Finding my way back to the path of creativity.

I’ve been trying to get myself organized—sorting through papers, going through old things, rearranging my office. All of it driven by a desire to create again. To make things with my hands. To immerse myself in color, texture, and that timeless space where the act of creating simply flows.

I went to college to study art—painting, specifically. But after graduation, I slowly stepped off the path I thought I’d follow. I began working at a newspaper, doing paste-up and layout, then moved into digital design, and eventually into marketing. Over the years, I became a Creative Services Manager, and later, a Brand Director for a Fortune 200 company.

Not bad for a fine art student—yet not quite right, either.

Each career step took me further from the studio and closer to the boardroom. I moved from the world of the maker into the world of the manager. I had some great experiences, yes, but I often felt like I was sitting at the side of the creative path—watching others take the journey I once imagined for myself.

Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” For me, that step happened sometime around 2003, when I wandered into a bead shop in Santa Cruz, California. The moment I walked in, I was surrounded by color, texture, and possibility—so many beads in every shade and shape. It felt like a physical paintbox.

That moment marked my return to the path.

Now, I’m making beaded jewelry with my own hands and heart. I'm not standing on the sidelines anymore. I’m on the journey—creating, exploring, and finally, coming home to myself.