Field Notes

Bright Spots Along The Trail
Bright Spots Along The Trail
A quietly radical reframing of grief not as fragility, but as a measure of how much we have loved across a lifetime. This blog post is a reminder that the... Read more...
The Cringe Is The Compass
The Cringe Is The Compass
Thoughts about how to orient oneself in an out-sourced world… Read more...
A Defense of Participation Trophies
A Defense of Participation Trophies
The uncomfortable condition of being genuinely open to the work before you know where it's going. Read more...
Pilot Light
Pilot Light
Thoughts on craft, marriage, and choosing to show up. Read more...
How I Plan To Harness Fire Horse Energy Without Being Consumed By It
How I Plan To Harness Fire Horse Energy Without Being Consumed By It
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse — and everyone's feeling the pressure to gallop. But what if the real power isn't in running faster? What if it's in... Read more...
Express Yourself. And, Usually, This Makes Us Feel Better.
Express Yourself. And, Usually, This Makes Us Feel Better.
What we wear can mirror the courage, independence, and identity we hold within. Read more...
The SHOCKING Truth About What Happened When I Tried To Make Thirty New Jewelry Designs In Thirty Days
The SHOCKING Truth About What Happened When I Tried To Make Thirty New Jewelry Designs In Thirty Days
I challenged myself to design something new every single day for a month—a ridiculous, slightly terrifying exercise in perseverance and creative growth. The goal wasn't perfection; it was to build... Read more...
Creative Genius, Marketing Disaster: A Love Story
Creative Genius, Marketing Disaster: A Love Story
If you've got book promotion advice, I'm all ears. If you've got a kid who needs this story, even better. And if you're also fumbling through creative entrepreneurship with no... Read more...
How NOT To Love A Place To Death
How NOT To Love A Place To Death
My hope is that this book encourages young readers to love this land fiercely enough to protect it—and to honor the people who were here first. Read more...
Tucking Dreams Away (And Stubbornly Dragging Them Back Out)
Tucking Dreams Away (And Stubbornly Dragging Them Back Out)
I shelved this book project for years at a time, and honestly? That's okay—because I eventually found my way back to it, and so can you. If you've had to... Read more...
Why This Book? Why Now? Let Me Count the Ways (Here Are Two).
Why This Book? Why Now? Let Me Count the Ways (Here Are Two).
So yeah, two reasons. But they're really good ones. Read more...
These Characters Are ANIMALS!
These Characters Are ANIMALS!
This book encourages young readers to make the conscious choice to be fully engaged in life—observing, wondering, and discovering their place in the world. Read more...
National Author's Day
National Author's Day
When rhyme serves the story instead of the other way around, magic happens. Read more...
You GUYS! I wrote a children's book! And it didn't even kill me!
You GUYS! I wrote a children's book! And it didn't even kill me!
Self-limiting behaviors don't have to win. Sometimes all it takes is noticing a bird, a leaf, a moment—and remembering that you were born curious, brave, and boundless. Read more...
A Day In The Life
A Day In The Life
Ever wonder what a jewelry designer's day actually looks like? It's equal parts creative magic and unglamorous reality—from sketching ideas and wrestling with wire to answering emails, troubleshooting tarnish, and... Read more...
All's Quiet on the Western Front
All's Quiet on the Western Front
I've had to say goodbye both of my beloved Siberian huskies, Nugget & Cowboy, my biological children, as I'd tell anyone who asked—and the emptiness they've left behind has gutted... Read more...
Yeah, it's all fun and games until someone loses an earring....
Yeah, it's all fun and games until someone loses an earring....
Because even when the world feels broken, your jewelry doesn't have to be. Read more...
Not To Brag, But I've Been Socially Distancing Myself Since Forever...
Not To Brag, But I've Been Socially Distancing Myself Since Forever...
I don't have answers. I only have this quiet space, these hands that make things, and a hope that we might remember—when this is over—what it felt like to lose... Read more...
Top 10 Reasons For Visiting Cowboy’s Sweetheart’s Online Shop
Top 10 Reasons For Visiting Cowboy’s Sweetheart’s Online Shop
My online shop is open 24/7 with all the same handcrafted, western-inspired jewelry you would've found in person. Bold turquoise, recycled sterling silver, conflict-free gemstones, and all that grit-and-grace energy—no... Read more...
Hi-Yo! Silver Tarnish...Awaaaaaaay!
Hi-Yo! Silver Tarnish...Awaaaaaaay!
