I grew up in a little log cabin high in the Rocky Mountains. The cabin was somewhere around 100 years old ; tiny, with a loft and an added-on front porch. In back, there was a shed with a big sliding door that was almost off its rusty rails. It used to be the blacksmith's shop when the small collection of structures was a mining town.
Most of its buildings now inhabit the South Park History Museum - still one of my favorite places to visit.
We lived close to the London Mine, up Mosquito Gulch in South Park City. We had horses, ducks, and chickens. My neighbors had a goose named Wilma. She was a gigantic, cruel, grey thing and to this day I blame her for my goose paranoia.
I grew up surrounded by antiques and gadgets. My father is a brilliant man and clever mechanic who has an affinity for old tools, cars, and widgets. My mother, among many other wonderful things, is a writer and artist.
I went to school in a tiny town called Fairplay. My class was the first to break 50 students.
In Fairplay - not in New York or Paris or any other marvelous, renowned city- I met some of the most talented people in the world.
One of these people was Lexi Erickson, who was, at the time, one of several teachers in my high school that had many roles. She taught Art, History, Archaeology, and from time to time, Music. She rose above and beyond the role of Teacher, becoming friend, confidant ,and sometimes co-conspirator. She had about a million books, and I wanted to read them all.
Another was Vallerie Holland Hughes; a bright and fantastic beacon of loveliness, and one of many creative minds who worked with The Muppets. A genius with all things aesthetic and an amazing costume designer. Not long after she moved to our little mountain burgh, I came to her shop and timidly begged to be her apprentice. To my eternal fortune, she said yes.
Several years and many stories later, Mrs. Erickson is a remarkable jewelry designer of international acclaim and I am honored to be her helper, apprentice, friend, and pupil. I'm not even half way through her collection of books yet.
Vallerie and her lovely family are far from Colorado, but she still inspires both my sewing machine and my hot glue gun.
I live, work, and play in Denver, Colorado. I have several incredibly talented friends and acquaintances that I can't wait to introduce you to.
The other, incredible people I work with will be individually featured in upcoming blog posts; they're wonderful people and I want to do them the honor of giving them whole articles all to themselves.
And so, humbly, I submit for your enchantment and enjoyment, Ravensong Industries; an eclectic collection of charm, grace, and mischief.
I hope you love it here, and do please stop by often.
