Back in Arizona

Arizona will always hold a very special place in my heart. I lived and worked in Phoenix from 2000 - 2003. This is essentially the birthplace of the idea for my jewelry-making. Although I wouldn’t begin to start making jewelry for another few years after returning to Washington State.

I was in Tubac in February and I returned to Tucson in November after four year’s absence to participate in the Tucson Museum of Art Artisans Show. It was a great show, alot of enthusiasm and an honor to be chosen as one of the artists to participate in this long-running market. And, of course, it was so nice to take my bicycle out in the neighborhood and not worry about rain or snow in November!

My biggest expenses are my accomodations. Over the years, I have stayed in motels, hotels, campers and other Airbnb’s from Oregon and Wyoming, to California, Arizona, Utah and Montana. I have stayed in some great places and some would be able to host a murder mystery show in them. (Maybe more on that later).

I double-booked myself for Tucson. Luckily Airbnb contacted me through email to let me know of my mistake. I looked at both of my choices, and the one I chose was less expensive and because I try to save as much as I can, where I can, when I’m on the road, I chose this retro camper in the heart of Tucson. It was made for small people but it had charm everywhere. The most interesting was the fact that they had a composting toilet and an outdoor shower with hot water. Well, the first few times the water was cold, very cold. I thought that it was supposed to be cold, so I relished in the cold mornings with the cold shower, looking up into the trees to see the doves sitting in the trees above me. An experience. That’s what motels don’t give you. I read somewhere that you aren’t growing as a human if you are too comfortable all the time. When you step outside of your comfort zones into unchartered territory, you will be uncomfortable, but you will grow from that experience and hold onto those memories.

After every show, I try to do something fun and exciting the following day, on Monday. This Monday, November 21, 2022, I decided the night before to drive towards Mount Lemmon. It was a gorgeous and perfect day. I stopped so many times to photograph the scenery. This photo above was taken in the morning and I was eager to continue my journey but I promised myself to return to this same spot on my way back to my AirbnB.

In my haste to leave early in the morning, I didn’t stop at a grocery store to pick up lunch. I thought I would just have my snacks in the car and drive back in the early afternoon. But, I kept on driving and driving , up and up on these winding roads, the temperature was going down as I reached higher altitudes. The vegetation changed and the cactii and other dessert plants began to disappear and I began to see tall trees.

Finally, after so many twists and turns and spectacular vistas, I came to the top, it wasn’t the top, but there was The Iron Door Restaurant and I pulled into the parking spot and ordered a sandwich by a roaring fire. The ambiance was perfect and I was famished.

I made it to the top of Mount Lemmon and could see for hundreds of miles all around. Mount Lemmon is the highest peak in the Santa Catalina mountains and stands at 9,159 feet (2,792 m). What an exhilarating drive up to the top of Mount Lemmon and the descent back into the city of Tucson with many stops along the way again, before taking my RAV4 in to reset my odometer.

I feel so fortunate for the career path I have taken to become a full-time jewelry artist (except when I am working at Amazon since the pandemic). I have been able to see so many national and State parks along the way in so many different states from Washington and Oregon to Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and California.

Next year, I will be focusing more on local shows, especially in the summertime. In January, I bought a brand new Toyota RAV4 Hybrid which gets great gas mileage, but the fact is, I put on 28,000 miles in the first 11 months and don’t feel very proud of that fact. Besides polluting the planet driving solo so far to some of these shows, I want to stay in my home state and enjoy the spring and summer by being close to our beautiful natural resources and trying to get my jewelry into more stores so I won’t have to be driving so many thousands of miles in 2023.

I won’t stay home all year. I have already booked my first east-coast show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the American Handcrafted Show - Artisan & Handmade Expo. which will take place February 25-27, 2023 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This is such an exciting event for me but it carries tremendous risks also. This is what a sole proprietor needs to take into consideration. The Risk/Reward conundrum.

Ten years ago, I made my debut into the wholesale show scene at the Seattle Gift Show which is an annual gift wholesale show in January. We had a snowstorm, which I believe affected the regular buyers who would come in to place orders. I did get one store in Idaho and interest from the Seattle Art Museum, which would come several years later. I also had my work placed into Uno Alla Volta, a magazine featuring hand-made crafts. This was a huge honor for me. But, these two orders did not cover my costs at all. Luckily, it was a local show and I only had a 25 mile commute into Seattle from my home. I waited 10 years before committing to a new wholesale show and my hopes are high that this will be a new year and a new vision for me.

Maybe I will return to Arizona in 2024. Not one year has passed in 10 years (except 2021) where I haven’t done a show in Arizona. Even in 2020, I was in Tubac in February and of course, everyone knows that most shows, concerts, large gathering were cancelled beginning in March 2020 and went through 2021.

Looking forward to an exciting new year in 2023 when I meet my sister, Kathy in Maui in early February for some relaxation and sunshine for 7-10 days before flying over to Philadelphia for the American Handcrafted Show.

Thank you,

Susie

12/25/22