Life has been a little rough lately. Just when I’m finally feeling more like myself, my energy having returned for the post part now that we’re a year and more out from the completion of my cancer treatment, life strikes again. My husband lost his job. He’d been with his company for more than a decade, and while the sudden loss of income is upsetting, I am more worried by the sudden loss of meaningful work and connection to people for him.

But, I know that we will get through this; he will find a new position, and although things won’t be the same as they were, different doesn’t have to mean bad. And, difficult times only refine my focus. That was something that I noticed when I got sick at the end of 2023.

Being on the precipice of death reoriented my priorities, and showed me more about myself than almost any other experience I’ve gone through in life. And what I wanted to do more than anything was make beautiful things for the people I loved.

Being on the precipice of death reoriented my priorities, and showed me more about myself than almost any other experience I’ve gone through in life. And what I wanted to do more than anything was make beautiful things for the people I loved.Being on the precipice of death reoriented my priorities, and showed me more about myself than almost any other experience I’ve gone through in life. And what I wanted to do more than anything was make beautiful things for the people I loved.

Even at the dawn of human kind, when merely surviving was the goal, people painted on the walls of their caves. That’s why I am now choosing to focus on my art. In the most difficult of times, when it feels like we keep getting kicked down just as we’re finding our feet, I can still use my hands and the materials at hand to create beauty and wonder through my art.

That said, with March is coming to a close, and it didn’t feel right to have this month go by without working on some narcissus pieces. For me, the kanzashi that typifies the month of March is narcissus – aka daffodils. I feel like a bit of a traitor saying that, because canola are a hugely important crop here in Saskatchewan, and are also a popular kanzashi theme for the month of March. My Mom is especially fond of driving through the countryside to see the fields of canola in the summer – she thinks the contrast between the yellow flowers and the bright blue sky is beautiful.

But, I personally enjoy crafting narcissus more than canola. You’d think four petalled flowers wouldn’t be difficult to make, but I find shaping them a little bit finicky.

Since we’re at the end of the month, these small narcissus hair pins – and several other pieces from this month – are now available in the Shop. If you want to support my work, please consider purchasing one of my pieces. 🙂 They are all waiting to be worn and loved!