Tarnish happens—it's just part of owning sterling silver. But keeping your silver beautiful shouldn't require a chemistry degree—just a well-stocked pantry. Read more...
Ahhh, This Porch Is Juuuust Right.
Ahhh, This Porch Is Juuuust Right.
Contrast is what makes textures pop, details that demand attention, and jewelry with real visual depth. It's like adding shadows to a drawing—suddenly everything comes alive. Because good jewelry should... Read more...
I've Gone Tiny, But I'm Living Large
I've Gone Tiny, But I'm Living Large
It's an environmentally-friendly, woman-owned space that feels like the best decision I ever made... Read more...
Beryl Racing
Beryl Racing
From the deep, translucent blues of Brazilian stones to the tranquil, watery green-blue and teal hues of moss aquamarine, I can’t get enough. Read more...
Safety First. Fashion Second.
Safety First. Fashion Second.
Working safely in the jewelry studio protects not just your body, but your ability to keep creating. I share essential studio safety tips—why eye protection, ventilation, and good habits matter—and... Read more...
Wait a second… I'm fashionable... Right?
Wait a second… I'm fashionable... Right?
Fashion trends come and go—they’re seasonal, external, and constantly shifting. Personal style, on the other hand, is enduring. It’s about understanding what feels authentic to you and choosing pieces that... Read more...
What In The Sam Hill Are Those? And Other Pressing Questions...
What In The Sam Hill Are Those? And Other Pressing Questions...
I break down the differences between gold fill, gold plate, and solid gold—what they’re made of, how they wear over time, and what those distinctions mean for durability, value, and... Read more...
On The Banks Of Lefthand Creek
On The Banks Of Lefthand Creek
As I recover and salvage my studio after the flood, I find myself reevaluating my workspace with fresh eyes—asking what truly supports creativity, function, and wild ideas. This forced reset... Read more...
We Interrupt This Program...
We Interrupt This Program...
A moment to explain the unexpected pause, reflect on the impact of a powerful natural event, and offer a bit of context and transparency as we navigate recovery and adjustment. Read more...
THE 2013 HALSTEAD GRANT... Be The Next Winner!
In this post, I share my experience applying for—and winning—the Halstead Grant, including what the process was really like and why it was such a meaningful milestone for my work. I also interview Hilary Halstead to offer behind-the-scenes insight into the grant’s origins, purpose, and what the judges look for. If you’re a jewelry artist wondering whether to apply, this is equal parts encouragement, practical guidance, and a reminder that taking the leap can truly pay off. Read more...
Tucson, La-La Land, And Other Travel Destinations
Tucson, La-La Land, And Other Travel Destinations
It turns out thinking you’re Type A when you’re actually Type B is a hilarious and humbling mistake—especially when you’re married to a real Type A. The contrast isn’t a... Read more...
Ruffle Some Feathers In 2012!
Ruffle Some Feathers In 2012!
After a holiday snowstorm and days spent hiking through cold, squeaky snow, I reflect on how winter’s stark beauty continues to shape my creative work. Quiet inspiration can be found... Read more...
It’s A Wild Ride!
Jewelry making, for me, is a living, evolving process—one shaped as much by curiosity and intuition as by intention. I reflect on the balance between guiding a design and letting it roam free, the joy of discovery within both materials and self, and how each finished piece becomes a starting point for the next creative journey. Read more...
I Don't Look Like A Monkey, Nor Do I Smell Like One, But I Might Act Like One.
I Don't Look Like A Monkey, Nor Do I Smell Like One, But I Might Act Like One.
Necklace GIVEAWAY! Signing up for my newsletter means getting the good stuff—without the noise. You’ll hear directly from me, not an algorithm, with thoughtful notes, behind-the-scenes peeks, useful ideas, and occasional... Read more...
Increase Your Earring Potential
Increase Your Earring Potential
Earring shapes (like hoops, drops, or geometric styles) can beautifully balance and enhance your natural face shape by creating contrast and visual flow. In general, opposites flatter.... Read more...
Not All Cowgirls Who Wander Are Lost …or A Discussion of Sparkly Things, Salty Things, and Sharp, Pointy Things
Not All Cowgirls Who Wander Are Lost …or A Discussion of Sparkly Things, Salty Things, and Sharp, Pointy Things
For a few weeks every winter, the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show becomes the epicenter of everything sparkly, ancient, rare, and beautiful. Dealers, miners, artists, and collectors fly in from... Read more...