who could sew, paint and draw. So I set forth to find my talent and dipped my toe into a lifelong parade of different methods and mediums of art. Alas, it was not singing or sewing. 

Growing up in Wyoming is the perfect setting for fostering a creative spirit. Wildlife, nature and the rugged western landscape supply a never ending palette of color. It still inspires me to this day. Landscapes and nature are reflected in my torch painted copper wall art. Local antlers lend strength to bolo ties, household tools, scarf slides and jewelry. The jewelry line also includes torch painted copper and fine crystals. One of my favorite pieces to produce are hammered copper trinket dishes adorned with semi-precious stones. 

People often say they aren’t creative. My firm belief is creativity can be expressed in many ways.  There is an art to a perfect seating chart, project management or budget in the corporate world. Teachers are some of the most creative minds I’ve ever met. Organizational skills require great imagination. My main career was spent serving the public at our county courthouse. My free time through the years was spent cooking, gardening and oil painting. 

In 2023 I retired from public service to create full time. My brother, an excellent carpenter, and my wonderful husband built my studio. The studio includes two distinct areas. The work room is filled with torches, a paint booth and all the power tools to make antler products safely. An old card catalog from the local college library holds all sorts of bits and glues and artsy stuff. 

The showroom is furnished with vintage, antique and flea market finds. An antique dry sink is the star that shines quietly in one corner. The main jewelry display is a 1970’s Henredon armoire. A niece who is very talented created my cattle brand style logo to grace the wall of my studio. My husband has expertise in custom lighting and my displays twinkle and glow. What I love most in the view outside the window. The deer stroll by and the sky is an ever changing hue. 

The name Bone Dust Woman evolved while working at the courthouse. My husband had laughingly used the name one time when I had a large amount of antler dust all over me. I loved the people in my office at the courthouse and they listed quite a few possible business names and voted. And I guess you know the winner. It touched my heart because the name also reminded me of a scripture about raising the dry dusty bones in the book of Ezekiel. 

My life has been spent pursuing new ways to express creativity. My artistic endeavors are growing and my space is flexible to fit any expanding horizon.