Like Riding A Bike

Once you learn how to peddle those wheels into motion, the knowledge never leaves you. I've been knocked down and started over enough times that I am literally bouncing back after being hit by a car while riding my bicycle. On Thursday, June 27, 2024, I was riding into Fountain Square to post flyers for a pop-up show I had planned for that Sunday at the Black House Café. I made it as far as Shelby and LeGrande when I was struck by a car making a left turn. I had to cancel the sale when I found out that I had four fractured ribs and was being held for observation because of damage done to my liver. I was released from the hospital the Sunday of the sale, but I was in no condition to pop-up anywhere except my couch and even that was painful. Apparently, the rib bones are connected to everything, and why it hurts to do anything strenuous like breathing.

It has been a journey healing from this trauma that knocked the momentum out of my artistic ride with consistency and making my own opportunities. My injuries had me on the sidelines with being able to do the heavy lifting for pop-ups, and then, the Universe upped the ante on this new challenge by ending my 17 year relationship with the Grand Cherokee. Without the Silver Lady, the options for doing pop-ups becomes very slim. I was feeling like the Universe was really wanting me to pivot away from the hustle of jewelry design and focus on doing less physical grinding as an artist. It was time to shed some old skin and renew my passion to the mental pursuit of turning phrases out onto blank pages.

My primary focus these last two years has been healing and learning how to give myself permission to prioritize the writing life. It has been a challenge full of doubt that I am doing the right thing or even if the collection will be any good. However, the experience of being pinned under a car keeps telling me -- none of that matters. What does matter is that I got up, I got back on that bike, and I got up the courage to complete The Bar Wench Blues collection that I am still grateful and incredibly lucky to have collaborated with not only a fantastic photographer, Kim Hartman, but also a memorable group of characters that have made this a more interesting timeline to be alive.

I am still designing jewelry, but the struggle to do pop-ups and markets without a vehicle is real. So, I am also working on ideas to make the Crimson Lily website more accessible to purchase jewelry and photography. I understand that buying custom art pieces from independent websites can be quite daunting. I can send venmo links for any items found on the website. Please use the Crimson Lily email form/link with the item's name or number as well as size and framing options for photographs to get a venmo purchase link.

Keep riding those bikes like Freddie Mercury!