The clock rings at 7 am. I wake st 7:34, Stretch throw on my favorite maxi dress and a couple of pieces of jewelry and walk to the Coffee Shop NE and grab a large pecan roast to go. The car is packed with three colorful totes and my gym shoes (just in case) and I'm ready to hit the road.
I drive three and a half hours west towards Fargo ND for the annual Fargo Blues Fest, a tradition my family has kept alive since it began in 1999. Our traditional party includes my Uncle Keith whose robust laughter is contagious, my Aunt Terri, cousin Luke, my sister Robin and of course my mom and dad. Occasionally friends of mine join us for the weekend.
One thing I can count on is my Uncle Keith's colorful "blues fest" shirt which he wears only one time a year. The second one pictured is a brand new shirt that debuted this year. Very stylish!
A day of good music is always followed up by a campfire and juicy grilled burgers or sausages by Uncle Keith. Stories and silly jokes and memories took place over cold beers and a passing bottle of Jack Daniels or Jim Beam. Over the years the drinking has become less of a social staple but the stories, and laughter never leaves the group.
This year my sister is missing from the group for understandable reasons: this adorable little man.
While I had hoped for some bonus time with my nephew and a chance to share some snarky laughs with my sister as we people- watch and vote for best shirtless beer gut. I realize that managing a 1 year old would be challenging in this environment of loud music, hot sun, and a crowd of strangers... It could be a mother’s nightmare.
But I miss my sister, my blues fest companion, the one I can count on for sarcasm and wit, the one who will scoff at my big hat or how many shoes I packed (only three pairs this time).
Robin has been a champion supporter of my jewelry over the years. I had the honor of designing her wedding necklace. (She will likely kill me for posting this picture of her.) The necklace was a stunning multi-dangled piece of swarovski crystals. I even added a pinch of blue to the piece (her favorite color).
She is the inspiration behind my use of the color blue in my jewelry. Perhaps she was the driving force behind my bird with blue spinel stone necklace.
Recently she wore a ring that I made and loved and nearly didn’t want to sell. Yet she loved it so much and so I sold it to her, she is my sister and I love her and she deserves to rock my jewelry.
In fact she rocked my ring so well that one of her co-workers needed one for herself and I am in the process of custom making one now.
This ring design has also captivated my Facebook audience with the highest number reached in "likes" and comments.
Being at a blues festival I can’t help but think about how blues music moves me to create and has been the soundtrack behind many of my pieces. While I didn't have my favorite blues fest companion with me me this year, she still inspires my use of the color blue. Like my past beaded work pictured below I will add a little more blue to my metal work, the blue of Robin’s and my eyes, of the sea, of the sky.
Speaking of sky, here is an image that closed a beautiful weekend with my wonderful family: a beautiful North Dakota Sunset.
