feel beautiful: INSPIRATION

“Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us” – Oscar Wilde

Found objects, if they inspire a memory, are art. Some time ago, I came across the exposed foundation of a 1940’s building while out walking with my Mom through our hometown of Hillsboro, Texas. The building was torn down in the 90’s, but it had been the original hospital for our area, and actually had been built by my Grandfather and Great Grandfather. And in 1971, it’s where I was born. That afternoon on our walk, Mom and I spent some time exploring what remained, and it was there that I found a beautiful fragment of tile, still a vivid, sea foam green.

front side of the pendant

Standing there looking at it, I remember wondering if we could be near the room of my birth, if the tile could possibly be a remnant of that space and time, so many years ago. Thanks to my Mom’s memory for detail and her eye for color, she confirmed my intuition.

back side of the pendant

The tile I found on that day with my Mom is a powerful symbol for me, it’s my inspiration to live my life fully, every day. I set the tile fragment in 18 carat gold, inscribing the back with a a message along with my birth date, and wear it as a pendant almost every day. Inspiration is in color, it’s in memories and messages. My being present is what allows it to come to life in my work.