Limonada, 2025

I started this piece in the darkest days of winter. A small handmade polymer clay piece caught my eye on one of my bead suppliers' websites on Etsy. When it arrived in my shipment of beads right after Christmas, I knew immediately I had to create a piece with it. Even though I was packing up to head south in mid January, and I told myself I was not going to start on another project until I arrived in Mexico, I couldn't help myself.
I had been preparing some skulls for work, and the pendant fit perfectly on one of the small Whitetail bucks I had ready. As I traveled to Mexico with my 2 dogs, this new project helped keep me centered and peaceful during the long and often difficult travels.
Anyone who travels knows that, whether a fan or not, traveling can be stressful. Especially alone, by car, with 2 dogs - one of whom is completely willing to bite anyone or anything that crosses his path🫤. I enjoy driving and seeing the countryside. My trip from Minneapolis to Todos Santos takes about 40 hours. It involves driving through Mexico, which is stressful in itself. Not for reasons many people fear (drug trafficking), but the quality of the roads, the inability to speak the language and cultural diversity can be challenging. Especially with a new president who has attempted to make enemies of foreign countries. I can never be sure if I am seen as an enemy or friend. But, a few hours each night in my hotel room with my beads can remove the stress of the day and restore my faith in the goodness of humanity.
This piece, that I chose to call Limonada (Lemonade in Spanish), after the beautiful yellow and pink beads that adorn the majority of the surface, was my light at the end of each days' travel. He provided a small space that I could control each day, to center my thoughts and dreams on the road.
Limonada represents my inherent faith in the goodness of all humanity and my enduring hope for peace.