Sometimes people fritter in and out of your life and you never really think about it – you never really think about how you FIRST met that person, how you continued to meet that person, and then, how that person just became a consistent fixture in your life. And then, on days like today, when you’re writing up the handmade feature post from one of them, you look back, and you realize – thank the gods that happened man! Because, where would I be without Angela in my life! The stories are numerous;  I could wax on about cult gossip and the small house movement, Farmer’s Markets and living on a bus, Love parties and adorable hair dye jobs, and let’s not forget NIA . . . but instead I’ll simply focus on the amazing smile, the belly laugh, the nurturing heart, and our friendship.

I’ll also point out that we’re super stoked for Angela to start teaching Nia RIGHT NEXT DOOR at KMB Studio on Wednesday evenings!

Without further ado . . .

My very favorite handmade item is a heart shaped box crafted by my Grandpa, Jim Williams, in ~1942, just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. My grandfather was a Marine stationed at Pearl Harbor after the bombing to help with the clean-up. During that time, he found some wood from a ship that was bombed and crafted an amazing gift for his wife, my precious Grandma, Mary Williams.

My Grandma did not have a lot of knick-knacks or art work in her house, but this is one of the few items she kept and cherished.  When she passed it down to me, I could sense how important it was and how sharing this handmade item was sharing a piece of her history, his history, my history.  It is a symbol of my Grandpa’s love, his time, his thoughtfulness, his artistic soul, and his outstanding skill. It is a beautiful reminder of how something hand made with love will be an everlasting piece art and piece of the crafter.